Chapter 66: To Catch a Thief
Tonight, in the desert, with emptiness all around,
The sky, endless, the earth, desolate,
Before my eyes the contradiction opened like a night-blooming flower.
Emptiness is an illusion. Beneath my feet,
Grains of sand beyond counting.
Above my head, a sea of stars.
Alone, they are small,
A faint and flickering light in the darkness,
A lost and fallen fragment of earth.
Alone, they make the emptiness real.
Together, they are the bones of the world.
Solitude is illusion. Alone in the darkness,
I was surrounded on all sides.
The starlight dripped from the petals
Of cactus flowers,
A chorus of insects sang across the dunes.
How much abundance the world carries
If every fistful of sand
Is an eternity of mountains-The Body Canto
Hawke Estate-9:40 Dragon
Cassandra stood in the darkness, deep in thought. She then looked at Varric. "Are you sure about this? The Champion was asked to go to the Qunari?"
Varric raised a brow. "I suppose he planned the entire thing?"
The seeker crossed her arms. "Considering what it led to…"
"Come on, Seeker. I'm not going to sell Hawke short, but nobody could have foreseen the way that would go down" Varric said. "Or do you think I'm lying to protect my friend?"
"There are elements of your story that…make sense. And you couldn't have known about them otherwise"
"Well, that's a relief"
"But that doesn't mean you're telling me everything"
Varric sighed. "I want this story told, you're not the first to get it all wrong" he said. "After the shit Hawke's been through, I think I owe him that much"
Lowtown-9:35 Dragon
Despite how large Kirkwall is, news travels surprisingly fast in this city. Saemus Dumar's body was barely cold and everyone seemed to know about the death of the viscount's son, including Aveline. This could not come at a worst time as the guard captain was looking into two elves accused of murder. To escape the 'justice' of Kirkwall, they ran towards the Qunari and converted to the Qun. With the Arishok protecting them, Aveline would have to choose between carrying out the law or risk open conflict with the Qunari. A tough choice to be sure but if these elves get away with this then that could open up the door to other criminals converting to the Qun as a way to get sanctuary. Sending a full patrol would only increase tension so the guard captain went to Ericks as he's dealt with the qunari before.
As for Isabela, she had gotten wind that Sam has been talking to black market dealers all over Lowtown. Wall-Eyed Sam ran with Martin, the raider turned merchant, he had a reputation of being a bit of a magpie…picking up things that don't belong to him. When Martin gave up raiding, Sam became a drifter. According to Isabela, Tevinter mages was involved in trying to buy this relic, a book written in a foreign tongue. Whatever this book was, it was enough for Tevinter mages to send a small force. Ericks decided to help Isabela first before heading for the qunari compound…Kirkwall had a lot of problems, Tevinter didn't need to be one of them. The exchange was happening in a Lowtown foundry tonight.
The gang headed into the foundry district and was stopped by a band of qunari warriors. They looked very angry to see Isabela. "Hold! You will surrender the relic!"
"I don't have your stupid relic!"
"The bas has no honor. Kill it!" The gang held their ground against the qunari; Ericks tossed a smoke grenade to blind the qunari. Aveline and Isabela attacked from their blind spot and sliced at their tendons to cripple them. Once the smoke was cleared, Merrill fired a barrage of magic that overwhelmed the qunari. Once the battle was done, Ericks went to Isabela…she had some explaining to do.
"If the Arishok asks why we killed his men, we'll say it was an accident"
"Whore…explain yourself" Aveline said frowning.
Isabela scratched her head sheepishly. "Yeah, about that…the relic belongs to the Qunari and there's a small chance they want it back"
"I cannot believe you; we could have been rid of them a long time ago!" the guard captain said angrily. "Do you know how many lives you've put in jeopardy with such foolishness?!"
"What is this relic, Isabela?" Merrill asked. The book in question was the Tome of Koslun, a sacred scripture of Qunari lore written by the founder of the Qun, Ashkaari Koslun. Stealing the tome from the Qunari was like stealing the Chant of Light from Andrastians. During the New Exalted Marches against the Qunari, Orlais came into the possession of the artifact and retained it as spoils of war. Four years ago, Orlais agreed to return the Tome to the Qunari, but the exchange with the coming Arishok was never completed as Isabela stole it before it could be delivered. "Oh my…that's not good, is it?"
Aveline crossed her arms, giving the pirate the evil eye. "Not good is a colossal understatement, Merrill"
"So you and the qunari showing up due to a storm wasn't just coincidence" Ericks said.
"Yes but the storm was only half my problem" Isabela said. "I also had the Qunari dreadnought stuck to my behind like a bad rash, spitting fire and thunder at me"
"And the Tevinter mages?"
"They probably want it to strike a blow to Qunari morale, since Tevinter and the Qunari have been at it for centuries"
"We can kill two birds with one stone with this…the qunari might be more open to handing over the fugitives if we give them their tome back" Aveline said. "And they'll finally leave"
"Hold on, I need that book to save my skin"
"You made your bed now lie in it" the guard captain said. "Kirkwall need not suffer because of your idiocy"
Isabella frowned. "So I'm guessing you feel the same, Hawke?"
"I should…but we had a deal"
Isabela blinked. "Really? I…wasn't expecting that. It's nice to have someone on my side, for once"
"Ericks?!"
"Aveline we have no guarantee that the Qunari will leave once they get the tome" the rogue said. "If anything, what if it rallies them to try and convert all of Kirkwall?"
"I…haven't thought of that"
"If we give this to Castillion, then it becomes his problem and the Qunari will start to hunt him down"
Isabela smirked. "Sounds good to me" The gang went inside where they spotted the Tevinter mages and a very shifty Sam. A female mage in purple-grey robes, no doubt the leader of the Tevinter mages, walked forward. Her cold looks made the drifter's legs quiver, if he crossed her Sam was good as dead but if he delivered the relic to them without problems…he would be a made man for the rest of his life.
"Where is the relic?"
"I…er…I have it" The mage narrowed her eyes at Sam; she could hardly believe that he was able to take the Tome of Koslun but she wasn't going to look a gift horse in the mouth. She had a lot to gain by bringing the book back to Tevinter…she would return as a hero and maybe be offered a seat on the Magisterium. Before anything could be done, one of the doors slammed opened. Qunari soldiers ran in.
"The Tome of Koslun will not fall into Tevinter hands!"
"Blood and spite!" The mage said reaching for her staff. She shot a fireball at the qunari but the oxman dodged it. The qunari then raised his ax.
"Ataash Qunari!" The room was then turned into a full-blown battlefield as the Qunari clashed with the Tevinter mages and soldiers. Sam then ran away, he didn't want to be there if the qunari wins.
"He's getting away!" Isabela ran after Sam.
"Isabela!" The gang went after the pirate but was caught between the Tevinter mages and the qunari. "Shit! Pick and choose, people! We don't have time for this!" The gang followed Isabela's path while holding the mages and the oxmen at bay. Merrill put the charging qunari to sleep with her magic while Ericks envelops enemies in a dense fog that slows them to a near crawl. Aveline charged forward, impaling the qunari while protecting the rest of the gang from the mages' magic. Once they got clear, the gang bolted for the nearest exit leaving the qunari and mage to kill one another. Once they got outside, they spotted Sam's dead body and no sign of Isabela. There was a letter on Sam's body, Ericks picked it up and read it.
Dear Hawke,
I have the relic, and I am gone. I'm sorry it has to be this way. You've been a loyal ally, but this is best for us both. You promised me the relic, and I know you'll fight Castillon for me, but I don't want this. I've dragged you too far into this mess already.
You don't have to forgive me, but I hope you understand.
Isabela
"That bitch…!" Aveline fumed.
"She'll come back, won't she? She wouldn't just leave us!" Merrill said. "At least…I hope not"
"I'll have my men ready, Ericks…I'll meet you at the compound"
Ericks sighed. "Right, we still have to deal with that mess" The gang headed home, they had a long day tomorrow.
The Qunari Compound
The gang met up with Aveline at the compound, her guards was outside standing by for orders. Aveline ordered the entire section of the docks closed, no one were to come in or out of the docks or risk arrest. Luckily people were not so quick to get caught up in another mess with the Qunari. Ericks made a lot of last minute preparations for this moment; he had gone to Sebastian to help with safeguarding all the civilians he could into the Chantry, Merrill was with him to help. News was sent to the Templars by seneschal Bran to be ready. Fenris understood the qunari better than anyone and Varric was a charmer that could talk anyone into anything…Ericks hoped that they could help deescalate the situation. In case that wasn't possible, he had Anders with him or rather Justice…the rogue didn't want to rely on the spirit due to history but if it came to war, Ericks would need all the power he could get against the Qunari. For the rogue's part, he went into his 'special' batch….poisons and grenades too powerful to have with him in a regular fight.
"I hope you wrapped up any business before you came. It's already a mess, and could get worse"
Ericks nodded. "Let's go" They turned to the qunari guard.
"I request an audience with the Arishok" The qunari looked at the gang and the guards they were with and frowned.
"He will allow it, but not in this number"
Aveline nodded. "I will only bring my friend here and a small complement of my guard. Is that few enough?"
"It is" he said. "Enter" Fenris, Varric, and Anders stood outside with the guards while Aveline and Ericks entered the compound. They met with the Arishok, who was for once off of his throne and brandishing his large ax...Ericks frowned at this, it was almost as if the qunari leader was prepared for them.
"Shanedan"
Greetings, Arishok. We come regarding the elven fugitives that took refuge here" The large qunari gave a hard look at Ericks.
"Irrelevant. I would speak to Hawke about the relic stolen from my grasp"
Outskirts of Kirkwall
"Your relic could be anywhere"
"A truth but you minimize your role"
Last night after Isabela got her hands on the Tome of Koslun, she got into contact with one of Castillion's scouts. She would meet with him on the outskirts of the city for exchange, the tome for her life. As she headed out, the book was heavier than usual but that was not all that weighed on her mind. She took one look back at the city and frowned...she then shook her head and continued on her way. Freedom was within reach and she couldn't wavier even for a friend.
A storm is coming…Next Time! As always Review and Comment!
