Chapter 76: Mark of the Assassin pt6
The ox-men do not kill their prisoners. The Qun abhors waste, and a person is a valuable commodity. Instead of death, we found ourselves housed in a labor camp run by the Ben-Hassrath. They called us "kabethari"—simple ones—and this was where we were to be inducted into the Qun. The accommodations were no match for the State Inn in Minrathous, but we never expected them to be. Our dormitory was kept spotless, and we were fed three daily meals of a bland but nourishing porridge. Water and a strong unsweetened tea were always available as well.
Both males and females are chosen to join the Ben-Hassrath, which struck me as peculiar. I'd always heard that the Qunari drew distinctions between what counted as men's work and women's work. Thinking on it, however, perhaps it makes sense. The Ben-Hassrath are responsible for "re-education" and the assimilation of conqured peoples. Both women and men, in my experience, relate better to those of their own sex. It is thus prudent to choose women for the re-education of women and children, and men for that of men.
To their credit, the Ben-Hassrath were never cruel. They were always reasonable, if firm. I played along, repeating what they taught, but holding in my heart the truths by which I was raised. Others were not so clever. Some of my platoon resisted the indoctrination, refusing even to pretend. The Ben-Hassrath see rebellion and discontent as an illness that can be cured, and they took these men to the "viddathlok," temples dedicated to healing and recovery. I do not know what happened there. The men who returned were changed in profound ways.
Others, we never saw again. I can only assume the "cure" did not take. —From the memoirs of an Imperial soldier captured at sea
Chateau Courtyard
The door opened and Tallis walked out annoyed and frustrated. "This is officially my worst night ever"
"Not the Lord's type, I take it?" Ericks asked dryly.
The elf crossed her arms. "Maybe he just doesn't like elves…or women" Tallis looked at Ericks with eyes lit up, the rogue did not like were this was going. "Hawke, perhaps you could entertain our lord here…"
Ericks eyes went wide. "Oh, you got to be out of your fucking…"
"You're the answer, he has the key" Tallis said pushing Ericks into the room. "Go get it"
The rogue groaned. "I should have just saved time and assume a plan will fall apart from the start"
"It hasn't fallen apart! It's just…not entirely cooperating with reality" the elf said. "Just…try something" The door closed behind Ericks; he was now alone in the same room with Cyril. The rogue's eye twitched in annoyance…this was going to be a long night. The lord sat up and walked towards Ericks.
"Tell the elf that her pleas are for nothing" he said. "She's pretty enough, I suppose. No doubt there are some men who would like that sort of thing" Ericks took a deep breath, it was time to pour on the charm and walked towards him seductively.
"I thought you might be a man of…refined tastes"
Cyril smirked as he felt up Ericks' arm. "I have a great appreciation for strength…among other things" Ericks whispers in his ears, he could feel the young lord shudder with delight. The rogue then reached around and carefully took the key from his Cyril's arm. He placed it in his back pocket. Ericks backed away and, the lord Cyril was beet red in the face with a lovestruck look on his face.
"Why don't we talk again after the party?" Ericks asked with a wink. The rogue exited the room and looked for Tallis, the elf was around the corner away from the guards waiting for him.
"That was fast" she said. "Tell me you did more than just have a little fun with the lord" Ericks twirled the key around his finger before tossing it to the elf.
"Was there ever any doubt?" There was no cocky smirk on her face, Tallis looked reluctant and almost sad. This was more than just a heist; this was personal for the elf. "You look dreadful for someone that's about to rob a duke"
"It's simply a long time coming, that's all"
"The jewel's that important to you?" Ericks asked.
"Yes, I suppose it is. I want this part of my life finished"
"Aw a shame, I heard they were just about to bring out the candied nug. I wanted to see that"
Tallis crossed her arms. "Let me ruin it for you: It tastes like forgotten aspirations"
"Ouch, my hopes and dreams crushed"
"Let's find that door and get inside" Ericks and Tallis snuck towards the back of the Chateau, the guards was away, and they quickly headed for the door and unlocked it. Once inside they went down a long hallway leading into the storage room. The duo had the bad fortune to be met with a guard that was in the middle of his patrol.
"What in the name…?"
Tallis walked up. "No need for you to die, friend. Just move on and forget you ever saw us" The guard was about to call the guard and with one quick flick of the wrist, the elf tossed a dagger into the guard's throat. Ericks looked at Tallis, a forlorn look formed on her face. She went to retrieve her dagger and gave a heavy sigh. "You could have walked away"
"Of course, he didn't back away. Bad trait in a guard"
"I know…but there are other paths. They do not all need to lead to the same destination" she said. "Enough, we're here for the Heart"
"I'd like to do this quietly. Alert as few guards as possible."
"Good plan I don't relish the thought of two dozen guards chasing me 'round the chateau" They headed deeper into the Chateau.
It was with no small flair that Duke Prosper de Montfort offered a home to the exiled Esme de Jolie's considerable library of social graces, including the ever-growing volumes of Courtly Prominence so carefully logged by the dedicated scholars of Her Majesty's intimate circle.
It was an act of charity to a former enemy that, while earning a considerable influence, was no small expense of delivery. De Montfort downplayed these elements with customary charm, insisting that he accepted this burden with the increase in status firmly second among his considerations. "It is an honor to be honored when literary lineage is the true benefactor. De Jolie can rest well knowing that I hold his treasured tomes where none shall harm or read them. If he is allowed to encroach upon Orlesian territory at some distant time, perhaps he can petition to visit them."—A Library of Distinction: Notes on the Dispensing of the Holdings of the Disgraced Esme de Jolie, collected and edited by Delsea Veland in service of Duke Prosper de Montfort
The Vaults
The Vaults beneath Chateau Haine are an extensive repository for the considerable supply of valuables amassed by the Montfort family. The Vaults are home to not only a vast collection of jewels and similar valuables but also rare armors and weapons, all of which are guarded by a complicated series of traps and locks. After dodging the guards and servants, Ericks and Tallis made it to the vaults where they had to get through its traps and locks. Soon the gates opened and the two of them went inside. Ericks looked at Tallis and her face showed a small frown.
"Something wrong?"
"I don't know" Behind them was the Duke Prosper and his bodyguards. There was no panic or anger in the Duke just an eerie calm…Prosper expected an attempt on his vault. "Shit…"
"Don't fret, my dear" Ericks and Tallis took out their daggers hidden in their clothes, if there was one good thing about these fashion nightmares it that they were good at hiding weapons. Above them, Ericks and Tallis heard the clacking of armor as the chevaliers entered the room. They were surrounded.
"The party's moved indoors, I see" Ericks said.
"It's not over yet" Tallis said.
"But it is over. I knew who you where the moment you arrived, assassin"
"Well, cat's out of the bag, Tallis" The elf looked at Ericks surprised. "How did I know? Have you met my friends? All of them are crazy and most of them are killers"
"Clever, Champion! But did you also deduce that your elven friend is Qunari?" The duke asked.
"No I didn't…"
"It's complicated…" Tallis said.
"I'll bet" Ericks said. "Guess we're stuck with one another, eh?"
"My! She chose you well, didn't she?"
Tallis looked at the duke. "Look. I came to stop the Heart from doing something we will all regret. He didn't, leave him out of this"
"And waste the effort I spent luring you here before the Heart's arrival? Don't be foolish"
Tallis frowned. "Asay hassatra maas"
Prosper gave a smug smirk. "Maas avastrasa kulun" he said. "Take them away"
Hawke Estate-9:40 Dragon
Cassandra crossed her arms. "The elf was Qunari"
Varric snorted. "And the dwarf has no beard! I know, it made no sense to me, either. Maybe they cut her horns off?"
"The Qunari are not a race. They are a religion"
"Oh, don't I know it, Kirkwall is still feeling the effects of their 'religious expression" the dwarf said dryly.
"What I don't understand is why a Qunari agent would try to kill one of her own people. And why involve the Champion?" Cassandra asked.
"Excellent questions"
"I expect answers to match"
"I live to please"
Many believe that Qunari is the name of the race of horned behemoths from the north. They are mistaken. "Qunari" means "people of the Qun." There are elves, humans, even dwarves who have submitted to the Qun and who think of themselves as Qunari. All soldiers of the Imperium must remain aware of this fact: Any person could be a Qunari spy. Elves seem particularly susceptible to conversion.
New converts uniformly become zealots, either of their own volition or as a result of the Ben-Hassrath's "re-education." Yet the converts still understand our culture as only those born to it can. They can move unnoticed in Tevinter lands. If elven, they may even return themselves to slavery. These spies, as long as they remain undiscovered, will pass sensitive information to Par Vollen. They may even try to convert others by sowing doubt and uncertainty. Every Imperial soldier must watch for this treachery. —From a lecture to new recruits of the Tevinter army
The Dungeons
The Dungeons beneath Chateau Haine serve as a convenient place for the Duke to deposit any criminals, malcontents or odd statues as he deems fit. The fortress was modified during the Fourth Blight and the dungeon passages were built by the Grey Wardens to help the citizens of Orlais escape the encroaching darkspawn. A crack in the wall within The Dungeons leads through a ghast infested cave-like passage out to the Retreat. Ericks and Tallis was thrown in the cells and the guards locked the door behind them. The dungeons were dreary with a lack of sun through the cracks, any poor soul that came here would have lost all hope of escape but luckily for Ericks he was not 'most people'.
"So at least we're not dead" Tallis said.
"Oh yes, we can experience the joys of slop and slowly wasting away from the lack of said slop" Ericks said sarcastically. "Much better"
"I don't suppose an apology would make things better?"
"I hope it comes with fabulous riches"
"Not…likely"
"So…the Duke can speak qunlat, and quite good qunlat at that. Very interesting" Ericks said. "And you're really terrible at this heist thing"
Tallis sighed. "I'm sorry. This didn't work out like I'd planned…obviously"
"So, what was the plan, exactly?"
"I was looking for someone named Salit, a member of the Ben-Hassrath…the Heart of the Many" she said. "I was told he's here to sell secrets to the Orlesians and I came to stop him. I…suppose I was misinformed"
Ericks crossed his arms. "Tell me everything…then we'll go from there"
Captured and Tallis' identity and true mission comes out! Next Time! As always, Review and Comment!
