Chapter Fifty-Seven: Voisins
The Provisional Government of the Trojan Republic made landfall on January 6th 9:40.
Or to use less fancy language, Velarana, Leha, Fisher Junior and the rest of the appointed ministers jumped out of the longboat that had taken them from the battleships, soaking themselves up to the knees in cold seawater, and waded ashore. Leha cursing the whole time, because the water was up to her waist rather than her knees. Not the most dignified arrival in history, but it was pretty damn funny to the rest of us. Our people have always enjoyed moments where our leaders are humbled in this manner, whatever reverence they have for them/us.
Keeps us all honest, I think, by reminding all concerned that they're only human. Well, human by our scientific and theological standards. I'm sure the big hats in Val Royeaux and Minrathous have differing standards.
I was there to greet them at the edge of the water, along with a few soldiers and onlookers. No real fanfare to the occasion, everyone else had work to do. Again, as long as there are no foreigners around, that became our style.
Clouds had rolled in at night, heavy rain looked to be on the cards at some point. Which made the first words I heard from our leader all the more curious.
"General," Velarana called as she approached, "A fine day."
"If you call a dirty grey sky and cold winds fine," I shrugged, offering her my hand which was refused, "Leha, you look like a popiscle." Soaked to the armpits with brine and shivering, while holding her furs over her head so they wouldn't get wet.
"Sam, I don't know what a popiscle is," the dwarf replied in ill-temper, "But whatever it is, I'm going to find one and shove it up your..."
"That's quite enough, Madame," Velarana interrupted, "And enough jokes from you General."
I waved my hand, accepting the order. Leha grumbled to herself, but kept going without overt comment. I joined the Chancellor as she walked onwards towards the dunes, noticing she kept glancing eastwards to the long lines of people and goods being moved from the 'docks'.
"Sam, how are we doing?" Velarana said, quietly and with more familiarity than I expected, "Are we well situated?" As the radios had been kept with the Army, she was unaware of what had happened on shore except for a written report I had rowed out to her the day before. Not surprising that she wanted to get details at once.
"We sent out scouts as planned, the terrain is excellent," I reported back, "There are small hills about a kilometre or two back there that would be perfect for the town, with small rivers running between them. That should provide us with a solid defensive position and good sanitation. Apart from that, the valley is well named, there are halla everywhere."
"So we won't starve at least," Fisher Junior put in, "That's good news."
"We have enough provisions to last until spring," Leha responded, "We weren't going to starve either way."
Velarana frowned to herself, as if seeing a future problem ahead or struggling with the steepness of the dune, which we were now tackling a step at a time.
"Order the troops to refrain from shooting the creatures," she said, "We don't want to deplete the population so early, no matter how tasty the meat is or how fine the pelts."
"Understood, Chancellor," I said, "As for the other inhabitants, we have seen no sign of darkspawn or the Dalish, they apparently live further into the interior, but as my report stated, we have encountered both pirates and a Qunari group of unknown strength."
We reached the top of the dunes, and the Chancellor stopped, looking again to the west while using her hand to shield her eyes from the wind. To the beached ships of the pirates and the Qunari village in the distance.
"As for temporary shelter," I continued, "Camp Jerusalem is almost complete, half the mounts are offloaded and 90% of our people too. We're mostly just getting the supplies and equipment off now. I have artillery batteries placed around the camp, and the trees are being cleared around to provide better fields of fire. Our people will be well protected."
All of which had actually been a bitch to organise, but thankfully not impossible. People kept wandering around like they had nothing to do, enthralled by their new home or the curious encounters with halla. The standard camp arrangement had to be altered when it was discovered part of the intended ground had a large sinkhole. And the forest didn't give us a lot of notice if anyone was sneaking up, so pickets had to be assigned deeper into the forest, which was not a popular assignment.
Velarana nodded, acknowledging all of the report but not moving her eyes to me. "General, could the cavalry be ready for action soon?" she inquired.
I blinked, not having expected such a request. "Whenever you'd like," I replied, "Their mounts were the first offloaded. Colonel Isewen has taken half the Lancers west to scout along the shore, to make sure there aren't any other surprises for us."
"Which leaves the Guard, my Aequitarians and half the Lancers," Velarana noted aloud, "Gather them at once."
"To go and do what exactly?" I asked.
The High Chancellor still did not look to me, but pointed straight at the beached pirate frigates in the distance.
"I want those ships," she said, "Today. Without negotiation."
My face broke in a wide smile. This was even more unexpected. I had thought she would parley with the pirates and Qunari, maybe make a show of military force but without the real effect of it. She had even identified that the cavalry were the right tool for the job; the pirates had no defences and they weren't likely to have long spears either.
What a very pleasant surprise. "I'll go begin preparations at once," I said with enthusiasm, "Leha, there's a dry set of clothes in our tents, if you can stand wearing our clothes. The escort will show you the way." No need to let her keep a grudge against me for teasing her. Besides, we needed our Minister for Finance in good health.
"Thanks," Leha sniffled, wringing her sleeve, "Don't leave the others out of the fun."
"I won't," I promised.
With nothing more to be said, I saluted to Velarana, and slid back down the dunes, rushing to the temporary corral above the high tide mark.
We assembled the cavalry in the west, well out of view of the pirates. It wouldn't stop them knowing something was up though, even if they had only been casually observing us. The civvies had taken to the dunetops by the thousands to watch the mustering of the chevaliers, and the unloading of our supplies had been paused to clear the route through the 'harbour' zone, although the windscreens remained up.
The horses and soldiers were armed and armoured, and arranged in column for the move into the open. Chevaliers in front, as the lancers and mounted mages were faster. They could swing into line from behind as needed.
At the very front, I sat in the saddle, Bellona under me so pleased to be on dry land again that she was uncharacteristically affectionate when I greeted her. Horses have surprising emotional range, which is why I often feel bad about how they are used directly in war. Even if it was necessary. I was very pleased to get such a reaction myself, knowing at least that the beast's fondness would translate to obedience.
Beside me was Louise de Villars, Baroness Blondie herself, also superbly mounted on her large white destrier covered with a dark grey and bright silver barding. Both of us wearing the skull masks of her dynasty. To my other side, a little further away, Velarana stood on top of a rostra, constructed out of barrels with planks laid over them. I was awaiting confirmation from the rear, that the rest of the lancers were ready to go. Some had only just returned from various scouting duties when the order to attack the pirates had been given.
As you can imagine, the small talk was excruciating.
"Marquis... About Mariette," Louise opened, "She told me that she spoke to you."
"She did," I said, "I told her no problem."
Her interest piqued, Velarana shifted her blowing blonde hair, albeit less blonde than Louise's. I felt surrounded by Aryans for a moment.
"What did you speak about?" the Chancellor asked, "Nothing I don't have to overrule, I hope." So it began. The expressions of power.
"A promotion for the colonel here," I replied, "And an espionage role for Mariette. I agreed to both, as is within my right as General-Commanding. Although we will discuss the details about spying at the next war council, if that is okay?"
Velarana frowned. "We have enough generals, considering the demobilisation plans," she said, "But at least you chose the person who should have been a general from the beginning."
"Thank you, Your Excellency," Louise said, inclining her head respectfully, "It is good to know I have your confidence."
"Of course you do," Velarana replied, "Your charge at the Hafter likely saved my life as much as my capture of Alistair did. But even though we have enough generals already, that is no mark against you, merely my reluctance to ask the Marquis here to back down."
"You can order me to back down," I pointed out, "But otherwise, no. We have a lot of regiments hanging in the wind, without senior officers or attached to others. We'll be moving to a different structure, to better use the experienced officers we do have. It makes no sense to leave Lady Louise in command of less than a thousand troops. I rethought our organisation on the way here."
The Chancellor cocked an eyebrow. "From what I hear, you didn't have much spare time at all on the voyage," she said politely, "Fulfilling your … treaty obligations."
An amused and thoroughly aristocratic breath escaped from Louise. "Not even the Marquis can make love for two and a half days straight," she said, her voice wobbling slightly as she suppressed laughter, "He might occasionally have to breath."
Good to know that I was a figure of fun among the High Command. Ah well, no point in getting salty about it.
"Shows what you know," I joked back, wiggling my brow. I got a throaty laugh in return, Louise shaking her head. Despite her pretences, it was yet another reminder that she was not the typical chevalier.
When I turned back to Velarana, one of her Aequitarian aides was speaking quietly into her ear. The hooded and robed mage was turning his hand around repeatedly as he spoke, almost like he was nervous. Something had happened, and it wasn't hard to tell. Yet what had made the aide nervous had the complete opposite effect on our leader. The Chancellor was positively grinning by the end of the aide's report.
"Something up?" I asked.
"Nothing you need to worry about," Velarana replied, pleased as punch, "Just something I expected."
"Need-to-know, huh?" I said to no one in particular, "As you wish."
A commotion began behind us, which I first noticed as many of the civilians began pointing that way. Thinking it connected to the message the Chancellor had just received, I pushed myself up in the saddle to see. At first, there was nothing. But eventually, the heads of the lancers and mages began to turn to see something moving up the left of the column, followed by a Mexican wave of saluting. The sky blue of the UN banner appeared, raised up on a staff, and moved ever closer.
No big mystery as to who it was.
Julie and Tam soon appeared, riding Revas and Fritz at a trot, both riders and both horses in full battle array. Julie carried the banner, of course.
It was a great relief and joy to see them, even after being parted for only such a small time. I was taken a little aback by the depth of my feeling in this, but nudged Bellona forward a few steps to greet my wives as the two wheeled their own mounts to come to a stop in front of us.
Julie inclined her head in greeting to Velarana, who did not react, before moving to my immediate right. Meanwhile, Tam pushed Fritz to my left. The end result was a three way hugging and kissing pile on horseback that probably went on for an indecent length of time. God, it felt good to be there at that moment.
"Missed you," Julie said, when it finally broke up, "Did you miss me?"
I pretended to consider the question for a second. "I missed Tam," I joked, getting a light slap on the wrist for it.
"We made it," Tam smiled, "We escaped."
"Yes, we did," I said, kissing her on the cheek.
"But our work is never done," Julie added, before raising her voice, "Permission to join the attack?"
"I'm not sure you need my permission," I replied, again loud enough for the others in our company to hear.
"You are not a soldier of the Free Army, Marquise," Velarana said, "And you are in fact a member of the Assembly, as well as leader of the Loyal Opposition." Implying that these facts prohibited her from taking part in battle. There was another, unknown but far more prohibitive fact that would have sent me scurrying to restrain her at once, but only one person knew about it.
"But I am a noble," Julie replied flatly, "By marriage." Which was the exception that Velarana herself had allowed for membership of both the military and the political class. No doubt she was setting it up so that it could be used for this very purpose, as a means of boxing in her political opponent on the subject of nobility.
Julie, unphased by this, turned to Louise de Villars. "Colonel, I request entry into your regiment," Julie asked, "At the lowest rank."
Louise's skull mask swivelled briefly to Velarana, not as if to ask permission but with somewhat an air of defiance. "I accede to your request, Marquise," she said, "Although, for someone of your station to be just a trooper.."
"I doubt Sam will let you promote me any higher," Julie said, "Besides, I am not experienced in commanding soldiers, even if I have fought in one or two battles myself. Best leave it to those who know what they're doing."
I shrugged, and gave Louise the nod. Blondie, for her part, saluted to me to show her acceptance.
"I'll protect her," Tam assured the Chancellor, "Even if she puts herself in danger, at least her presence will be good for morale. A united front against the enemy." Julie kissed our wife on the cheek, approving the statement.
"Wise words," Velarana said flatly, not amused by the whole thing in the slightest, "General, are you ready to attack yet?"
"I spoke to the Lancers' officers," Julie interrupted, "They asked me to say that they are ready back there, if that is what we are waiting for."
"It is," I said, "You two stick with me. And Julie, for God's sake, obey my orders and don't go charging off." A repeat of Sahrnia's little demonstration was completely unnecessary at this juncture. We had complete superiority of numbers and firepower.
"Go, General," Velarana commanded, "Get me my ships from that wretched scum." Our Chancellor having served on board Orlesian ships in fighting against pirates, her opinion of them was as low as could be. They were to be put to the sword when caught, except where they cooperated with national policy. That last thing was their only salvation, and she always considered it a temporary one.
"At once, ma'am," I replied formally, before turning on my comms, "Battery Two, begin suppressive bombardment. Cavalry Brigade, begin the advance!"
"Yes, my lord!"
Our column of cavalry rumbled through the docklands at the fast canter that our well-bred horses could keep up for hours if necessary, edging around the windscreens and keeping good order. There were no cheers from the watching crowd, just worried faces or grim smiles. The entire approach was punctuated by the booming of the ten or so cannon on top of the highest dune in sight of the pirates, a little further ahead of the main defences.
As we got to the eastern cordon manned by the Highlanders, I could see that the superlative accuracy of our Tranquil gunners had not been diminished by the sea voyage. The solid shot bolts whirled forwards, the Fire Wyrm's Call sounding through the cold air. Each was landing exactly where I intended them to; over the pirate camp and into the open ground beside the ships. It seemed to be having the effect I intended too, stopping any of them from scurrying on board where getting them out again would be a complete bitch of a job. Kept them from getting any makeshift defences together too.
The pirates could definitely see us now. They knew this was no mere show, it was a demonstration. Both to those on the beach and their comrades on the ships. Piracy in Dolphin Bay was at an end.
"Slow march," Louise ordered, "Form the line of battle." Her bugler immediately raised his instrument to his lips and sounded the command for line of battle. Orders had been issued about what to do exactly when the bugle called, and our discipline did not fail.
The horses slowed to a trot as we passed by the Tevinter ship-chain, the Aequitarians moving off to the left to the less even ground where their smaller horses were better suited, while the Lancers moved to the right up against the sea where they could get around the pirate camp and slaughter any trying for a last minute dash to the ships.
It was low tide, so there was plenty of room for the entirety of the near two thousand of us. I knew as soon as I saw the ground with all our troops on it that it would be our day.
At the bow of the trireme that anchored the line of Tevinter ships to the shore, Aurelia and Tiberius stood watching, along with Knight-Master Markham. On the sand nearby were the Hospitallers, ready to move forwards to aid the wounded as required, and a sizeable force of Tevinter mage-samurai in a defensive formation. Markham must have filled them in on the situation, I thought to myself.
A sudden wave of fear came over me, not so strong as to cripple me but unlike anything I had ever experienced before. The reason why moved out into my conscious brain quickly. Aurelia was bearing my child, if she had done everything correctly. I had no reason to doubt that she had. So, I was riding into battle for the first time, knowing that I would be leaving not only Tam and Julie behind, but another person who would have looked to me for comfort, advice and aid. For love.
It's said that men only become fathers on seeing their children, but facing a battle really speeds that process along.
Contrary to what I might have predicted my own reaction to be, this did not make me shrink from battle. Instead, I felt raw aggression pour over my skin like hot water. Dying against pirates? There was no way I was going to let the bastards do that to me. I took the male prerogative in these matters; send my enemies to Hell, so I can live to see my children.
I wasn't the only one to notice those members of the audience.
"She came out to watch," Tam noted aloud, riding alongside.
"Of course she did," Julie remarked, "Wouldn't you?"
Tam did not reply, keeping her head firmly fixed forwards as the whole line swept by the Tevinter ship-chain at last.
"Sabres!" Louise called, "Barriers!"
The hiss of the chevaliers' curved swords leaving their scabbards as one managed to drown out the thumping of hooves on wet sand for a moment, joined by Tam's longsword. They did not glitter or gleam, there wasn't enough sunlight for that. The magical protections of the assigned barrier mages didn't shine enough to change it, except for the briefest moment where my natural immunity to magic shattered the barrier that had tried to form around me. This was to be a grey battle, fought under a grey sky. Well, that's not entirely accurate. It was red too.
I drew my own sabre, a gift from Louise that was better suited to the job than my mace.
The whole line sped up. From a trot to a canter for the next few hundred metres. The Aequitarians half galloped over the lower dunes in a tide of human and horse flesh, swarming to keep up with the much more orderly line of the Guard and Lancer regiments.
Finally, we reached the two-thirds mark. The cannon booming behind us and the bolts whirling over our heads ceased. The pirates, having wisely kept their heads down, emerged from their tents and the sand itself, gathering in the middle of their camp to try and use the whole thing as cover.
"Gloire au Valhalle!" Louise shouted.
"GLOIRE AU VALHALLE!" the chevaliers roared as one.
Glory to Valhalla, they sang. The warcry of the Trojan Chevaliers ever since.
"Charge!"
The bugler sounded the command, and the entire line burst forward in a furious gallop. The Lancers levelled their weapons, the chevaliers raised their sabres from rest position on their shoulders to hold them above their heads, and a cacophony of magical bolts erupted from the Aequitarians.
The magic reached the pirates first, but unlike with the cannon barrage, they did not flee or hide. Their mages just barely managed to get their own barriers up, only for them to be struck down as soon as they had been raised. This too was according to our plan. We knew they'd have plenty of mages, albeit fewer than we had. Just keeping their people alive was all the magically inclined among the pirates were able to do in the circumstances, which suited us just fine.
The Lancers and Aequitarians moved faster than we did, due to their lighter armour. They struck out ahead on both sides, like bullhorns.
This broke some of the pirates. Hardly surprising. While on the high seas, you can always expect them to fight to the death. There's nowhere to run. On land, it's a different story. Unfortunately for them, we had left them only two places to run; to their ships and down the beach. A hundred or so, remarkably few by my reckoning, tried their best to get out of Dodge.
No luck. The Lancers caught those running to the beached ships among the vessels themselves, going through them like a hot knife through butter. Lances pierced the backs and sides, and maces smashed skulls. Those running off down the beach might make it away, but they were fewer in number and completely without help.
The Aequitarians swung around and hit the camp just as we rode in, chevalier squadrons splitting up to avoid the tents. Arrows and crossbow bolts were let loose in response, but in nowhere enough numbers to stop what was about to happen. Pirates didn't generally have a lot of ranged weapons. The concept of sharpshooters in the rigging of ships was to be our invention.
We bore down on the clusters of pirates, dressed warmly for the weather yet in still very distinctly Rivaini and Antivan fashions. Bandanas and flared sleeves, cutlasses and daggers. No armour to speak of. More importantly, I did not see a single sharpened tent pole or makeshift spears made out of downed trees.
I couldn't believe the lack of preparations. They had not expected to be attacked at all. A suspicion itched at the back of my skull, but there was no time to think about it. Before I could, Bellona had carried me right to the enemy, Tam and Louise beside me, Julie presumably somewhere behind with my banner.
We rode the group in front of us down in between two large white tents, the curve forcing me to the side a little. We went in swinging.
Both Tam and Louise were a length ahead of me. They both caught two bandana-wearing men at the neck, just as I slammed my sabre blade down onto the bare head of a third. Arterial spray covered me as my sword made contact, soaking into my uniform and clothes. Whether or not my blow was immediately fatal, I couldn't tell. My world was bathed in red, the blood dripping through the eyeholes of my mask acting like a coloured lens until it got into my eyes directly.
Hands grasped at my right leg, trying to pull me down off my horse. The threat of being torn to pieces on the ground sent my heart pounding, before I realised their true objective; they had identified me as important, and wanted to take me alive, as a hostage. Pirates, ever imaginative.
I slashed blindly and wildly in a double stroke, copying something I had seen Louise and others do many times by then, anticipating where the owners of the hands might have been.
I hit something, soft at first and hard underneath. I drew the blade through it with some difficulty. At least one other person. The attack worked, just barely, the force of their attempt to dismount me pulling my horse to one side. But my relief soured in my mouth, as more hands tried to drag me from the other side.
Getting at whoever it was with my sword was more awkward from that angle; I am right handed, and swinging over my head to the left gave whoever it was too much warning to move out of my sabre's path. Three times I tried in as many seconds, three times I hit nothing but air.
I tried bringing down my pommel onto the target, and hit something soft. Someone grunted beside me, and I thrust again, to no effect. The bastard actually laughed. I grabbed in the direction of the voice with my free hand, letting go of the reins, risking that they might be used against me.
A loud, wet thud sounded in the same direction I was reaching, followed by a scuffle on the ground. The hands on my leg released at last, and no more came to bother me.
Bellona must have known something was wrong and moved aside, the chevaliers streaming around me to engage. Death cries sounded from the direction my attackers had been in, as they were trampled under hooves. I patted my steed's back, ever thankful for her instincts. It gave me the opportunity to rip off the mask and see my surroundings again.
The scene before me was butchery. The pirates, having absolutely no intention of laying down arms, were being met with ferocious charges from both chevalier and mage alike, who both had no intention of giving quarter. Bodies lay sliced open and broken everywhere. The men that had tried to pull me off my horse were nearby; the first with his throat cut so deep that only his spine kept his head attached to his body, the second with the back of his skull caved in.
Never more happy to see corpses in my life. Although that feeling didn't last long. The natural revulsion kicked in as soon as my relief had.
The more open spaces were dominated by the chevaliers, able to keep up their speed to level truly terrifying blows on the upper bodies of those they caught. In the narrower passages between tents, or even inside the shelters, the knight-enchanters of the Aequitarians were meeting the pirates head on with both spirit blade and magic. Strobes of lightning and ice flashed into the pirates, sometimes met with the fire of the pirates' own magical users.
As I tried to rub the blood out of my face, it was clear that we had already won, and with next to no casualties. The pirates were ill equipped, ill led, and as I said before, ill prepared. Another minute would see total victory. As an example and a morale boost, it was perfect. But my suspicions began to turn about in my head again. It was too easy.
"Sam, are you okay?!" Julie asked from the side, "You're covered in blood!"
I looked over, and found her stopped close beside. The white flank of Revas was stained red with blood, and her warhammer was too. I realised that she was the one that had saved me. Her emerald eyes were wide with worry, but relaxed once she was sure I wasn't injured. She quickly poured water from her canteen bottle onto a cloth, couching my banner in her stirrups and holding it under one arm, before giving the cloth over to me to clean myself a little. The uniform and armour wouldn't be so easily cleaned, but I started on my face.
From the patterns I made with it, it must have seemed like I had lost my eyes or was crying blood; the mask had protected the rest of my face from the splatter except for the tip of my chin. I got all of it off, although the hint of iron lingered in my mouth for a minute afterwards.
"I'm fine," I said, "Tam and Louise just got a little eager with their swords. Sorry for scaring you."
Julie punched me on the shoulder, her lips tight with exasperated relief. "That's for making me worry in the first place!" she said, "I thought you had been blinded! That you couldn't defend yourself!" She punched me again.
Normally, I might have joked back, but in the mood I was in, I simply nodded once or twice and remained quiet, observing the battle as it unfolded before me. It was just a case of mopping up now, and sending the mages into the ships to get at the pirates who had been stationed inside from the beginning. As the ships were tilted on their sides diagonally to the way they'd sit in the water, there likely weren't many.
"I'm sorry," I repeated, "I got my blood up and charged in. Probably not appropriate for a general. Not for something this … inconsequential."
Julie looked at me funny. "That's not exactly like you," she said, "This is something that Louise could have handled herself. What is wrong?"
"Just feel the world differently now," I replied honestly, "Like there's too much evil in it, and I need to destroy that evil as soon as possible. I'm... going to be a father. And I've only just understood what that means."
Because it wasn't going to be just we highly capable, well armed adults any more. Between the expectant mothers on the beach and Aurelia, it just wasn't.
Julie looked at me, her eyes softening. She took off her helmet, leaned in and kissed me on the lips, holding both sides of my face gently as she did so and taking her time. "Now you understand how I feel," she said, "How I really feel." She kissed me again, more briefly this time, before releasing me as the sound of horses approached once more.
Louise and Tam, as equally bloodsplattered as I was, came back with an escort. Swords held by their sides, eyes searching for targets as well as looking in greeting to us. At least, until Tam saw the blood that was all over me. Then her violet pair tracked to me exclusively.
"Threat eliminated, Marquis," Louise reported, perhaps slightly prematurely but not incorrectly. There were figures on the tops of the dunes that concerned me, or would if we hadn't brought our full cavalry force.
"None survived," Tam added, coming over, "Are you hurt?"
"I'm fine," I replied to Tam, waving her to come closer to check. She did so with her usual gusto, eyes and hands running over my body and under my armour to look for wounds. It was more pleasant than usual, given what had almost just happened. Always good to know someone cares.
"The Aequitarian mages are already moving to the ships," Louise continued, pointing with her sabre as Tam's checking was done, "It looks like those inside used the fight as a distraction and ran for it."
"It's not a problem," I said, "Any sign of the Tal-Vashoth moving in?"
I looked up at the dunes beyond, and saw two dozen Qunari men and women looking down at us. Armed with large weapons, but not proceeding down the dunes to use them.
"They just watched," Louise said, "As expected. We were too many for the pirates, and there are even fewer of the Qunari."
"They are not Qunari," Tam said, completing her check of me, "And cannot be trusted."
"Well, we won't know that until we talk to them," Julie replied, "They don't have anything the High Chancellor would want, as far as we know. And with this, we've established our credentials very nicely." She waved her forefinger around in the air to indicate the bloodsoaked mess that was the remains of the pirate camp.
Cannon barrages and cavalry charges certainly fit our reputation in battle. Hopefully that reputation would be greatly strengthened by rumour of what had happened.
"Your credentials won't save you," said a weakened voice, in an Antivan accent.
Julie's Beretta jumped out of its holster so fast, I was barely able to follow her movement. She pointed it off to a place behind me, drawing all of our eyes to the spot in question.
Kneeling just in front of the collection of corpses we had made with our charge was a man with a terrible gash across his forehead, a bloodied hand clutching to it desperately as if to keep his skull together. After a second or two, I recognised him as the man I had hit with my sabre just before I was blinded with blood. I blew out a breath, amazed he was still alive and could speak through what must have been horrible pain.
"These are Ianto's ships," the man rasped, "The Terror of Llomerryn does not forgive or forget such an insult. Your world will burn." He let out a gasping laugh from the chest, his head flung backwards to the sky. He had gone mad with pain.
The suspicion I had was confirmed. The pirates had good reason to not fear us. They assumed we would ask the pirates in our fleet about the ships and who owned them, and that the reply would deter us. Frankly, I think if we had asked, Velarana would have ordered us to capture rather than kill, so we could put the whole lot on trial before publicly executing them.
Ianto was a name that rang out in the Free Marches. And one that would haunt us in the coming months.
The pirate looked like he was about to expire, but someone present wasn't about to let him do so. All four of us were disgusting by the man's outburst. One more so than the rest.
"Fils de pute," Louise spat, "We are chevaliers. We fear no one."
Louise spurred her large white destrier horse forward, rounding Julie, Tam and I, and going straight for the man. Rather than killing him with a sword, she rode straight over him and returning, circling on his body until his ribcage and head were flattened. When I saw the horse turn on the spot, I looked away, fully understanding the statement Louise was making nonetheless.
Honourable opponents could be met with the sword, finished off with the sword. Dishonourable ones could be trampled under hoof, like the filthy peasants they were. Louise might not have believed in serfdom any longer, or perhaps she never did except as a necessity, but there were still strict social hierarchies that placed the likes of the pirate firmly at the bottom. And although elves and commoners were no longer placed there, those at the bottom could be killed.
"General, I didn't order you to do that," I complained as she returned, "That was completely unnecessary!"
"He deserved no better, Marquis," Louise replied, careful to keep any hint of defiance out of her tone, "Nor would he have lived to tell us anything useful."
"That wasn't certain, General," Julie said, displeased as I was. She might have viewed pirates as scum, but seeing a chevalier execute someone so blithely raised her objection by default.
"I've seen men survive worse," said Tam, coming to Louise's defence, "But I doubt he would have talked anyway."
The Baroness des Grands Collines seemed buoyed by one of my wives agreeing with her, even in part. That set me off. She was in no position to seek shelter behind my respect for Tam's opinion.
"Well then, allow me to make this an order," I said, leaning forward in the saddle so I could look straight into her eyes, "You may not execute anyone without explicit authorisation from me, unless they are an immediate threat to your life. You're an intelligent person. I know you will remember that."
"I shall, Marquis," Louise said, clenching her fist over her chest in the chevalier salute.
That social hierarchy of hers demanded deference to her betters, as much as it had demanded the death of the pirate. I sighed, wondering how we'd defuse that in future.
"Good," I said, "Now let's talk to our other neighbours. Those Tal-Vashoth need to understand their circumstances, and I'd prefer to do that with words this time."
We moved out with the Guard as our escort, leaving the camp in the hands of the Lancers and the ships in the hands of the mages. They'd would find some interesting things in the course of the occupation of both, the ballistas disassembled for one, a set of letters of marque from the monarchy of Antiva for another. Curiosities, rather than necessities, for the most part.
The chevaliers reformed the column of march, and we winded our way up the dunes once again. The previous watchers had disappeared, probably to warn the village of our approach. Given that the place appeared from the outside to be a ghost town when we approached, that seemed like a good guess. The ground around the settlement was entirely cleared of trees, having been used to build the palisade walls, and there was a deep ditch ringing it too.
I began to question calling it a settlement at all. Some of the sharpened tree trunks making up the wall were still green where they had been cut, like the defences had just been thrown up recently. On top of that, I saw no signs of permanent settlement. No well trod pathways into the forest, no wells or permanent sanitation features... no 'town stink' of the sort that builds up in pre-scientific regions. They hadn't been there long at all.
That was a good sign. It meant they probably wouldn't be disputing our sovereignty, because they didn't consider the land to be theirs. Not that they could have challenged us in that. All we had to do is establish friendly relations, in the context of us being the far more powerful party.
I knew immediately that I wasn't the man to do that.
So, as our column of horse troops once again formed the line of battle, this time as a display rather than as the prelude to an attack, I turned to the politician in our midst.
"Julie, you're up," I said.
My wife blinked. "What?" she asked, "You want me to talk to them?"
"You're the obvious candidate," I said, "I'm covered from head to toe in blood, and I'm not the most diplomatic person in the world."
"Neither am I!" Julie replied, "And look at this." She gestured to the side of Revas, streaked red from her withers to her hindquarter. Still, that was a whole lot better than what I looked like. I looked like I had rolled around in freshly bloody corpses.
"You are very diplomatic when you're not talking to nobles," I explained, "You're downright charming to anyone without a silver spoon up their rear."
Julie shook her head, clutching the reins closer to her and looking out towards the village. "There is someone more qualified," she said, "In this case." She looked at Tam.
The implication being that Julie thought that the inhabitants might be more comfortable talking to a Qunari. Tam herself was ambivalent, biting her bottom lip in thought.
"Marquise, I don't think you grasp the Qun's tenets," Louise said, "You are the best choice. Unless I'm mistaken, Lady Tam?" Blondie was familiar with the Qun's strengths and weaknesses, having studied war and its history.
"No, I believe you're correct, General," Tam replied, "They are Tal-Vashoth, traitors to the Qun. So am I, I suppose, except I reject that label. They have not. They have found no greater purpose, falling for their aggressive instincts. I find that contemptuous, and I'd be unable to hide it if I were to speak to them. I'd also be unable to hide my past as tamassran, and they would likely be hostile for that. It is good that Asala is not here. She would provoke them to even greater degrees."
Of that, there can be no doubt at all.
"And since Blondie here isn't likely to win their favour," I said, thumbing at Louise, "That leaves you Julie."
Julie frowned, tapping impatiently on the top of her warhammer as it sat in the loop of leather that kept it hanging off her saddle. My mind wandered for a moment, into some irrelevant but happy territory, until she opened her mouth again.
"A compromise," she declared, "We all go, but I'll speak. There's no reason to hide who we are. They will be expecting a chevalier after seeing our attack, so Louise must come. We have two Qunari defectors in command positions, so Tam must come. And Sam, if you think you're wriggling out of this, I'm saying right now that I won't let you."
A toothy grin spread over Tam's face behind Julie, as the latter shot me a stern look. I sighed theatrically, and raised my hands, showing that I would comply. That satisfied her.
"Okay," she said, "Let's go."
We proceeded forwards, with the objective of stopping in front of what looked like a gate. It was hard to tell, because there weren't exactly any hinges on the thing and there was no interruption in the defensive ditch, just sidebars that looked like they might be used to slide a section of the wall away. Which probably wasn't an easy task, but hey, they were small-q qunari, they had the muscle power, and hard to shift meant hard for enemies to shift too.
We stopped a decent distance from the spot. Julie in front, the UN banner held high. Tam, Louise and I behind, our hands visibly away from our weapons, my own placed on top of my saddle's horn. No arrows came flying out of the watchtowers, which now had cloth hanging from their roofs to conceal their interiors from view. Another good sign.
"Hello!" Julie shouted in Common, her Orlesian accent unsuppressed, "We wish to parley!"
No reply came. After a minute, Julie looked back at us. I shrugged.
"We want to talk!" Julie clarified, perhaps wondering if they didn't know what parley meant, "We..."
She stopped speaking as soon as the wall started dropping forwards over the ditch, forming a wide bridge over it that could be withdrawn by the thick ropes attached to the end.
Standing behind it, in full battle array, were a good three hundred qunari by my estimation. All of them above six feet in height. Vitaar warpaint in a startling variety of colours all over their body, protecting them against injury from head to toe, the patterns not those I was familiar with from Tam and Asala's previous use of the substances. Furs were thrown over their shoulders against the cold. Over them hung black banners with the symbol of a red ram stitched onto them, in a distinctly Qunari art style.
Their weapons were very familiar too, reminiscent of those I had seen the Qunari forces in Hearth use; spears with vicious multiblade heads on them, machete-like two-handed swords, large spiked batons, tower shields, longbows...
A mix of weapons that was far more suited to fighting cavalry in the open than cutlasses and daggers, to say the least.
Seemingly the whole three hundred began walking out onto and over the bridge, not in any particularly disciplined manner but protecting all sides nonetheless. They spread out to either side of the bridge, and advanced slowly forwards.
I knew that they wouldn't be able to catch us if we withdrew, apart from sending arrows at us perhaps, but the fear of them crept up on all of us nonetheless. Julie stood firm in front, but she also quietly drew her handcannon again. By now, we only had less than twenty bullets for that type of weapon, and all of them were loaded in hers. That alone was indication that she thought she might need a last ditch factor to save our skins.
Luckily for us, no one on our side felt like provoking a hostile response. We thoroughly outnumbered our new neighbours, and the chevaliers were not ones to lose their nerve easily. No one did anything stupid. That didn't stop the air being thick enough with tension to cut with a knife. It does take two to tango, after all.
The first thing to ease the atmosphere was the halt of the qunari advance. Someone shouted stop, and they all did at once. Which was better than a lot of armed groups could accomplish back then, I can tell you. Mildly impressed by this, I decided it very much was best if we let things play out and let Julie play her role.
A figure emerged, a particularly tall female that made Tam look positively small, armoured up to the gills save for her head, which was painted with vitaar and nothing else. Her light coloured hair was shaved down to a bare fuzz, probably because she had four curved horns that would have gotten in the way otherwise. She had narrow grey eyes, with a scar running vertically across the entire left side of her face.
Not someone I'd want to piss off while unarmed. Even then, she might have given me a run for my money.
Two others emerged to join her.
A male, dressed as the others were, holding a staff; a mage. Not as large as the Iron Bull had been, or the saarebas that had been brought by Tallis to Hearth, but he was still a male qunari. He had jet black hair that was neck length, his face kept clear by his horns, only two this time but larger than his leader's own. He seemed nervous, which made me nervous. Nervous mages tend to do … destructive things.
Another female came too, and had to be closely related to the male. They had a similar bridge of the nose, their hair colour was the same, and their horns were almost identical. Speaking of her hair, it was long enough to reach her waist and tied up in a great braided tail, complete with red ribbons. She was no mage, however. She was armoured in similar fashion to the leader; segmented plate armour. She also carried a two handed sword with a flat point branching into two spikes perpendicular to the blade. I would have called it an Uruk-Hai beserker blade, but very few here get that reference. Contrary to her relative, she was confident, even smirking, as she approached.
Two more people I wouldn't want to meet in an alley, either way.
"Good day to you," Julie said in Common, with maximum formality, "I am Julie Hunt, Marquise de la Fayette."
She left it there, not because that should have explained everything, but that getting names out of the way seemed the most polite path. It did in fact explain everything, the exchange of glances between the three qunari said as much, but I guess Julie thought there would be time to beat them over the head with her history and reputation later.
"Shokrakar," the leader declared, "This is Karaas and Herah Adaar." Karaas being the male mage, Herah the female beserker.
"Shokrakar..." Tam growled loudly, before giving a burst of qunlat that didn't seem very friendly at all. The leader broke out in a wide, vicious grin that was right at home with Tam's own favourite. She replied in qunlat too, which put the aforementioned grin on Tam's face. Apparently they were exchanging barbs over how Shokrakar was a savage, and how Tam was a fascist pig. More or less.
"Tam, what is wrong?" I asked, getting more nervous about the situation.
"Shokrakar means rebel in our tongue," Tam said, "She is someone that not even the qamek could break. Someone without morals or purpose, but with a strong will."
"My purpose is to live well, tama," Shokrakar answered, with a click of her tongue, "That is all you need concern yourself about." Her voice was deep, barely feminine. A voice of a person who had known great suffering.
Louise's hand moved from her saddlehorn to the grip of her sabre, without any attempt to conceal the movement. The qunari beyond shifted slightly, so they could attack her more readily. One step closer to disaster.
"We are soldiers of the Free Army of Troy, here to settle," Julie said, moving the conversation deftly to another topic, "Formerly of Free Orlais."
"We know," Shokrakar said, "There are no places in the world that are unaware of how you started the civil war in Orlais now. Many in the cities here speak about your writings, although we don't care about them ourselves. Herah brought word from traders that you were planning to come to the Free Marches months ago, but we did not believe it until every merchant ship on the coast got hired out. And after seeing what you did to Ianto's pirates, I can see why your reputation precedes you. He will be very angry when he hears of this, with you and with us."
That was curious. Well, the part about the pirates being equally pissed off with Shokrakar's group, not the part about everyone knowing about us. Why would the dread Ianto care about the qunari? Julie had much the same question.
"Our enemies are many," Julie said, "We don't fear confrontation. Why would this Ianto care that we attacked his camp and stole his ships?"
"We are the Valo-Kas," said Herah, "We winter here, and protect this part of the bay so that all the pirates may careen their ships here. There are no other contracts in winter, not for us. We don't play nice enough to keep order in the towns. We are supposed to protect the crews while they work here... but only from other pirates. I doubt that distinction will soothe Ianto. He is not a reasonable man, even for a human."
"That's putting it lightly," said Karaas, "He'll come at you like a wyvern for what you've done."
"Then he'll meet his doom," Louise replied, "This pirate cannot possibly summon the resources of a Grand-Duke of Orlais, and it took no less than that to defeat us before."
"You will make plenty of enemies he can ally with," Herah said, "Even I can see that."
"It does not matter," Shokrakar interrupted, "We just want to know if you come to fight us, now that you've finished with Ianto's dogs. We thought you might when we saw you were coming here next. And if I wasn't certain that we would all die, I would welcome such a battle. Winters are boring."
Julie smiled brightly. "Unfortunately, winter will remain boring for you," she said, "For the moment." Meaning that we had no intention to attack, as far as any of us knew. But who knew what Velarana had planned for the future.
"I don't suppose you have work for us?" Shokrakar asked, "We still haven't been paid in full for the last job we pulled, although we'll go see to that in spring."
Julie seized on the opportunity. "Here is what I can promise you," she said, "You're free to visit our camp, in small numbers. You can approach our leader about jobs if you like, or trade with us. Perhaps even sell information you have. If you're worried about being attacked, doing all of that is the surest way to avoid it. There is lots to be done, so it's likely you'll get hired, and if what you say about Ianto is true, there's strength in numbers."
"I thought you were the leader?" Shokrakar said, "Or the other one. The man they say comes from another world."
"There's been a change in leadership," I replied, "Neither of us are at the top any more."
The one called Herah stepped forward a few paces. "You are the one from another world?" she asked. Before you go thinking it was out of attraction to me that she asked this, it wasn't. The fact I need to preface the rest of the conversation with this is sad, but hey, I had three wives by this stage and a whole other romantic mess in the future to come.
"Yes, I am," I replied, "An Outlander."
"He sounds like a dwarf," frowned Karaas, "Some of the Merchant's Guild sound like him."
"I don't believe it," Herah said, "There are no other worlds."
"So we all thought," Julie responded, "But if you'd like, all you need to do to see for yourself is shoot a little magic at him. His world doesn't have magic, and it makes him immune to it. Worse, get too close and he can suck the magic right out of you." The last bit was an exaggeration; that only happens if you try to heal me.
"I must see this," Shokrakar said, "Karaas, get over there and shoot something at him."
"But..." the mage objected, eyeing the chevaliers.
"Do as I say, Adaar!" the leader commanded.
Karaas grumbled under his breath, and walked forwards. Herah, his older sister I had guessed by this point, rumbled out a laugh. This was very... un-Qunari behaviour. I wondered if either of them had ever even set foot in Qunandar. There had to be some qunari who had been born and raised outside of the Qun by this stage, I knew, but were these some of those people?
Tam shifted Fritz to the side, to prevent Karaas from getting too close, shooting a withering violet stare down at him from the saddle. To my great surprise, the huge man actually shifted his gaze away from her. Again, nervous.
"Wait," Tam said, "We must warn the chevaliers, or else they will think you are attacking Sam. And cut you and your kith to pieces."
As poorly veiled threats go, that was fairly innocuous. The mage nodded in agreement, still not looking at her.
Tam stood in her stirrups, and raised her hand, a gesture for the chevaliers to stay put. Some heads turned to Louise, as Tam was Warden-Commander not General of the Cavalry, but by the time they did, Louise was copying the gesture. The message was clear. 'Don't react to what happens next.'
Karaas did his thing, shooting a modest lightning bolt at me. As usual, it harmed neither me, nor Bellona, although I was opening and closing my eyes to get rid of afterimages for a few seconds after. Funny how magical light isn't neutralised by my immunity, I thought. I guess photons are the same in both worlds.
"It's true, damn it!" Herah shouted, "I owe Kaariss two silvers."
"Kaariss bet that you did exist," Karaas explained to me, "Because there's no way the humans would ever think such a thing about a living person without it being true. Dead people, you make things up about them all the time."
At least they weren't falling to their knees in reverence, which endeared all of them to me.
"For my next trick, I'll pull a rabbit out of my helmet," I said flatly.
"Are you immune to swords too?" Shokrakar asked, equally as unimpressed as I was.
"No," I replied, "They can still chop me, no problem."
"Then it doesn't matter," the Valo-Kas leader said with a wave of the hand, before looking to Julie, "We accept your advice. Hopefully there's some coin in it." A woman after Leha's own heart, I thought.
"Glad to hear it," said Julie. Bringing the mercenaries to heel was a political triumph for her too, and one that Velarana would look bad undoing. She wouldn't care overmuch. She was in the middle of orchestrating her own little coup.
We returned to Camp Jerusalem along the edge of the forest, as the winter darkness began to close in. The Navy had finally taken possession of the ships we had captured, a very pleased looking cousin of Fisher coming in with about fifty sailors to assess the state of the things. The daytime was finally getting longer, but it still got dark in the early evening hours, preventing us from working to our fullest potential. I guess a couple of the Navy boys were mages, otherwise they'd be sleeping on board the tilted vessels for the night.
At that point, we were done. I just wanted to change out of my uniform. Julie complained of unusual fatigue. Tam seemed distracted. And Louise was oddly quiet before we went our separate ways. After the day we had been through, I would have expected worse.
So, when a messenger in the robes of the Circle of Magi rushed up to us, right as we reached our tent, the temptation to grab a firelance and shoot the bastard was heavy on my mind.
"Marquis, the Chancellor commands your presence at Headquarters," he said, the civilian not even bothering to salute, "And requests the presence of the Leader of the Opposition and Warden-Commander."
"What is it now?" I asked, more than a little grumpy, "Can't you see I'm not exactly in a state for a war council meeting?"
The messenger did look at my gore covered self with some alarm, but being the servant of a politician, he had been selected for his lack of scruples and recovered quickly.
"I'm not sure your current state of dress is a problem, my lord," he said, "In fact, I think the High Chancellor would be greatly pleased if you arrived wearing what you are now."
I rubbed a temple, wondering just what in the hell that meant.
"Why is that?" Tam asked, "Why would she be pleased if he arrived directly from battle?"
"There is a delegation from Ostwick present, my lady," the messenger said, "The Chancellor is attempting to assert our claim to Valhalla, without provoking a war. Your military expertise and appearance as a bloodsoaked warrior would be very much appreciated in that effort."
"And what does she intend for me?" Julie snorted, "Does she want me to insult whatever bastard nobles have come, only so she can make herself look like the voice of reason? Do I look that stupid? Tell the good Chancellor that I am unavailable."
"I will do so," the messenger replied, overly politely, "And Warden-Commander? What of you?"
Tam wasn't quite as bloodsplattered as I was, but she had went medieval on more than one pirate and it was obvious. Was that the reason why her presence was requested? Rather than asking outright, it seemed Tam was more curious.
"I'll come," said Tam, "Please wait over there." Her tone brooked no disagreement.
The messenger bowed, and moved out of earshot. Tam went to Julie, taking her in a gentle embrace.
"Are you... healthy?" Tam asked. Count on her to notice something was wrong.
"Just tired," Julie insisted, "Not in the mood to deal with aristos."
"Okay," said Tam, the borrowed American word slipping out softly. My wives kissed each other quickly. I hugged Julie quickly myself, before she went into the tent yawning. I grabbed a firelance out of my footlocker, just for added intimidation value, and we went off through the camp in the direction of the HQ tents.
I waited until we were well clear of our own before asking the question. "What was all that about?" I said, "Is there something wrong with Julie?"
"It's nothing," Tam replied, "Nothing you need to worry about." The answer had come quickly and sternly. More so than I could have possibly anticipated.
Translation: further discussion on this topic will not be tolerated.
There wasn't much else I could do about that, so on we walked in silence. Not that I didn't feel a little hurt that I wasn't to be confided in. Of course, Tam was ever thinking forwards on matters, and this was a kindness to her mind. Uncertainties abound.
"Perhaps we should call on Markham," I said at last, just before the HQ tent, "If there is a problem."
"Perhaps we should," Tam agreed, softening again at my obvious concern, "But for now, let us meet our would-be overlords."
We entered, passing the Grenadiers on guard outside. They seemed amused to see us. That made me wonder even more as to the purpose of the whole thing.
Inside the lantern lit space, there were two lines of padded chairs, various familiar and unfamiliar people sitting in them. The war council table and various other chests had been shoved into a corner to provide the room for the summit.
To the right was the bulk of our high government. Velarana, Leha, Fisher Junior, the lesser ministers and the Chancellor's aides. All of them looked freshfaced and pleased to be there, dressed in their best robes or clothes. The exception was Leha, whom had probably been interrupted doing something for her own amusement when this meeting had been called, because she looked like she'd strangle those opposite and she was wearing her Carta armour as a visual objection to the whole affair.
To the left was Aurelia at the end of the row, in a formal black dress with a large skirt, her face carefully blank of any emotion. She had brought her naginata, however. That spoke loudly enough.
On the other chairs on the left sat four figures, careful to keep themselves spaced away from the Tevinter mage on their side.
An older man in his fifties, clearly the leader of the delegation. He had salt and pepper hair and beard, grey velvet clothes, high red leather boots, and hazel eyes. His face was stern, reminding me somewhat of McNulty when he got serious, and not particularly handsome. He had once been a formidable man physically at some point, but the softness of noble life had gotten to him in middle age, and he filled out his clothes with ease, without being unhealthy in any respect. He was not a tall man, however.
To either side of the main delegate was a man and a woman. The son and daughter of the older man if I was any judge, although thankfully the daughter had inherited her looks from her mother. All three had thin rather than round faces, which was perhaps the big giveaway as to their blood ties. Both siblings had rich brown hair, the brother cut short and the sister wearing it to the shoulder. They had green eyes with the same stern look across them, contrived or otherwise, and both wore grey jackets and trousers, of the type usually meant to accommodate chainmail. Even without that detail, I could have guessed they were military nobility; the son's upper body made it clear he was stronger than me, probably from swinging a greatsword around, and the daughter had the musculature and gait, even while sitting, of a top class archer.
The last man was a Grey Warden, his silverite splintmail and blue underjacket making that clear even if it wasn't for the griffon motif on them. He had dark deep-set eyes, black hair, heavy stubble across his jawline and a thick drooping mustache that stretched below his chin. Handlebar doesn't quite cover it. I knew at once that he was the reason for Tam's requested presence.
Eyes turned to us as the High Chancellor's messenger hurried over and whispered in her ear. The sight of us causing a serious crack in the stern facade of the Ostwickers, not having expected our arrival to be accompanied with blood. The Grey Warden, to his credit, was not so disturbed.
"General, Warden-Commander," Velarana said, dismissing her messenger, "Thank you for joining us." Clearly the news that Julie wasn't coming had not changed her plans.
She gestured to two of three empty seats to her immediate right, directly opposite Aurelia. Tam and I crossed the space, watched like hawks the entire time by the Ostwickers, before settling into the leather and getting comfortable. After hours in the saddle, it felt positively divine to have my ass in that seat, let me tell you. Cheered me right up. I mouthed as much to Aurelia, and she broke ranks with the serious side of the room to give me a grin. Tam nudged me, putting me back on course.
"Introductions are necessary, I suppose," Velarana said, "My lords and ladies, this is Samuel Hunt, Marquis de la Fayette and Commanding General of the Free Army. And this is Tam Hunt, Warden-Commander in Troy. Unfortunately, Julie Hunt could not join us tonight, but we may proceed with our business nonetheless."
The two male Ostwicker's noses turned slightly at what Velarana had by no clever means pointed out; 'Here is the famous Outlander, and yes, he's a polygamist as reported. Oh, and that blood on him is fresh pirate. He commanded their death in battle mere hours ago. But the really famous one, the one that would piss those Ostwickers off most, she didn't want to show. Tough luck for you. I'm in charge now.'
"You of course have already met Aurelia Tiberia Valentina," Velarana said, "And my cabinet."
"We have," the Ostwicker chief said. Not a man of many words, at least not to people he despised. In fairness, Aurelia seemed to return the lack of warmth.
"Marquis, Warden-Commander, this is Bann Alexander Trevelyan," she continued, "Steward of Ostwick. Along with his son and daughter, Maxwell and Evelyn, both commanders in the Long Watch."
And so I met Evelyn Trevelyan for the first time.
"Good to meet you," I said. I got no response, other than stares.
"And lastly, Warden-Constable Jean-Marc Stroud," Velarana concluded, "Here to represent the Marcher Grey Wardens, although he has the distinct advantage of being Orlesian."
"I would not call it an advantage, necessarily," Stroud replied, in Orlesian, "But if it helps my mission, so be it."
"It certainly shall," Velarana replied in Orlesian, before switching back to Common, "Now that everyone is introduced, perhaps you would like to repeat your statement now, Bann Trevelyan?"
The bann wasn't one to mince words.
"The Terynir of Ostwick claims sovereignty over Val Halla to the west bank of the River Alba," he said, "All those wishing to settle there must submit oaths of fealty to the Teyrn. All mages in this territory must submit themselves to the power of the Templar Order at the Circle of Magi at Ostwick. Men at arms must surrender their weapons to the Long Watch. Libertarianism will not be tolerated."
He shut his mouth, and awaited a reply. I simply did not have a ready one to give. I sat there in stunned silence. This was incredible stupidity. Probably caused by fear, fear of what the future might hold with we Libertarians living next door.
Evelyn, for her part, was not pleased with her father's stubborn stand against reality. You could see it in her eyes, glassing over slightly as he spoke. But she said nothing. Dutiful daughter as she was. By contrast, Maxwell Trevelyan was nodding the whole time, very happy to hear his father asserting his country's rights.
"Is he serious?" Tam asked, pointing rudely at the bann.
"Very," said Velarana, "And I have already given him our counteroffer. The Trojan Republic claims the entirety of Valhalla from Last Mount to the Alba. We shall make no effort to spread our ideology outside of our borders. We shall not invade those of a differing form of government. We offer free trade to any of our neighbours that will have it. We shall shelter mages or political dissidents, but not criminals."
"I take it you did not like that, Lord Trevelyan?" I asked. The man himself looked away from me.
"If this is your answer," the bann said, "Come the spring, there shall be war."
"Which is why I brought the Marquis and our Tevinter friend here," Velarana said, "I hope to convince you that war with us is folly, and peace with us would be entirely to your benefit."
"You spread chaos wherever you go," the bann replied, "You brought your own realm low, allowing the Grand-Duke the perfect opportunity to betray the Empress. The blood of that war is on your hands."
"The Grand-Duke would have found his opportunity regardless," I replied, "He was a traitor from the start, a man who believes his throne has been stolen from him and doesn't care what the cost to recover it is."
"At least he is a man of noble birth," sneered Maxwell, "Not a knife-ear mage, or a commoner elf-blooded whore." I came to the realisation that the son had probably been brought along for the express purpose of insulting us.
The temperature of the room dropped ten degrees, leaving the breath of everyone but me smoking. I escaped the effect only due to my immunity. Velarana, although maintaining her outward good mood, was the source of cold that descended on all. Her magic sucked the heat out of the air unconsciously.
Calling Julie an elf-blooded whore had hardly improved the mood of Tam either. My wife came to the defence of our beloved by taking my firelance off my lap, and cocking the charging handle, before levelling it straight at Maxwell. He ignored her, copying his father. It was Evelyn that squirmed a little, evidently too honest to be able to pretend it wasn't worth looking at. Between the three of them, at least she had to good sense to twitch when faced with an angry mage and an angry firelancer.
"Bann Trevelyan," Velarana said icily, "If your son speaks like that again, he may very well not leave this camp alive. Even if I, in trying to protect our national interests, could ignore such an insult, the Warden-Commander is not subject to my jurisdiction as you well know. She will gladly perforate him with that firelance in her hands."
The matter of jurisdiction wasn't strictly true in our case, as the Grey Wardens were subordinated to the Free Army. But that wasn't known to any but us.
Alexander Trevelyan was an old hand at this back-and-forth, however. "My son will not speak again," the bann said.
Maxwell did not object. He'd played his part. He crossed his arms, and listened.
"General," said Velarana, "Could you present the military situation as you understand it at present?" The unspoken thing being not to reveal her plans to demobilise a large part of the army. That wasn't something the Ostwickers needed to know.
Finally, some meat to chew on.
"It's fairly simple," I said, "We have more than thirty thousand troops under arms, Ostwick has ten thousand. Our troops are professionals, any additional levies Ostwick could raise or mercenaries it could hire would not be. We allow mages to serve openly, Ostwick doesn't even acknowledge it has the right to give mages in its jurisdiction that freedom. We have blackpowder weapons and artillery, Ostwick doesn't. In terms of armies, we outclass you in every respect. And whatever allies you have would not be able to help you in time."
"While the Western Legions of the Tevinter Imperium stand ready to assist against any coalition of Marcher states," Aurelia added, "An arrangement cemented with a marriage. Not that you trust the other Marchers to ride to your rescue."
"The Chantry and the Templars..." The bann began in retort.
"Have far more pressing concerns at the moment," Velarana said, completing the sentence, "And considering Orlais is tied up with itself and Nevarra has border issues with Tevinter even without the inclusion of the Western Legions, you're left only with Starkhaven to back an Exalted March. And Starkhaven will probably help you without that call."
Prince Vael was indeed not one to ignore unorthodox theology, to say nothing of Orlesian colonisation...
"They'll just be too late to save you from our cannon," I added, "Double walls would be a pain to break, but not impossible. Not even close." Ostwick being famous for those fortifications.
"All of which doesn't include our navy," said Fisher Junior, speaking for the absent Admiral, "Which was superior to yours even before we add the ships captured today. You had nothing to match a squadron of Orlesian galleons even before we added cannon to their complement of arms."
"You also can't fund a war," Leha said, "Sure, you can pay your ten thousand troops easily enough, but getting everything you need to move through the valley to our defences? Those supplies aren't free. That problem has been a thorn in our side long enough for me to know you'd face the same issue. Especially as there are no fucking roads in Valhalla. Yet."
Evelyn Trevelyan nodded to herself, knowing all about that last fact. The purpose of the Long Watch of Ostwick was to patrol the borders, including into the western part of Valhalla. She didn't catch herself in time to prevent us from seeing it, but snapped up straighter in her seat before her father saw that she had agreed with us.
The bann was singularly unhappy, lines around his mouth forming as his lips thinned.
"You will provoke a war with the entire Free Marches with this attitude," he said.
"It could happen that way," Velarana conceded, "But the Free Marches are not united. Their armies are spread out, separated by distance and geography, different doctrines and different political interests. All we need to do to win is prevent you all from joining up against us. Whereas you need to invade Val Halla, something you haven't done before now for good reason."
"If you can defeat us so easily," the Bann said, "Why do you want peace?"
"Because I have no interest in conquering anyone," Velarana said, "My government was elected on a promise of peace. I will try for peace before war, every time. In Orlais, I saw the true face of the new war. It is unspeakable slaughter. It benefits no one. Whereas co-existence between our two realms would profit us both. Access to goods, safer sea travel along our coast, mutual defence against the Qunari, the wealth gained by the taming of one of the last wild places in the Marches..."
The bann rubbed an eye with a thumb, a small sign of frustration.
"I am a pious man, Chancellor," he said, "I firmly believe your nation must be destroyed to protect my own. The Maker will not tolerate your apostasy, nor should we. However, I am not the Teyrn. I have little doubt, having presented what arguments you have to him, that he will agree to your terms. At least, as long as current military conditions prevail. I will pass your words along to him."
A very convoluted way of saying 'I hate you, but my superiors will be afraid of you.'
"As will I," said Evelyn. A glimmer of hope for peace perhaps? She did not seem as enthused for war as her father and brother. But that was out of calculation, rather than her agreeing with our ideas, as we would discover.
The Ostwick delegation stood up, and bowed at the waist to us, Evelyn the deepest, Maxwell the least.
"Go in peace," Velarana said, "I hope that our two realms will not see bloodshed any time soon."
With that, they exited the tent, not sparing us another glance. That left Warden Stroud with us, his business still not addressed.
"I have to admit," Stroud said, "That was an impressive display."
"It was nothing but the truth," Velarana lied, "What brings you to us, Warden-Constable? Do you bring word from Weisshaupt?"
"No, the First Warden still has not made any decision as far as I know," Stroud replied, "I come at the request of the Wardens of the Marches, hoping to help coordinate actions against the darkspawn in this region. There is no shortage of them here, as you must have heard."
"We have," Tam replied, "My Wardens and I are new, and although we have both the experience of Warden-Constable Hawke and the teaching of Warden-Commander Andras to call upon, I will not say no to more help... Keeping Valhalla safe from the Blight is our job, I am determined that we shall do it well."
I wished to myself that it didn't have to be Tam involved in that aspect. That she hadn't been tainted in the Deep Roads. That something could cure her.
"I am glad to see you have no intention of challenging our position," Velarana said, "I'm sure there are pressures on you to do so."
"Grey Wardens fight the Blight by any means necessary," Stroud said, "And we received the letter from Warden-Commander Andras, about arming her Wardens with your new weapons. Qunari blackpowder... it is something we have dreamed of using for many years. I can only imagine how many lives could have been saved if we had access to it sooner."
"Well, Mr. Stroud, wonder no longer," I said, "Our Wardens are armed with it, and you'll get to see it in action first hand, I'm sure."
I stood up from my seat, drawing the attention of all remaining. "But for now, I'm going to change out of these bloody clothes."
And as soon as I had finished speaking, the sound of hard rain beating on the ground came through the entrance, as if the Maker himself was saying I really needed a wash. No doubt everyone in the tent agreed.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: So, four possible Inquisitors in this chapter. Two Adaars and two Trevelyans. More Tam and Julie. A little combat. And hints of things to come, all around. Rolling edits for errors/quality as always.
Ostwick lore based off the Ostwick Codices by dwead-piwate-meggers, because I really enjoyed her take on the city a while back.
The story has finally broken the 500 favourites mark, so thank you to all that have dropped that favourite on this story and I hope to continue bringing you chapters that vindicate that decision!
Lastly; Happy Birthday to me!
Katkiller-V: Yeah, Sebastian is not going to be pleased. The Trevelyans are also devout orthodox Andrastians to my understanding of their background stories, so they'll be right there with him...
Thepkrmgc: How's this for initial hostilities? Haha
Also, they're not on the island, they're on the coast beside the island. Although they claim the island as theirs too. There was no naval battle because there was no navy to oppose them. The Armada are all laid up for the winter or participating in the movement of the Free Army, depending on the captain.
5 Coloured Walker: Thanks, I hope you enjoy this one too.
Tmroc725: Two honeymooners with one being a mage who can magically force her body to ovulate. Morrigan did the same thing in Origins. Pregnancy is more or less assured, because it's not like Sam's immunity can force Aurelia's body to undo that state of affairs. And it's not exactly a regular honeymoon. It's still a political marriage. They like each other, they're attracted to each other, but the love isn't there. And I can't tell you if it ever will be.
Blinded in a bolthole: Merci.
Ajp25: Saw your review on BF2185 today, hopefully this will sate your need for Outlander for another few days.
Halla are on the menu for everyone except some of the Dalish... Ciara's clan ate them, for instance. They just did the whole Na'vi in Avatar thing, praying for their souls after shooting them etc.
The events of Asunder will still happen in this canon, so the Templars will be splitting off and revoking the Nevarran Accords.
Julie's not likely to become communist. Vel is far more likely to go that route, at least in terms of government authority rather than the monarchy issue.
I'm glad that you liked the last beach scene, I was worried about how it would be received, but apparently there were no strong objections to it.
And Mariette lives in a time before sexual harassment lawsuits haha!
Viper0300: Miss it no longer!