HAWKE
That afternoon the city streets were unusually quiet. Too calm, in fact. The inhabitants were loitering in the winding alleys, trying not to draw attention to themselves. Templars could be found at every corner, patrolling the area like wolves. Something hung in the air. Such an accumulation of knights Hawke had never seen before. So much trouble for one mage? No. Surely there was something else going on. Fortunately, Anders had recovered almost completely and was safe at her estate, but the increased number of templars worried her. The spirit inhabiting the mage's body was taking their presence badly and could take over at any time. Anders had almost finished working on the separation spell and Hawke prayed it would work. The closer he got to his goal, however, the more distant he became. When asked for details he would dismiss her with perfunctory answers or change the subject completely. A few days ago he asked her to visit the chantry temple. He said he needed to get into the inner sanctum and wanted Hawke to distract the Grand Cleric. When she tried to press him for more information they almost argued again. She had no reason not to trust him however, so she dropped the subject.
Talking to Elthina only made her angrier. The Grand Cleric was so passive about what was going on in the city that she might as well have been replaced by a stuffed puppet. She explained the mages, she explained the templars, and in the end, that's where it ended. Empty words. The Chantry took no action against the Qunari and the city nearly collapsed. If the situation with the mages and the templars was not resolved the consequences would be much worse.
Immersed in her thoughts she didn't even notice when she stood in front of the door of the Hanged Man. She sighed and stepped inside. The inn was full as usual. All sorts of personalities occupied the empty tables and lined every part of the wall. The smell of beer mingled with the stench of human sweat and the sour smell of vomit was in the air. The charm of this place. She approached the bar ordering a round of pale ALE.
-Hawke. - she suddenly heard an amused female voice. She turned around.
-Hello Isabella. - she said in a friendly manner grabbing a freshly placed beer mug in her hand. The pirate's swarthy complexion glistened in the dim light and her generous breasts attracted more than just male gazes.
-What brings you to these humble abodes? - asked the woman with a smile. A slight hoppy smell suggested that she had already drunk at least one pint.
Hawke turned to her and leaning on the table elbow took a sip of the golden liquid.
-I can't come for a friendly visit anymore? - she asked almost coquettishly. Isabella gave a long laugh. She looked at the bartender letting him know that he should bring another round. She moved suddenly closer to the Champion and touched her shoulder defiantly. It was a sign. Hawke smiled innocently and moved closer to the pirate woman as well.
- Something big is brewing in the Gallows. - muttered the woman. Hawke pulled her lips together. Another sip of ALE quickly covered her face.
-Do you have information on the prisoners from the clinic? - she asked quietly and, grabbing a strand of the pirate's hair, twirled it passionately around her finger. She had started playing this game with Isabella about a year ago. It turned out to be a very effective diversion thanks to which they could freely exchange information. Most of the guests considered the meeting as a love affair and paid attention to the physical aspect forgetting about the rest.
Isabella nodded slightly.
-They dropped like stones into the water. Even Varric didn't manage to find out anything.
Hawke lowered her gaze slightly without stopping to play with the springy lock of the pirate's hair. She had hoped for a different answer.
-And speaking of our benevolent dwarf... he wanted to talk to you about something.
Hawke gave the pirate a questioning look. After a moment she nodded slightly, gave Isabella a luscious kiss, and went to Varric's room. The dwarf was sitting in a large armchair holding a tankard in his hand. At the sight of the Champion, he rose from his seat.
-Hawke! I was just wondering how to start the next chapter of your amazing adventures.
- "The Champion walked into a bar..." - she suggested quite seriously.
- Come on. That sounds like the beginning of a bad joke.
Marian smiled sincerely and, sitting down in an empty chair, took a sip of beer. Varric replied with the same smile and returned to the comfortable chair.
-Izabela mentioned that you wanted to see me.
The dwarf sighed briefly and seemed to get more serious.
-It's about Blondie. - he got straight to the point.
Hawke straightened up in her chair.
-Do you have any information about the patients from the clinic? Isabella said you couldn't find out anything either.
-Riveni is right. My contacts were insufficient. It's something else.
Hawke wrinkled her forehead waiting for the next statement.
-Has Anders been acting any different lately? - the dwarf asked.
Hawke lowered her gaze for a moment in thought and nodded in the negative.
-He was at my place yesterday. - Varric continued. - He wanted to give me a hand-embroidered pillow. Apparently, he got it from his mother before they took him to the Circle. I asked why he was doing that. He replied that I was a true friend and he wanted me to keep it.
Hawke froze. The pillow the dwarf had mentioned was the only memento of Anders' mother. He had treated it like the greatest treasure, and now he wanted to give it to Varric? She heard the dwarf sigh heavily.
-Hawke is he planning something again? - he asked. Marian was silent analyzing what she heard. After a moment she drank all her beer with one gulp and headed for the exit. Another sigh escaped the dwarf's lips. - So he does after all. - he muttered to himself and, grabbing his sizable crossbow, set off after the Champion. When he caught up with her Marian gave him a questioning look. - If you thought I would leave you alone with this, you obviously don't know me. - he answered the unasked question. - Together it would be easier to talk him out of whatever was hatching in his head.
As they passed the bar Isabella gave them an analyzing look. She rose from her high stool to join them, but Varric subtly nodded, keeping her in place.
It didn't take them long to reach the mansion. Hawke vigorously opened the door. She narrowly missed bumping into Bhodan who was just passing by. She quickly bypassed him and headed for the stairs leading to the bedroom.
- Anders I wanted to talk... - she started but when she opened the door an empty room greeted her. She took a quick glance around and then returned to the veranda. - Bhodan have you seen Anders? - she asked, gripping the railing tightly.
- Master mage has just left.
Hawke clenched her fingers.
- Did he say where he was going?
- Unfortunately, no.
The Champion gnashed her teeth.
Suddenly they heard a loud knocking on the main door.
- Serah Hawke. Grand Enchanter Orsino requests your assistance. - came a muffled voice. Marian ran down the stairs and pressed the handle, letting the messenger inside. The young breathless mage tried to catch his breath. From under the hood hastily pulled over his head, strands of red hair stuck out.
-Breathe, kid, or you'll pass out in a moment. - Varric said patting the boy on the back. The mage straightened up and swallowed hard.
- What's wrong? - Marian asked. The boy took a deeper breath calming his somewhat shaky body.
- Meredith and the Grand Enchanter are in the square of the Gallows. A terrible argument broke out between them. I fear there may be bloodshed.
- Andraste's ass we don't need this on top of everything. - Varric muttered to himself. - Lead the way boy.
When the mage was outside the door Hawke turned to Bhodan.
- If Anders shows up, tell him I want to talk to him.
- I will, miss.
Hawke pressed her lips together and went with Varric and the mage to the cathedral.
