Chapter 71: Mark of the Assassin pt1
It's been over a year now since I met Tallis, and she hasn't resurfaced so far.
Or has she? I spotted a red-headed elf in the market just the other day, and there was something familiar in the way she moved, despite the servant's clothing and all the Orlesian braiding. I tried to get a closer look, but she disappeared into the crowd.
If it was her, I've no clue what she's up to. Tallis spoke of Qunari spies throughout Thedas... doing what, I wonder? Just providing information to the Qunari, or something more sinister?
Unsurprisingly, mentioning the spies to those in power has earned only disbelief or indifference. Those who bothered to consider the possibility weren't certain what could be done. They appeared unwilling to admit that the Qunari might be inclined towards subterfuge. Too dangerous a foe, if so. You'd think that after what happened in Kirkwall, it wouldn't be such a shock. Regardless, I doubt this is the last we've heard from the Qunari... or from Tallis. She'll show up again one day. That's just the way things work out. —From the diary of Hawke
Hawke Estate-9:40 Dragon
Varric was sitting in the chair stretching while the seeker was outside the room speaking to someone. She would do that sometimes and from the sound of it, Cassandra was speaking to another woman. The dwarf has never met this other woman, but the sound of her voice was familiar, but he could not put his finger on it. Varric has been in this room for what felt like days…as far as the dwarf knew it probably have been days. Cassandra comes into the room with a stern look on her face. "You've been wasting my time, Varric. It stops now"
"Seeker, you wound me"
Cassandra frowned. "The Champion nearly starts a war and you're all too happy to bury it beneath your words" she said. "You will tell me about the Qunari"
Varric crossed his arms. "What more could I possible tell you? The Arishok was killed in single combat, Hawke was crowned Champion and the Qunari left" he said. "Simple"
"Then explain why the Orlesians were threatening sanctions of every kind and measure!" Cassandra said. "Our report had the Champion was at Chateau Haine with an elven woman named Tallis"
"Well, well…you people are thorough" Varric said. "I didn't think anyone would hear about Tallis"
"We had someone there, but they lacked your access. Whatever Tallis was to the Champion, it seems like it angered a nation"
Varric groaned and rubbed his head. "You don't know the half of it, Seeker" he said. "Thousands of lives were at stake here"
Cassandra crossed her arms. "Perhaps one still is"
"How very nonspecific of you" Varric said dryly. "All right, all right…since you twisted my arm. Let us set the scene: an ambush, an invitation, and a hunting party"
"All due to Tallis"
Renzo,
Someone must clean up what's left of Edge. The squirrely little dwarf made a mess when we questioned him, but we got what we needed. Hawke will be in the Hightown market tonight. Be sure to deliver the Cavril family's best regards.
Hightown (Night)-9:34 Dragon
The gang was in Hightown at night meeting a contact of Varric, a man named Edge. He wanted to talk about 'something to do with Ericks and nobles.' Two weeks had passed since the Qunari invasion of Kirkwall, clean up and repairs was on going as was the burying of the dead. Though the qunari were long gone, the city was scarred and shaken to its very core. The city guards were on full alert to keep order in the streets, and Aveline was buried in a mountain of paperwork that caused her no end of stress. Days after the invasion, the entire city knew Ericks by his new title: The Champion of Kirkwall…commoner now worshipped the ground he walked on and the nobles wanted business as well as favor from him.
The Hawke estate had been receiving floods of business proposals from up and coming merchants looking to cash in on Ericks' new title. He received gifts and marriage proposals from the young noble women who became quite smitten with Ericks' heroic deeds. More importantly, there was talk among the nobles in making Ericks the new viscount of Kirkwall. The stars had aligned once again for the House of Hawke, but Ericks was just exhausted of it all. Bethany was back in the Circle as soon as the fighting was all done, she was not even given the chance to watch her brother's anointing ceremony and their mother was not here to celebrate this momentous occasion. Never has being on top felt so lonely, but at least Ericks had Merrill by his side.
"And nothing…" Ericks looked at Varric. "You sure your info is right, Varric?"
"All I know is it had something to do with you and nobles. Edge is usually reliable"
"Edge doesn't sound like a person you should listen to often, Varric" Merrill said.
Fenris placed his hand on his sword. "I smell an ambush coming…"
"Aw come on, Broody, it's not always an ambush" All of the sudden several assassins landed behind them with several archers readying their arrows for the gang's head. The dwarf sighed. "And I retract that previous statement" The leader of the assassins walked towards them.
"And there is the Champion of Kirkwall. You die today" Ericks noticed the emblem on the leader's armor, piercing eyes surrounded by black feathers, the symbol of the Antivan Crows. They are an elite organization of thieves, spies, and assassins which are renowned throughout Thedas. Honor among such an organization is generally dubious, but they do adhere to one standard: contracts are met, and agreements are kept. Failure to eliminate a mark means the life of the operative is also forfeit. The Crows are a driving political force in Antiva, often hired to assassinate Antivan nobility or even royalty. Their reputation is enough to deter many nations from openly attacking Antiva despite its lack of a standing army.
Ericks grimaced a little, he wondered who he pissed off to get the Crows after him. Out of nowhere a dagger was thrown into the left shoulder of the leader. The gang looked behind them and spotted a young redhaired elven woman on the roof of a mansion. She twirled her dagger and gave a cocky smirk, one of the archers fired on the elf and she jumped off the building then she bounced off the tarp and plunged her dagger into the archer's side. She turned the archer, and he fired an arrow into the head of his fellow crow. Another archer fired from the roof and the elven woman held up her human shield to block the arrow, she then took her dagger and threw it at the archer's throat. A crow came at her from behind and the woman quickly blocked it and slashed the assassin in the face.
Another came from the side and she kicked him off the ledge. One more assassin came with a maul, and the woman jumped off the ledge using the dead crow on the ground as a cushion. The woman rolled on the floor and charged, killing one crow after another. She finally reached the leader with her dagger at his throat. Sweat emanated from his pores. "Kill her! Kill all of them!"
The elf slit his throat and just smirked at the gang. "Well, what are you waiting for?" The remaining crows attacked.
"Who the fuck is that?" Ericks asked.
"Don't know, kill people then ask!" Varric said.
"Good plan!" the woman said. Merrill formed an armor of rock on her and then slammed her staff on the ground to shock multiple crows. Ericks tossed a firestorm grenade to toss them about while Fenris cut them down. Varric locked his arrow and released with so much force that it tore through every crow that got along its deadly path. The woman swiftly cut down the assassins in her way, no movement was wasted, and it almost looked like she was dancing. The battle was soon over, and the elven woman was over one of the dead bodies, she shook her head.
"Sloppy" She came over to the gang. "Centuries at this game and you'd think the Crows would be better at this"
"I take it the Crows was a gift from you. How very generous of you" Ericks said dryly.
"Oh, I didn't arrange this, but you and me running into each other like this was no coincidence" the woman said. "The name's Tallis, and I've been looking for you"
"Looking for me?"
"Looking for the man who has an invitation to Chateau Haine, to be specific"
"Ah, I see, so that's what Edge was talking about" Varric said. "He's got to stop telling me these things while drinking"
"You remember, Duke Prosper from the Champions' banquet?"
Ericks groaned. "All to well, unfortunately…the man kept close to me like he was my shadow" he said. "And by the Maker, he just wouldn't shut up"
"While you were busy sticking your finger in your ear, I was listening in" Varric said. "He talked about a hunt"
"Like I would go to such a thing"
"I was hoping you'd reconsider. The duke is a delightful host…or so I hear"
"I'm guessing this isn't just a social call?" Ericks asked.
"He has something he has no right to possess, and I can't do it alone"
"You want to rob him" Fenris said.
Varric smirked. "Stealing from Orlesians is never wrong. Or so I've been told"
"Meeting you like this wasn't the plan, I pictured our introduction with…less blood" Tallis said. "I've heard that you were a problem solver, I'm hoping that's true"
"A break from Kirkwall could be the thing that you need, Ma vhenan" Merrill said holding Ericks arm. Of course, she was right over the course of a few weeks the rogue had to deal with his mother's death, to the death of the viscount's son, to the death of the viscount himself and the qunari's invasion of Kirkwall. It was too much to deal with and he was exhausted.
Ericks shrugged. "Why not? I hear Orlesians make excellent cheese"
Tallis laughed. "That's right, you're Fereldan, aren't you?"
"We're not actually dog people, despite whatever rumors you've heard"
"I'll keep that in mind"
"So, what's the item in question?"
"A jewel" the elf said. "The duke thinks it's valuable and it is, just not in the way he believes"
"What is more, he shouldn't have it in the first place. He who wishes to walk on water must first learn to swim" Ericks gave a raised brow. "Come with me to Chateau Haine. I'll explain everything on the way" she said. "If nothing else, you get fine wine and fancy company. But…I hope you want more than that"
Orlais or bust…Next Time! As always Review and Comment!
