"Chargers stand down!" The loud strong, deep voice calls out making Evelyn turn to the source of the voice and the leader from the matching depiction of a Qunari as their leader, known as the Iron Bull.
Evelyn and Sera approach the male however Evelyn falters in her track slightly, her forest green eyes looking back and gazing worriedly at the silent, stoic and bloodied female elf, her snow white hair bringing her out more as she is knelt down on the rough, smooth, clumpy floor of the stone pebbled floor. Her arms are crossed however what peeks Evelyn's interest is her arms, surprised her forest greens widen at the glowing marks, usually it's a dull glow but this one seems fiercer, scarier, and angrier.
What's with her arms? Is…is it hurting her? Could her emotion have caused this eerie glow as a response? Frowning, Evelyn frowns at the pair of elves, Fennic is sat down leaning against a stone with her glowing arms crossed, glowing through her gauntlets as her narrowed turquoise eyes glare at the soft smooth hard pebbles of stone below her, avoiding Solas who is frowning, scolding her, lecturing her like a teacher to their pupil however Fennic remains unfazed, neutral to Solas' lecture merely keeping her dead sharp glare on the floor as Solas tends to the silently fuming mess…
"Krem how'd we do?" Iron Bull questions the brunette making Evelyn turn to smile at the familiar face…
Fennic pov:
"That was a reckless move," Solas scowls at me as I refuse to meet his angry gaze, my eyes glued to the floor.
"Rushing in like that, no plan, no warning, nothing just rushing in, you are as idiotic as the Qunari," Solas grumbles under his breathe, making me scowl at him, too tired to deal with his hundred year lecture as I feel a familiar warmth flow through my body, I feel my blood boil from my blood as I feel the lingering adrenaline flow through my veins as my heart frantically beats with the sound of gushing blood, flowing in my head, my ears grow numb from Solas' ramblings/ Exhausted, I take in a few shaky breathes, my body tense with my muscles as I try to calm my frantic heart rate but fail as I glance at the body, the dead Venitori. The male's once pure snow white clean robes now tainted in crimson and dirt, the same with the other Venitori kaffas. Scowling, my eyes narrow at the reminder, lingering in my mind…
"Are you listening to me?" Solas sharp voice brings me out of my thoughts as I force my head to rise up. This has nothing to do with him. He knows nothing. He should leave me alone. He should stop, he should go…
"Do you want me to be honest?" I retort trying to change subject only to receive Solas' piercing glare in return.
"Honestly do you want to die?" He frowns at me as I scowl.
"Maybe, maybe not," I reason calmly causing his scowl to further as I sigh tiredly and flick his forehead making him blink taken aback by my action. I can't be bothered to deal with him; I can't be bothered to deal with anyone.
"Evelyn is worried," Solas points out.
"The cry-baby is always worrying it's annoying," I deadpan.
"And yet you stand by her," Solas argues.
"Someone has to make sure the kid doesn't break down and become a wuss again," I shrug.
"Perhaps but perhaps while you let yourself worry for her, you should let others worry for you," He stands up as I frown.
"I don't need others worried for me, I'm fine," I argue as Solas raises a brow but merely sighs, knowing he won't get anything from me. I need to remain clam, I need to be silent; I need to pretend that didn't happen… I just have to be careful especially around him…
Evelyn pov:
"Five or six wounded chief, no dead," Krem reports, his voice loud through the treacherous rainfall cascading down upon us, making me grimace and shiver from the city cold but I shrug it off, used to Havens cold climate.
"That's what I like to hear. Let the throat cutters finish up, then break out the casks," Iron Bull smirks jovial at the thought of beer making me raise a brow intrigued. I never really touched the liquor before, it was forbidden in the circle and the chantry, I only recall my uncle's Dirk drunken slurs when he visited one of our balls, talking about the woman he "wooed," especially Qunari women, urgh… those images I wished to have erased from my mind with some kind of spell, but I never could…
"So you're with the inquisition, huh? Glad you could make it. Come on, have a seat. Drinks are coming," Iron Bull smiles at us making me raise a brow, he seems friendly. I had only heard the tales of how ferocious the Qunari were but still meeting one head on, I will admit his height intimidates me but still he's acting nice. I mean offering drinks and they are in casks and the others are drinking, they couldn't be poisoned besides poisoning doesn't seem like the Qunari way, seem like the types to like killing or doing things close and personal, reminds me of Fox but still I can understand her weariness of them, considering her history of them but Solas…hmmm. He seems wary of them almost annoyed by their presence; I'll have to ask later.
Nice work out there, you taught your group well in your tactics, going straight for the high up Venitori back then, your mercenaries taking out his allies, smart idea," I compliment.
"You noticed, eh what can I say? It's a Qunari tactic," Iron Bull smirks.
Everyone knows that tactic; I hide my comment pushing it to the corners of my mind as I simply nod. It's best to be on his good side rather than his bad side.
"So you're the Iron Bull, unique name. I hear you're looking for work?" I enquire curious. "I am! Not before my drink though," Bull informs me.
"Count me in on that drink," Sera grins, eager for some booze.
Fen enjoys booze perhaps I should offer her some, that way she and Iron Bull could at least try to endure each other, or well her.
"Fen!" I call out to the standing elf with Solas by her side, steadying her as she merely huffs and give me a tired glare.
"Iron bull is offering some drinks, would you-"
"No," Fen deadpans making me jump back slightly at her straight forward answer.
"Someone's got their knickers in a bunch," Sera grumbles pouting.
"She's friendly," Iron Bull grumbles sarcastically, frowning.
"What Fen means is, we rather not partake in the festivity of alcohol while on a mission," Solas intervenes, trying to soften the blow.
"It's fine," I smile weakly at the pair who resume their distance from Iron Bull. Together, Sera and I join Iron Bull, sitting down to discuss matters, well I'm discussing Sera is…
Loudly, Sera burps, causing a cheer from the mercenary groups, she cackles happily joining the group in some fun and games. I turn to the two elves still concerned only to sigh relieved when I see the pair together. Hmm…they look together, I don't mean because there elves I mean they look good together. Giddily, I can't help but sigh when I see Solas sneering at the Qunari and Sera's loud burp as he grumbles, annoyed while Fen merely hides a small sly smirk from Sera's outburst and then the two resume the conversation, well Solas rambling and Fen just nodding along, adding input now and then from what I've gathered.
"I assume you remember Cremisius Aclassi. My lieutenant," Iron bull introduces as I turn to smile and nod at the familiar male.
"Good to see you again. Throat cutters are done, chief," Krem reports to Iron Bull.
"Same here, you fought well," I encourage him.
"Thanks," he smiles thankful for the compliment.
"Already? Have 'em check again. I don't want any of those Tevinter Bastards getting away, no offence Krem," Iron Bull smirks at him.
"None taken. I think elfy did the job, besides least bastard knows who his mother was. Puts him one up on you Qunari, right?" Krem smirks as we glance at Fem. Smirking, she easily slits the Venitori throats even stomping on them to see if they still live, along with stealing a few things with Solas frowning at a distance, staff in hand, ready to provide back up if something chaotic occurs.
"The Tevinters aren't really Fen's best friends," I laugh nervously seeing a few disturbed expressions from the Bull's chargers. "I see that," Bull smirks impressed.
"She gets the job done," Krem agrees.
"So…you've seen us fight. We're expensive. But we're worth it…And I'm sure the inquisition can afford us," Iron Bull smirks as I frown at the price. We don't have much, I mean the campaigns we had currently to collect coin has been good and the merchants we sell to, give us good prices…
"How much do we have to pay?" I question wary of the price.
The soldiers need their food and materials, we all do, and to get those we need money. We can't just spend our money on one single group.
"It wouldn't cost you anything personally unless you wanna buy drinks later. Your ambassador- what's- her- name- Josephine we'd go through her and get the payments set up. The gold will take care of itself, don't worry about that. All that matters is we're worth it," Iron Bull answers making me nod. Josephine is good with the numbers and such. Besides more fighters meaning more chances of being successful, I suppose and perhaps the chargers have some connections we can use.
"The chargers seem like excellent company," I compliment him.
"They are. But you're not just getting the boys you're getting me," he whispers huskily making me take a uncomfortable step back as I smile nervously at the guy, my forest green eyes staring at his eyepatch.
"You need a frontline bodyguard. I'm your man. Whatever it is, demons, dragons? The bigger the better. And there's one other thing might be useful might piss you off. Ever hear of the Ben Hassrath?" Bull questions me making me frown, my brow furrowed in deep thought as I recall my books from the tower, only for my eyes widen. There were none in the tower, nothing on the Qunari, heck I didn't even know what a Qunari was until the circle was broken and we fled the tower, we saw a few Qunari but still…I don't know anything about them. Frowning, I scowl at the lack of information on them.
"I've never heard of it," I grumble fleeing ashamed at my lack of knowledge on the topic of Qunari.
"It's a Qunari order. They handle information, loyalty, security; all of it spies, basically. Or well we're spies," he confesses making my eyes widen in shock at the news. A spy! Of course he couldn't be someone willing to fight the good fight like Blackwall, then again.
"The Ben-Hassrath are concerned about the breach, magic out of control like that, could cause trouble everywhere. I've been ordered to join the inquisition, get close to the people in charge and send reports on what's happening. But I also get reports from the Ben Hassrath agents all over Orlais. You sign me on, I'll share them with your people," Iron Bull informs me as a flood of questions enters my mind as I stare at the Qunari shocked.
"You just told me that you're a spy? Aren't spies meant to be you know…secretive," I argue frowning at him.
"Whatever happened at that Conclave thing, it's bad. Someone needs to get that Breach closed. So whatever I am. I'm on your side," Iron Bull states.
"You could have kept it a secret; I mean it's your job!" I argue wary.
"From something called the inquisition? I've been tipped sooner or later. Better you hear it right up front from me," Iron Bull smirks.
"What would you report?" I narrow my eyes suspicious of him tipping off the Qunari, who could help our enemies be one step ahead of us.
"Enough to keep my superiors happy. Nothing that'll compromise your operations. The Qunari want to know if they need to launch an invasion to stop the whole damn world from falling apart. You let me send word of what you're doing; it'll put some minds at ease. That's good for everyone," Bull confirms.
"What will we receive?" I question testing to see if the information from our alliance would be useful for us.
"Enemy movement, suspicious activity, intriguing gossip. It's a bit of everything. Alone, they're not much. But if your spymaster is worth a damn, she'll put 'em to good use," Iron bull answers.
"She?" I raise a brow distrustful of him knowing about Leliana.
"I did a little research. Plus I've always had a weakness for redheads or white heads," Iron Bull raises a brow at Fennic who remains oblivious, happily slitting the throats of already dead Venitori or stomping on them. Intrigued, I move a brow snickering at the thought of him trying to flirt with Fen.
"Alright you're in," I smile at the thought of new information, more manpower and another ally for me, plus to see if he does try to flirt with Fen oh that will be hilarious.
"Excellent. Krem tell the men to finish drinking on the road. The chargers just got hired!" Iron Bull declares proudly, unaware of the dirty glare I'm sent by a certain white haired elf and annoyed male elf.
"What about the caskets, chief? We just opened them up. With axes," Krem scowls as I can't help but smile seeing Sera in the background, chugging down the caskets, giggling like a little girl.
"Find some way to seal them. You're Tevinter, right? Try blood magic," Iron Bull smirks then turns to us.
"We'll meet you back at Haven," Iron Bull smiles as we head back to Haven.