Chapter 74: Mark of the Assassin pt4

I remember, as a child, watching a column of chevaliers parade down a wide avenue in Val Royeaux. Dashing knights on armored steeds, pennants snapping in the breeze. I have never forgotten. Most of the Orlesian aristocracy has ties to the chevaliers. Joining the knighthood and dedicating one's life to the empire is a tried and true method to improve one's social standing. It is the obvious choice for landless nobles and noble children not in line to inherit.

The knighthood welcomes both men and women, although it is rare for a woman to choose the harsh life of a chevalier over the gentle bliss of marriage and children or the peace of the Chantry. Those who do are following in the footsteps of the first woman knight, Aveline, but we hope that not all meet as ghastly an end as she did.

Sadly, some members of the order abuse their power to commit atrocities that will not be recounted here. All decent Orlesians know them to be no true knights. One day, they shall answer to the Maker Himself. —From Orlais: A Modern History, by Revered Mother Laeticia

Hunting Grounds-East

"Shit, it's heading your way Hawke!" Varric said. Tallis and Fenris tries to intercept the wyvern but it jumps over to them and faces down Ericks. With a roar, it charges the rogue snapping at him with its fangs. Ericks dodged quickly as one bite from the wyvern would be enough to kill a man, with a twirl of his daggers Ericks struck from the side. When the wyvern was dazed, Ericks ducked under it and sliced it from chest to head. The wyvern went down quickly.

"Think this will be enough to get into Chateau Haine?" Ericks asked.

Tallis smirked. "Oh yeah, this will definitely get Prosper's attention"

"Well, if it isn't the Fereldan dog-lord" A dark-haired man in regal red and gold armor walked towards the gang, he was surrounded by two guards in red and silver armor wearing the masks Orlesian nobility were famous for wearing. He looked at Ericks and the company he kept and scoffed with contempt. "They say you are champion of some backwater city in the east. Quite an achievement, I'm sure" he said. "I suggest you run along with your servants while you have the chance. This wyvern was mine to kill, not yours" the noble then stumps his feet like a petulant child. "Mine, mine, mine!"

"Orlesians…always a charming sort" Fenris said dryly while crossing his arms.

"I paid good coin to be the one who wins this contest! It was my turn!"

"My mistake, I didn't realize the duke was offering charity to his more useless guests" The noble's face turned beet red at Ericks' remark.

"I will not accept such talk from a backwater mongrel!"

Tallis raised a brow. "You do know this man eats little thugs like you for breakfast, I hope?"

"Only when we're out of pancakes" Ericks said with a smirk.

Merrill tilted her head. "But we're never out of pancakes"

"Just a joke at the noble's expense, Daisy" Varric said.

"Oh, I see then"

"More insolence! From a knife-ear this time!" the noble said angrily. "I can take no more of the this. Kill them all. We can say the wyvern was too much for them" More bodyguards came out of the forest and the petulant noble took out his sword. The noble had the numbers, but it was obvious that they were outmatched. The noble's numbers dwindled quickly until he was the only one left facing Ericks. He swung wildly at the rogue but Ericks danced around the blade like it was nothing. Another swing at Ericks' head and the rogue quickly disarmed the noble and tossed him to ground. Before he could get up, Ericks had the noble's own sword at his throat.

"Checkmate, friend" Ericks said with a smirk.

"Now what is going on here?" Prosper appeared with his bodyguard, Cahit. The noble quickly got up and went to the duke's side hoping he would come to his rescue.

"Prosper! This blasted dog-lord tried to steal my rightful kill!"

The duke snorted. "You expect me to believe that Arlange?" he asked. "You are in the presence of the Champion of Kirkwall, a man that single handedly thwarted a Qunari invasion"

"Why would he need to steal anyone's kill?"

"This is your fault for inviting a stinking mongrel in the first place! Your mother would be ashamed!"

The duke just gave an icy chuckle. "Says the man whose mother slept with half of Val Chevin" Prosper looked at Ericks. "My apologies. Arlange has always been a cheat. What would you have done with him?"

Tallis frowned. "You're not suggesting…"

"Why not? You believe Arlange would have stopped short of murder, given the chance?"

"Just let him go. He's not worth the time, Hawke"

Prosper laughed, which unnerved the gang a little. The duke seemed to have little care about the lives of people and even seemed to relish potential violence taking place. "My word! Such mercy!"

"He can't be more than he is, that's all. You've bested him" Tallis said. Fenris narrowed his eyes at Tallis.

"It's your hunt and your game" Ericks said.

"You hear that, Arlange? It behooves you to leave while you still can"

"I…fine. I will go" Arlange and his men walked away but not before the baron gave Ericks a parting glare. The rogue had a feeling this was not the last he would be seeing of Arlange.

"Congratulation on finding the wyvern. It looks like a fine one, indeed!" Prosper said. "There will be a celebration in the chateau courtyard. Do attend when you are ready" Prosper walked away and Ericks and the gang took their prize back to the chateau.


Don't you wish you could have been invited to the duke's party? Oh, everything is so splendid here and so Orlesian! The decorations, the company, the food! And just thinking about the wine sends me into a giddy fit.

The duke spares no expense, truly! I hear he has it brought in from Val Chevin, just for these parties. He has whole crews of thick, simple-minded Fereldans to carry his barrels of wine up the mountain. And they are too stupid to know that what they carry is worth more than what they earn in a year.

It is so funny. Fifi and I actually saw the laborers. One rolled down the mountain and crashed to the bottom. It was such a shame. I almost died seeing all that gorgeous red seeping into the ground. Or maybe that was from the laborer. Well, whatever. —Excerpt from a letter written by Babette de Launcet to her brother, Emile

Chateau Courtyard

A section of Chateau Haine. The palatial garden is decorated in typical elaborate Orlesian style, complete with ornate statue work, a fountain and banquet table. It also houses the cage for Duke Prosper's pet Wyvern, Leopold. The Duke's guests are frequently treated to a lavish reception here - their first taste of Orlesian hospitality. Festivities was underway at Chateau Haine, as the guests started socializing and taking in the many drinks the chateau had to offer. The gang was waiting outside for Tallis, she came out wearing an elegant light blue formal wear that made some of the other guests tongues wag. To elf's credit, she stayed focused on the task at hand. "I had a quick look around. There's one door into the castle that isn't under heavy guard…"

"I'm sensing a big but…" Varric said.

"Correct, I can't get it open and believe me I've tried" Tallis said. "Bent a nice set of lockpicks in that stupid door"

"One of the duke's guardsmen must have the key. They wouldn't just lock themselves out of the castle…I hope"

"Why else would the party be in the garden? He probably has someone breaking a window right now" Ericks said dryly.

"Not bad plan actually, but in the meantime, let's find someone with a key"

"We should spread out; our little group would cause too much attention" Fenris said.

"Tallis and I will look for the key, you guys get out of sight and watch for chevaliers or guards" the rogue said.

"Let us see what we can find out. Come on!" The gang separated throughout the courtyard; the man of the hour Prosper made his appearance. The nobles stopped what they were doing and acknowledged the duke.

"Your Grace, this is the event of the season!" a male noble said.

"You have truly outdone yourself this time, Prosper!" a female noble said bowing. Prosper spotted Ericks and Tallis and walked towards them.

"Ahh! At last, our mighty hero!" The duke went to face the rest of the nobles. "The Champion of Kirkwall has the honor of first kill this day!" The nobles cheered and applauded. "To hunt the wyvern on its own ground is to tempt fate: a terrible risk, but the prize…" he said. "I present to you this belt crafted of fine wyvern skin. Wear it well, and accept the accolades you are due"

"If anyone's wants to laud my heroic achievements, I'm happy to listen"

The duke laughed. "Well said!" The ground shook as they heard a roar in the courtyard, everyone stopped what they were doing. North of the courtyard was a large cage holding a wyvern decked with a saddle of gold and bands holding Prosper's family crest. "Do not mind Leopold. My pet is always so temperamental before dinner"

"I don't suppose Leopold knows how to fetch or play dead?" Ericks asked.

"Alas, he seems to think it's our duty to amuse him" the duke said. "My friends, I officially welcome you all to Chateau Haine! Enjoy a taste of Orlesian hospitality!" Tallis leaned in close to Ericks.

"I see several men who might be captains in the duke's guard. One of them should have a key"

"And how do you propose we get it from them?"

"How else? We ask nicely, and tell him we'll give it right back"

Ericks snorted. "Brilliant! Don't know why I didn't think of that" Ericks and Tallis went to mingle with the guest to get any information on the duke's vault. While they were mingling, someone caught Ericks' eye. "No fucking way…"

"Hawke?!" Tallis asked following him. He walked towards a red-haired woman in a violet-blue gown.

"Elegant, long time no see" Ericks said with a smirk. Elegant was an old acquaintance of Ericks and an herbalist that used to make potions for both Athenril's smugglers and Meeran's mercenary company, the Red Iron. As a result, she crossed paths with the Hawke siblings during their year in indentured servitude. In 9:31 Dragon, she had married a rather high-ranking nobleman in Hightown and became known as Lady Elegant around Lowtown.

"Likewise, Hawke I never thought I would see you at one of these" She said. "But then again, we've all changed with the years, how's that sweet sister of yours?"

"She at the Gallows, every day I worry about her"

"I wouldn't worry, she's a smart girl" Elegant said. "What do you think of the party so far?"

Ericks crossed his arms. "I get the feeling that everyone here is a moment away from tearing each other apart"

"Don't get between the Comtesse de Launcet and the wine or we will certainly see bloodshed"

"We should probably go mingle a bit more" Tallis said. "Anyone we should meet?"

"The gentleman in the fine red clothes over there is Bann Tegan of Fererlden, younger brother of the arl of Redcliffe" Elegant said. "And of course, there's Lord Cyril, Duke Prosper's son"

"And who's the worst in the crowd?" Ericks asked.

"The two young ladies near the fountain over there? That's Babette and Fifi de Launcet, daughters of the Comte de Launcet" she said. "Don't make eye contact. You'll thank me later"

"Thanks Elegant, got to go, canapes to eat. You know how it is"

"Of course, Hawke…don't get caught"

Ericks smirked. "Never do"

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