Casually, I stroll around my office, my brow furrowed at the Qunlat displayed before me, translating it. Fortunately, I manage to kneel down; grasping hold of my quill and writing down the translations, making Meredith raise a brow when seeing my writing. It's no cursive but hey luckily, thanks to baldy I've managed to come somewhat in my progress.
"This doesn't look good for Bull," I mutter out loud.
"What do you mean Fennic?" Meredith questions as I pass her the translated note.
"Says here the Qun has cut all ties with Bull and the Inquisition, has labelled him Ben-Hassrath." I inform her, noting Meredith's confused expression.
"Which is?" Meredith enquires curious.
"A fate worse than death to Bull." Seriously, I state the fact, exhaling feeling pity for my friend. He cherished the Qun its orders, its discipline and to give it all up to save his chargers. Then again he seemed fine when we spoke of the topic last so I don't know why I've been given this to translate, maybe to archive it for Leliana or Josephine who knows. Maybe to see if there's any secret text or like a secret message Bull is hiding, maybe the Qun said that in order to make us think we can trust Bull and tell him all out secrets for him to send back to the Qun and…hmm don't know, doesn't seem the Qun's style than again they had that Tallis girl, wonder how she is? Last I checked she flirting with Hawke didn't end well especially with Fenris there. Heh, I smirk at the memory only then to falter at that irritating ass maze I got stuck in, having no choice I recall having to punch a wall creating a hole for freedom, it was great until the guards came and yeah….Hawke wasn't pleased, it wasn't the subtle approach Talis wanted then again I did get to see that funny ass dance she did around the poop, that was…something.
"Should we inform Leliana?" Meredith enquires as I shake my head.
"Give this to Bull first, he should know first." I reason only then for my ears to perk up at the sound of the door making us turn to the open door, my eyes narrowing at the familiar red head before me.
"What do you want Varania?" Grumbling, I scowl at my sister feeling my throat tighten up, going dry eager for a dink as I gravitate closer to my wine rack.
"He seems nice." She blurts out confidently striding in as I notice Meredith looking uneasy, glancing between myself and her.
"Who? I sigh, my back turned to her.
"That lover of yours, another fleeting fancy sister?" Dryly, my sister remarks as I feel my brow twitch as I give her a nasty side eye, remembering her eager and hungry eyes on him.
"Why the sudden interest sister? Are you jealous?" Smugly, I smirk.
"No. Of course not, just amazes me how someone can learn to love someone so sluttish…" She denies, scoffing.
"You know coming into someone's office and insulting them isn't the greatest offer of forgiveness," I remark as she scoffs, rolling her eyes arms crossed unimpressed.
"Forgiveness, listen to me I did what I had in order to survive," She scoffs as I feel my eye twitching, ignoring the urge to hit her with the back of my glass, only to sigh, remembering that would be a waste of good wine.
"And you think I didn't?" I counter.
"No! What you did was for your own sake, leaving us like that!" Fed up, Varania scowls, slamming her palm on the wooden table making me frown.
"I was protecting you! That guard would have killed you both!" I scream at him, feeling my blood boiling.
"I don't believe you, not at all." Varania scoffs as I glower at him.
"And here comes the denial," Tired, I roll my eyes.
"Enough." She spits out aggravation evident in her tone.
"What do you want Varania?" I scowl fed up.
"I…want to talk." She sighs.
"Fine then, take a seat let's have some sister bonding or some shit," Sarcastically, I remark bitterness laced in my tone as I turn away from her.
"Um Fennic are you…?" Meredith questions worriedly.
"It's fine Meredith just leave us." I sigh gesturing for her to leave.
"If you're sure…" Nervously, Meredith dismisses herself leaving us as my sister neatly sits down
"You know its polite to offer your guest a glass," My sister remarks as I draw one of my many glass bottles, taking one and after opening the cork taking a greedy gulp from it. Swaying a tad bit as I glare at him reluctantly sitting down across from him.
"And it's also polite to not insult the person you're trying to ask for forgiveness…" Dryly, I remark taking another gulp as she sighs head turned disappointed.
"Urgh…" My sister groans as we sit down, I'm across from her on the oak chair with her on the other end.
"I know of yours quest." She begins.
"My quest?" Unamused, I arch a brow puzzled.
"Hunting down the Tevinter magister that has bene trying to make more of you and Leto," She informs me making me frown, how does she know this? Has she been keeping tabs on us?
"You know?" I enquire puzzled.
"I met your little crow friend, he wanted to find me, said something about wanting me and you to talk most likely trying to accomplish what master Pavus had but sooner." Varania sneers.
"Zevran," Angered, I release a growl at the dumbass feeling my grip tighten on my bottle as I take another sip, seething.
"Asteria what you're doing is ridiculous you could be enslaved again!" Varania screeches at me.
"So what I'm meant to let my people suffer?" I scoff.
"Not all of them suffer." Bitterly, she bows her head.
"Oh just because you had no clue what freedom was doesn't mean others won't." I scoff.
"Enough! I just…here." My ears hear the slam of paper?
"What's this?" I question puzzled.
"The location of the slave cave where they are experimenting. I had managed to work with Zevran despite his numerous attempts at trying to sleep with me and find the real location…" Annoyed, Varania explains as I sigh.
"You…why did you do this?" I mutter. Of course, Zevran, bloody Zevran.
"To make things right." She confirms confidently.
"Varania…" I begin conflicted not sure what to say.
"The gift you gave mother and I wasn't a gift it was a curse…" Shocked, I watch as my sister stands, turning her back to me to briskly walk out, leaving me alone conflicted as I look down at the paper before me. Gently, I grasp hold of the map location and sigh, time to do some good old fashion slave liberating….
So…this is it.
Now how should I go about this? Last time I just charged in, it was risky but it was due to being caught and I haven't been caught yet plus if I go in all sneak like, I would be able to free more slavers. Besides I'm more likely to do and succeed with my skills in comparison to Fenris and his…rage. Urgh, still can't believe he did that, blowing our cover roaring like a dumbass attracting the magisters attention honestly. Sighing, I shake my head at the memory. Slowly, I lower myself down, my fingertips brushing against the stern strict sturdy bark of the tree. I sit, kneeling down on the sturdy beach beneath my feet as I watch abominations, the Venatori stroll in and out of the cave, my eyes narrowing at the amount of lyrium being transported in along with some unconscious, bruised slaves…
Frowning, I place my cool slick steel gauntlets on my hips frowning at the cave before me, my eyes narrowed. My muscles tense as I jump down, thinking of my strategy. I need to act fast before more innocents are killed from this. Determined, I approach the cave, my eyes narrowed as my I stop in my tracks, my ears perking up at the faint crumble of rocks.
"Seems our guest has finally arrived," Startled, I quickly take out my blades, glaring up at the numerous magisters, Venatori and warriors glaring down at me, surrounding me as I turn to scowl at the ass, staff and weapons in hand. Curious, I raise a brow at the oddly familiar voice, eyebrow arched.
"You sound familiar, we met before?" I ask.
"You could say that, I would say it is good seeing you again but we both know that's wrong." Disgusted, he sneers as I scowl.
"Um…right. Do I owe you money?" I question, hand on hip as he fumes.
"No. But you do owe me something…" Arrogantly, he smiles as I frown still lost.
"Right…you look too posh to be hanging out in the hanged man, so bar fight is out the question…" I hum out loud.
"Enough of this meaningless chatter knock the knife ear out, take her in so we can examine her and see if we can make more for these freaks…" Chuckling, he sneers down at me.
"Yeah…no." I sigh shaking my head.
"Excuse me!?" He demands insulted as I remain calm.
"That isn't going to happen." I confirm casually shrugging.
"You're outnumbered." He points out as the men and women around me, armed and read huddle closer to me as I note all my chances of escape, all my exits blocked, not like I was planning on leaving in the first place but hey nothing wrong with a quick escape plan.
"Like most days but you work over the little details," Smugly, I smirk.
"You…you….kill her! Kill the knife ear!" Roaring, he points at me as I sigh.
"Well then here we go." Casually, I shrug as they all scream, roaring as they dive down and I draw my blades, flicking my wrist as they strike at me. Easily, I dodge the strikes and endure the burning hiss of skin from their fire balls sent my way as I continue, going for the mages first easily using my agility to twirl and outmanoeuvre around them, dodging and jumping over the sluggish heavy strikes of blade and shields, including axes.
Urgently, one of the guys bashes their shield forward at me to stun me unaware of my swift speed as I use the momentum of the bash to land my feet on, using the momentum to propel me off and over the roaring warriors, to quickly equip my daggers into my bow and arrow, swiftly striking at the ranged fighters, the mages ending them as those few remaining, I manage to quickly detach my daggers and strike at them, easily taking care of them. Quickly, I cartwheel back from the overhead axe about to strike at me, narrowly dodging it as the male panics, struggling to pry the indented axe into the ground, swiftly striking and bending the arrow along with his lackeys. Finished, I look up at the archers, fleeing back fearful.
"The silver wraith run!"
The silver wraith is here!"
We're gonna die!"
Come back here you cowards!" Roaring the figure roars but it falls to deaf ears as they flee from the sight, to safety as I then turn to see the fleeting figure of the warrior flee into the cave, leaving me to dust off my gloves, frowning, my nose twitching at the heavy coat of iron.
Well…this isn't how I was going to go about things but…I guess it will do. Casually, I stroll inside the cave, my footsteps echoing as I shiver form the icy chill of the place, yep this is a slave arm alright, home sweet home some would say. I dive down, hiding behind a pillar as the knight guy rolls in.
"Sir Frederick….sir," The two Venatori guards salute the scowling male. "Frederick? Why does that name sound so familiar?" Aching, I cradle my head at the sure headache in my mind, sighing as I shake my head. Sneakily, I use the distraction to sneak past them easily managing to sneak past, fortunately passing by some darkspawn in the cave and soldiers dive down and use my skills to sneak past as the other guards tend to fighting off the creatures, some flailing, some screeching as I make my way to the prison cells, my eyes widening to find numerous elves shackled and some not, but some are in the corner huddled, shaking, rocking back and forth, my heart breaks seeing a diverse cast of slaves from old, young to young adults, this is not good. The more people the harder it will be to control.
"Disgusting knife ears."
"The lot of them…"
"Filthy little things…"
Frowning, I see the guards shouting, beating the elven making me scowl as I grab some nearby pebbles tossing them out the room, startling the guards into rushing over. Swiftly, I unveil myself from the shadows, turning to the back so the guards slitting one of the guard's throats silently, catching them as they fall as the other shakily looks around. I'm too low for him to notice as my blade meets his throat, muffling his pained cry as he collapses to the ground, blood seeping out from them both as I kneel down, taking out the keys smirking.
"Bingo was his namo."
"What do you mean she is gone!?" Loudly, Solas muffled outburst startles me as well as his typically calm composed tone now filled to the brim with anger and malice as I rush over to the scene.
"Solas what's wrong?" Blinking, I watch the frustrated fuming Solas pace back and forth in his and Fen's bedroom having heard the disruption, surprisingly finding Solas so angry, so annoyed, so frustrated making me blink as I turn to Fennic's scout, Meredith, watching worriedly to the side.
"What's going on?" I question, my voice falling to the red and deaf ears of Solas as I glance to the side of the frightened Meredith.
"Fennic has gone to handle business," Nervously, Meredith bows hr head.
"Business is that all?" Puzzled, I frown glancing at the freaking out Solas puzzled by his hysteric reaction.
"Business is an understatement; she has gone to a slave mine!" Solas snaps.
"Slave mine?" I furrow my brow.
"She promised she wouldn't do this anymore." Frustrated, Solas scowls.
"Their locations where slaves are kept hidden either to be sold off, auctioned off, to make them breed for more slaves or hide from the authorities, sometimes even experimenting on them," Meredith informs me sadly.
"What!?" I gawk horrified at the details, those poor people…
"Yes, it would seem Varania had helped her find the location." Spitefully, Solas spits outs arms crossed.
"Solas calm down. We can talk about this," Calmly, I argue raising my hands in surrender to calm down the fuming mess.
"I will not. Thanks to her, Fennic could be in danger or worse!" Solas defends himself as I sigh noting the genuine worry and fear in his angered eyes.
"Ah Varania good you're here," Meredith smiles as I feel the colour from my features drain at the greeting as we turn to her, my body shaking from the sheer malicious aura of Solas, scowling at her.
"I had heard, so my sister has gone off on her own again of course," Dryly, Varania responds my eyes widening at her lack of emotion, lack of concern and worry for her sister.
"What do you mean of course?" I scowl at her.
"You don't get it do you? She doesn't care enough to think of other people's reactions to her disappearance. She is selfish. She doesn't think of the consequences of her actions like liberating some slaves," Scoffing, Varania explains.
"You knew…you knew she'd do this," Solas accurses seething.
"I had an inkling," Simply, she shrugs turning away as I stare horrified at the coldness etched into her tone.
"And yet you still told her!? It could be a suicide mission!" Solas argues.
"I wouldn't underestimate her," Varania shrugs surprising us at the sheer confidence in her tone.
"We have to go help. We can't leave her," I argue.
"Agreed…" Solas nods.
"Very well," Varania sighs.
"You are not coming." Harshly, Solas snaps at Varania who remains unfazed, unamused by Solas.
"Solas we need her, we need her help think about Fennic," I remind him.
"Urgh… Fenedhis lasa!" Seething, Solas shakes his head, tossing the scrunched up parchment to the floor and leave, trying to regain some sort of composure leaving me alone with Varania who sighs, gently taking hold of the scrunched up paper and sighing.
"Did you know she would do this?" I question genuinely curious.
"I did. I wanted you all to see. Fennic isn't the selfless hero you believe her to be," Varania confesses.
"We know that already so why!? Why are you doing this to her!?" I argue.
"Because she needs to realize that her so called selfless thinking is the most selfish thing imaginable…" Varania smirks.
"Why are we helping her? She went on her own she can take care of herself, she helped slaughter millions of mages," Grumbling, Vivienne complains as we head to the location, where we plan to meet up with Varania.
"Not on purpose." Dorian inputs with Varric.
"You were not there enchanter you cannot speak." Solas adds sharply surprising the group, then again I think the others have gathered the edge in Solas' tone since this morning. I note Dorian's still silence with Varric having the idea of not messing with Solas today; sadly Vivienne doesn't get the memo or doesn't care who knows...
"Oh so I cannot speak for the lost lives of my people thanks to this monster." Vivienne sneers.
"She is no monster! She is a person, the same as you and-" Solas begins.
"No she isn't, please do not associate me with such filth," Snappily, Vivienne cuts off as Dorian, Varric and I hunch back, fearful of the rising tension.
"You're right enchanter." Solas begins making us shiver at his silent icy smile filled with malicious malice.
"Good to see you-"
"I shouldn't insult Fennic by saying she is similar to someone like you, a cold, cruel manipulative witch…" Solas spits out in disgust.
"How dare you!" Vivienne growls.
"Do enjoy this time, Enchanter. You may miss your freedom when you lock yourself back up in some tower." Solas remarks.
"Imprisonment is largely a matter of who holds the keys." Vivienne proclaims.
"You so often come out on top. You play the political games brilliantly." Solas praises surprising us as we all raise a wary brow at the icy atmosphere as we draw closer to the place.
"A compliment? Although you speak it as a curse." Vivienne points out.
"You could use those skills to improve the lives of your fellow mages. Instead you have done nothing, save consolidate your own power." Solas accuses.
"What if keeping my power might in fact improve the lives of my fellow mages?" Vivienne offers.
"You honestly believe the world is better off with you setting its course?" Solas scowls.
"I need not be in spotlight. But after watching others try and fail, why should I not have a turn?" Vivienne argues.
"Then Enchanter, I leave you with the greatest curse of my people. Dirthara-ma." Darkly, Solas curses proclaiming it making us frown.
"What rustic elven curse is that, apostate?" Vivienne taunts.
"May you learn."