Chapter 36: Catching up
Viscount's Keep
Dumar sighed as he rubbed his tired eyes. "Years of nice, quiet anxiety…gone. Along with a whole street" The viscount was less than pleased of the news he had received, Ericks and the gang may have stopped the fanatic and prevented conflict with the qunari but the loss of a whole street in Lowtown had only deepened tensions in the city. In a way the anti-qunari fanatics got what they wanted, Kirkwall was one step closer to conflict with the Arishok. So far the qunari has kept to themselves, but it would not stay that way the more anti-qunari forces pushed them.
"An accident on purpose, more or less"
"Right…a mad elf, pushed by zealots, likely hidden in the very group I have to appease" Dumar gave a dour snort. "The Maker has a grand sense of humor" he said. "And the Arishok…I suspected he had no plans to leave. I didn't know it was just as annoying for him"
Erick crossed his arms. "What doesn't annoy him?" he asked. "You'd give him gold and he'd complain about the weight"
The viscount sighed. "And it's about to get worse. A shame, there were overtures of civility. Your influence, no doubt"
"Oh dear, what has happened this time?"
"While you were gone a qunari delegate and entourage paid me a visit. It is civil, tentative…hopeful" Dumar said. "They left my chambers with precision, but were not reported by the outer guard. They are missing almost literally from my doorstep"
"What, do you imagine, will be the Arishok's reaction?"
"You're sure they're missing?" Ericks asked. "Do the Qunari generally keep you updated?"
"Qunari don't disappear. They know we watch, and they are not shy about their movement" the viscount said. "Speak to Seneschal Bran, he has the damning details" Dumar went back to his desk and gave a grave sigh. "I don't know who would benefit from fighting the Qunari, but it will cost all of us in the end" Ericks headed for the Seneschal's office next door, unlike the viscount's chambers Bran's office was smaller and messier due to all business going through him before reaching Dumar. A red haired man was at his desk looking through paperwork.
"Messere Hawke"
"You have information about some missing Qunari?" Ericks asked.
"Yes, Viscount Dumar would appreciate discretion in this matter" Bran said. "I would prefer that you were not involved at all, but that is neither here nor there" Ericks sat down. The qunari has not been told of their missing men but soon the Arishok will find out and the Viscount is concerned that the illusion of peace will dissolve. Ericks has seen the Arishok, he's makes his disgust of Kirkwall well known and the longer he stays the more wrathful he seems to become. His men missing sounded like the perfect excuse to end this peace.
But Bran had his doubts, if the qunari leader wanted to take over, he would have done so long ago. To the people of Kirkwall, the Qun was as unknowable as it was heretical but for all they know its demands has done more to keep the giants in check than any of the city's efforts. For all the dangers the Qunari posed, Bran at least believed that they would not resort to trickery as there was no precedent. But there was evidence of influence on their side. Honestly, the Seneschal wishes he didn't have to look into this…the viscount had enough trouble on his plate with the tensions between the Templars and mages. Plus the fact that Seamus, the viscount's son has been enamored with the oxmen has done nothing for Dumar's stress. Bringing attention to this incident benefits no one, the Qunari are neutral hostiles at best. There was nothing to be salvage by overextending themselves on their behalf.
Ericks crossed his arms. "I've fought their Tal-Vashoth, it was like trying to cut a brick wall" he said. "So I have a hard time believing someone abducting a Qunari entourage"
"Unfortunately, they were not at their best. Their swords were tied into their sheaths. As I advised" Bran said. "It seemed like a good idea at the time; even I know you cannot separate a Qunari from his weapon"
"So where would you start? If you were the starting type"
"I would begin with the most obvious failure. It's clear the city guard has no excuse for allowing this. Unless they were involved"
"No way, from what I've seen Avi keeps a pretty tight ship around the guards" Ericks said. "She would kicked their asses if they were involved"
"And yet, a number of recent recruits have failed to report. You should start with one of them" Bran said. "Although, where you find a swordsman so eager to sell his honor and duty, I sure I don't know"
"The Hanged Man, obviously"
"Right…well you know what to look for" he said. "You are right about Captain Aveline; she does keep a tight rein on the guards so I can't imagine this has occurred without noticed. There is always a weak link"
"Please keep this quiet. The Viscount is under enough scrutiny as it is"
Merrill's House-Kirkwall Alienage
Since her arrival in Kirkwall's elven alienage, Merrill has had difficulty adjusting. Her neighbors ignore her existence, and even the most determined socialites in Lowtown cross the street to avoid her. She also gets lost frequently, a matter that doesn't seem to be solving itself through time or familiarity with the city; on separate occasions, she has accidentally found herself in the viscount's bathing room, the chantry airing cupboard, and in the middle of a dog racing track in Darktown.
Ericks decided to check the Hanged Man at night, if there was going to be any trouble it was going to be at a time where no one could see them act. He was at Merrill's house checking up on her, the craziness that happened was very close to the Alienage. The elves were very mixed about the Qunari, there were some of the elves that were very interested in the Qun but it was not the numbers that the elven fanatic have been spouting. Still there were still some suspicion in air, as if the qunari did attacked there would not be anywhere for the elves to hide and the guardsmen would not come to their rescue. They would be left on their own to fend for themselves…as usual.
"And nothing usual has happen here?" Ericks asked. "No elves going crazy?"
"Things have been quiet here in the Alienage" Merrill said. "It's almost boring at times" The elf gave Ericks a cup of juice.
"Apricot juice, decent meats and cheeses, I see Varric is giving you access to the good stuff"
"I really should thank him some way, it's been hard going to the market…it seems like there are Templars at every corner now" the elf said. "Have you heard from Bethany? Is she settling in all right with the Circle?"
"I'd be terrified in her shoes. Surrounded by strangers…watched all the time…"
"She always did love being constantly watched by large, armed men"
Merrill tilted her head. "She did? I would never have imagined…oh" she said. "She's strong. If anyone can get through this, she can"
"Maybe…but all it takes is a small mistake and she's dead or worse" Ericks said. "And the Templars have made mages tranquil for less"
"Things will be alright. Somehow"
Hightown-Fenris' Mansion
Since the adventure into the Deep Roads, Fenris has remained in Kirkwall, maintaining a residence in Danarius's abandoned mansion. That it doesn't truly belong to him has aroused the interest of curious neighbors, and thus, the city guard. Aveline has so far deflected their inquiries on Fenris's behalf; however, she's told him in no uncertain terms that the situation will not remain that way forever.
Though seemingly unconcerned about the house, Fenris has become increasingly nervous over the last year. He doesn't know if he's actually free from pursuit, or if his former master is planning something even worse. He tries not to think about it, taking pleasure in having a home for the first time in his life, even though his contact with anyone outside of the jobs he takes as a mercenary is very limited. "So the seneschal's tax collector won't be coming around again, like you asked. Funny story" Isabela said.
Fenris held out his hand, the less he knew the better. "I'll pass, but thank you for your help"
"Spoilsport. Why you want to squat up here in Hightown is beyond me"
"I like the view"
Isabela smirked as she got up. "So do I" Ericks came in to the dining hall where Isabela was just about to leave. He would ask what the smirk was for but knowing Isabela it could be about anything.
"Three years" The elf said. "There's still no sign of Danarius. I'm beginning to wonder if he's finally given up"
"This is his mansion, isn't it? He must know you're here"
"Would you be surprised to learn that it isn't, in fact, his mansion?" Fenris asked. "It once belonged to a Tevinter merchant, one who has evidently given up on the place. Perhaps he is dead and Danarius killed him"
"Either way, if Danarius is aware of my presence, he has done nothing"
"Don't tell me you're going to miss all the attention" Ericks said dryly.
Fenris gave a thoughtful look and then looked at Ericks. "Tell me: what do you do when you stop running?"
"You take a breath and look around. And start anew"
"You make it sound so easy" the elf said. "My first memory is receiving these markings, the lyrium being branded into my flesh" He couldn't remember much but that pain….that pain would be with him for the rest of his life. The elf's screams echoed in the dungeon. He saw Danarius' face eagerly anticipating his new toy, what plans he wanted for Fenris, he did not know. When the pain got too much, he passed out. "That agony wiped away everything…whatever life I had before I became a slave, it is lost"
"I shouldn't trouble you with this…my problems are not yours"
'True…but since I have nothing better to do, I might as well help"
"I'm an escape slave, and an elf, living in a borrowed mansion" Fenris said. "None of those bother you?"
"Like you're the only one with faults" Ericks said. "I got an enemies list a mile long, there are many people that I have pissed off and will piss off"
"You are clearly not like most people"
"See? Us abnormal people need to stick together"
"You raise an interesting point. I'll have to…consider it" Later that night, Fenris and Ericks made their way to the Hanged Man. It was time to find those missing Qunari.
Hanged Man-Night
"It's like you haven't moved in three years" Ericks said. Isabela was at her favorite spot: the bar. The target didn't seem to be here yet so Ericks decided to shoot the breeze.
"It's easier for people to find me this way" Isabela spent the past several years trying to track down the relic that she lost in the shipwreck. She believes that it's still in Kirkwall, though why she thinks so is a mystery. Despite her insistence that she's keeping a low profile to avoid her old employer, Castillon, Isabela seems to go out of her way to cause trouble. Recently, one of her duels evolved into a bar brawl that then spilled out into Lowtown. Involving over twenty people, the fracas caused a great deal of damage to several merchant stalls. Isabela spent the next two weeks in the brig. Guard-Captain Aveline allowed her release, but not before extracting a promise—that Isabela would not duel on public property again. Whether Isabela actually keeps this promise remains to be seen. "You remember that relic I told you about? The one I need to find?" she asked. "I've been following a lead. I'm so close, I can taste it!"
Ericks raised a brow. "You said that last time…"
"Oh! You mean when I went digging for that stash?"
"Yes, that turned out to contain several bad poems and an old boot"
"It could've contained the relic!" She said in a huff. "I just thought I'd let you know that I may soon be taking you up on that offer of help"
"Damn…and here I was hoping you'd forgotten"
"If I learn anything new, you'll be the first to hear about it"
"Since I'm scratching your back, how about you scratch mine?" Isabela raised a brow.
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