The creature sang with the Orca's and sounded like a bard from the Winter Palace. She was beautiful and glided through the water gracefully. Quickly approaching Rubeus, Cassandra swam in the way and blocked with her sword as the creature came closer.
A desire demon taking the form of a mermaid with long purple fins propelled her through the water. The delicate golden chains wrapped around her figure as she outstretched two bird-like claws to ensnare the seeker.
Rubeus saw Michela first, she jetted through the water with razored fins and intercepted the desired demon. Physically dragging the demon away from Rubeus and Cassandra. The demon clawed at the Captain, tearing a fin off of Michela's arm causing her to lose control of direction and they went deeper into the water. Rubeus knew he could do nothing but Cassandra was already in action. She swam toward the demon and grabbed at its tail, pulling hard to yank it away from Michela. The demon revered its head but still clung to Michela. Cassandra changed tactics and bashed her shoulder into the demon to try and get it off.
Michela was scratched up by the creature before she was able to slip free. Cassandra was taken for a short ride before Michela froze her arms. Cassandra shattered them with her blade to break free of its grip.
The fade rift snapped closed and the three of them dashed the diving bell. Blood filled the water around Michela as she was slowed by her injuries. Just before she ran out of breath, they surfaced in the air bubble of the bell with desperate gasps.
"Quickly we have to…" Michela was suddenly pulled back under by surprise, the bell swung as something below them had taken hold of their oxygen supply. Rubeus's eye widened and without thinking, he throws out his hand. Sparking green energy sprang force creating a small rift pulling everything in. Cassandra knew the warning sign and gripped tightly to the bell.
Michela was in the arms of a second desired demon who had appeared, the appearance of the rift causing her to freeze in place as her form began to materialize. Surprised by the sudden magic she gasped, releasing her breath of air. In a panic, she attacked and broke free, able to grip on the bell but able to breathe.
Michela slammed her fist on the bell making it vibrate, the crew above pulling against the force of the rift to pull them out.
Halfway up out of the water, Michela tried to crawl up into the air pocket and required Cassandra and Rubeus to aid her. Taking a desperate breath as they were pulled to safety. The three of them held tightly together until they broke the surface of the water.
"Ow." Michela finally spoke now they had more air. Rubeus shook the water off his person, Cassandra seemed unphased by her wet attire.
"Can we get a healer for the captain?" Rubeus called out.
"How about you board the ship first," Fritigern shouted from nearly two stories up and tossed a ladder down. "The demons are gone."
"Great!" Michela said and swam for the ladder. Despite her injuries, still carrying her own as she left bloody marks behind as she climbed up.
Rubeus and Cassandra followed after, making the long climb back to the ship.
"Fritigern, you're still reporting to the brig," Michela said now back on deck.
"I helped save your lives," Fritigern said innocently.
"I got questioned too. Don't think you'll be getting out of it," Rubeus replied.
"Honey, Escort him to the brig," Michela called as she sat down on the closest barrel that could hold her up. Minnie ran up to Michela's side quickly.
"Captain! Are you alright?" She asked
"Below deck is clear. Everyone is safe and the injured are being taken care of." Dorian reported as he came up the main deck.
"I am fine, I need you to secure my quarters for me," Michela said and Minnie paused and raised her brows curiously at the Captain.
"As you say," Minnie said and took something from the Captain's hand and wandered off.
"Michela please, I am not against you," Fritigern said.
"Honey… Where are you." Michela asked.
"Here," Honey bellowed as she approached from the diving bell's control centre. Honey looked beat up as if she had been defending those working the bell.
"Lock him up please," Michela asked
"Fine! I'll go just don't take my pants this time." Fritigern joked with a smirk toward Cassandra. "You should know that there is a beautiful book about a warrior queen who fell in love with a pirate. It's in the Captain's quarters, I just wanted to read it." Fritigern said bluntly.
"You broke in to read a romance novel?" Cassandra asked.
"You mean… my book?" Michela asked.
"You wrote a book!? How come you didn't tell me!" Varric asked, he was coming around still unable to stand on his own yet.
"You're getting locked up in the surgery," Michela ordered. Things got out of hand as everyone was starting to talk over each other.
"Enough!" Rubeus raised his voice in a loud cry.
Honey took advantage of the inquisitor's distraction, grabbed Fritigern aggressively and dragged him to the brig.
"Is there a healer?" Rubeus asked.
"I have some healing spells," Dorian volunteered. "How can I help?"
"I said I'm fine," Michela said and hid her wound. The pool of blood at her foot however was not so easily hidden.
"You're a horrible liar, duchess." Dorian quipped. Rubeus sighed. Her clothes were tattered, ripped by the claws of the demon and were not designed to fend off against blades.
"Let Dorian heal you." Rubeus ordered, "I know he's not your first choice of medic but just work with him."
"Rubeus, if I am to stay here. Would you bring Varric down to the surgery and lock him up. Or should I just forgive him for breaking into my room as well?" Michela asked.
"I'll take him to surgery and he can stay there till he is recovered and can be questioned." Rubeus grabbed Varric by the arm to escort him.
"I'll go, touchy. You think I had been punished enough." Varric sighed.
"It's just till you are questioned, after that…." Rubeus trailed off.
"Await judgement I know I know… wasn't expecting this how my day would turn out," Varric explained.
"Well, maybe you shouldn't be sneaking around the captain's quarters," Rubeus replied.
"You were sneaking around the same as me," Varric replies.
"I wasn't! I was taken in there against my better knowledge and like you, I got questioned." Rubeus argued.
"And got away with it, you know you're exactly like Hawke," Varric commented.
Rubeus huffed and led Varric away.
Dorian waved his hand cautiously over Michela's wound. Soft warm energy glowed as the injury started repairing itself.
Michela didn't look at him, didn't even speak, she sat there with a glowering sneer. Her wounds were impressively deep, but as Dorian healed her, Michela's hands started to shake from the pain.
"Easy, I need you to remove your jacket so I can get a better look," Dorian said cautiously.
"..." Still silent as she bit her lip at the removal of her jacket to expose more wounds. Strips of leather stuck on the clotted blood ripping open once again. Dorian went back to work, expending more energy than before to try and close the wound.
"Thank you, by the way," he said quietly as his hands glided back and forth over the laceration.
Michela raised her brow curiously at the remark but refrained from responding.
The various crew with little work to do eavesdropping on their conversation. The Captain was watching closely looking for someone. Dorian finished healing Michela the best he could. The wound had closed and the bleeding stopped but remained red and tender.
"You are oddly quiet. I remember you used to talk my ear off."
"Because I don't want to talk to you," Michela said finally then sighed overdramatically.
"Fair point," Dorian replied. "Then I guess I won't patronize you by telling you how to care for your wound." He got up to leave her be when two figures approached. Honey and Rubeus had returned from below deck.
"Your navigator is quite lovely." Rubeus said to Michela. Honey did not seem to react.
"Fritigern is in the brig and the inquisitor secured the dwarf in the medical bay. You have your pick of who you want to interrogate first." Honey said dryly.
"Leave them to stir a bit, I'm hurt you see. So the best thing is for me to rest. Right, Dorian?" Michela asked not bothering to open her eyes and address anyone.
"R—-Right, the duchess should be resting. There is only so much magic can do in these situations." Dorian replied.
Michela stood up and turned to Honey.
"Fine, we can let them rot for a while longer," Honey responded. "I will return to the wheelhouse." The qunari glared at Dorian and gave a warning look to Rubeus as she left.
"Thank you." Michela nodded and pat Honey on the shoulder as she walked away.
"I know that look," Rubeus commented as he looked Michela over.
"And what look is that?" Michela asked.
"It's the look of someone tired of being the boss," Rubeus said offhandedly. Dorian smirked.
"You think Honey is the boss of this ship?" Michela questioned rather offended.
"What? I see him get that look all the time," Dorian replied, nodding his head towards Rubeus.
"Well, I'll have you know not many people are willing to sail the seas while Quanri are warring to Tevinter and the Raiders are plundering the spoils of war," Michela said and picked up her bloody jacket and slung it over her shoulder.
"I'm not talking about your navigator, I'm talking about you!" Rubeus interjected. "You are tired of it and want a break."
"Please, tell me. How would you run this ship of ex-slaves with no homes, no family, no heritage and no wealth? I pay them, but half of them spend it at taverns on whores or drinks. Others lose it gambling and most get robbed by punks in the streets. I teach them to fight, they leave their swords on the ship too afraid to use them." Michela sighed heavily, she sounded worried above all else.
"Then when we get to Skyhold let the innocent stay. Give them the choice. Work on the ship or stay at Skyhold where they can live peacefully," Rubeus suggested.
"Not a bad idea…" Dorian said, "there's still plenty of space and with a third of the populace returning home to families now that Corypheus is gone."
"And who do you trust to sail with? You need at least 40 people, and when you're all on a boat with nothing, but the depths of dark mystery below you. You need to make sure each of those people is %100 loyal to you." Michela said and poked Rubeus in the centre of his chest. Giving Dorian the eye of caution. Dorian looked offended. Rubeus sighed and rolled his eyes.
"I doubt your crew would abandon you," the inquisitor stated. "Refuge or not, people work here and that commands some respect."
"One spark of fire, one broken line and we can sink. So forgive me, and my caution that I don't just hand my ship over to a land shark." Michela said and pulled out a copper-tin from her jacket. Popping it open and pulling out a joint to pinch between her teeth.
"But you still deserve a break at some point. The position of a leader is exhausting at best…" Rubeus exclaimed.
"You want to be in charge so bad, why not. Rubeus. With my first mate having exposed himself as a traitor to my trust, I appoint you to run this ship while I recover from my wounds." Michela said and flicked her thumb as her red painted nail caught fire so she could smoke.
"Fine," Rubeus called her bluff.
"You're aware he commanded the entire inquisition, right? How difficult could running a ship be?" Dorian added.
"Captain! There was a demon below deck who wounded Minnie! She's in hysterics!" A crewman ran up covered in applesauce and cinnamon.
"Well, Rubeus?" Michela asked curiously as she bellowed out a smoke ring around her face. Rubeus looked to the crewman.
"Lead the way," he said and followed behind the sailor.
"I'm off duty, so excuse me. I take this for pain." Michela winked at Dorian and took another long drag to blow his direction. Dorian coughed and wrinkled his nose.
"That smells worse than bogfisher dung." Dorian sighed. "Most medicine is unpleasant though I suppose."
"It does not! I grow the finest herbs and medicines and you know it!" Michela snapped at Dorian.
"Regardless of that fact, this has always smelt vile. You're losing your sense of smell if you think otherwise," Dorian waves his hand to get the smoke out of his face. "And it's going to perfume my attire if you keep blowing smoke in my direction."
"I'd rather stink of bog fisher than of arrogance! I'm not wasting another breath on you." Michela fumed and stormed away to her quarters. After the first stubborn few steps, she shivered at the pain and paused. Proudly continuing her march at a slower pace.
Down on the lower deck, Fenris was stationed on guard to watch out for more demons but abandoned his post. The elven warrior opened the door to the surgery and entered easily, rather surprised it was left unlocked.
"I heard the captain poisoned you, Varric." Fenris commented, "how are you feeling?"
"Well, to be fair. I poisoned myself by picking the lock in her bedroom. But who loads a trap with wyvern poison it's like she was trying to kill me. " Varric had a guilty laugh. Fenris smirked.
"You know Captain Michela. Would you expect less of her?"
"I should have listened to my own stories. It's been a while Broody, though I'm glad you're here. I might be in a bit of trouble." Varric sighed.
The dwarf was cuffed to the table, shirtless under the sheets which were stained with sweat already. He looked awful, running a high fever and left a washbowl and cloth to treat it with. Fenris took the cloth and dampen it with cold water before putting it on the rogue's forehead.
"Why did you go to the captain's quarters anyway?" Fenris asked.
"Michela has been infected by red lyrium. I…" Varric paused to take a deep breath before sitting up with extreme effort.
"Careful," Fenris voiced.
"It's not the first time I've been poisoned, though my compliments to the concoction. dwarves are resilient, but I think my heart stopped for a second. Anyways." Varric released his ponytail and fluffed his hair. Uncomfortable and unable to sit still. "If she's been infected by red lyrium. I need to know how it hit her in the first place." Varric said as he scratched and smoothed his chest hair. "For a long time I believe she was someone else and this two-faced behaviour has gone too far."
"She is coming off of a lyrium addiction. Regular lyrium, not red. Of course, she's being erratic," Fenris commented, crossing his arms.
"The last time we talked we were friends and now she acts like I am her enemy." Varric sighed. Tugging at his cuff aggressively.
"Hawke died helping the inquisition after you chased her down. I was not happy with you either and Michela took it pretty hard. But I doubt that would be enough to have her hate you. What else happened?" Fenris asked.
"Nothing happened! So unless she misread my letters she is taking this whole situation out of control. Or, Emilio is still manipulating her mind and she can't tell us." Varric said sternly.
"Emilio is WHAT?" Fenris snapped. His posture when ridged and defensive.
"Oh shit, how could I forget that," Varric said out loud rather dumbfounded. "We were drunk, and she didn't say it herself. Why can't I remember that conversation." Varric asked himself.
"Typical of a magister. Did not think they would treat their own family as a slave, but again I should not be that surprised. Should I?" Fenris said darkly.
"Hawke knew more about Michela than me, she wasn't exactly around us very long. Perhaps Anders does? Michela was couped up in his clinic for a few days when she first came to Kirkwall." Varric rubbed his chin.
"I would not know. You speak with Anders more than I do," Fenris pointed out.
"Fenris, you gotta figure out if Michela is being mind-controlled or not. Dorian may be from Tevinter, but I trust him and he would know more about magister magic than anyone." Varric begged.
"That overly decorated mage that the Inquisitor is close with? I have heard of his house. Surprised you let him into the inquisition let alone a member of the inner circle." Fenris snipped.
"Sparkler isn't like the rest of them. Trust me besides I promised Hawke if Michela was in danger from her father I would help. I owe it to the both of them and it will help me prove I'm innocent." Varric pressed.
"I will find out if he knows anything…" Fenris sighed. "I owe you all that much and if Hawke wanted the captain safe then I will not argue."
"I let Hawke down, I know she would be happy knowing another mage didn't get sacrificed in the game." Varric laid back down, relieved his friend was with him.
"She would be upset if you died," Fenris pointed out. "So I am going to keep an eye on you till the poison subsides."
"Thanks, pal, I need to sleep." Varric groaned and rolled over to lay down.