Chapter Eighteen

Valamar - supposedly


The next day, I gave my group sheepish looks, "Cullen and Alistair know what happened last night…"

Varric paled, "Waves – they'll kill us! Curly mostly knows how to take and dodge hits but Snowflake…! He broke into the Crow Archives and that prison and made it out alive; he fought the blight; Andrastes' Tits, Waves… you're going to get us killed on treason charges!"

I shook my head, "I tried to avoid it – but apparently, my dear sister gets the same fucking tone when she's hiding something and the men ganged up on me… so I bribed them to leave you all alone since the fault was completely mine. I promised songs for your continued safety before changing the subject in my 'masterful' way. I managed to completely distract them. Alistair wasn't sure how to react to me being 58 years old. Cullen plans to fuck with Blake so if he asks any of you, I picked up a leggy blond with blue eyes at the winter watchtower."

"… Commander Cullen – the man so serious that he talks about nothing but war… is going to play a prank on someone?" Maxwell asked.

"Blake keeps trying to seduce him – and Cullen also told Alistair to feel free to Blake – so Cullen feels it would be such sweet revenge." I explained.

Cassandra coughed to cover a small laugh as Ellana said, "I didn't realize I was your type…"

"You have grey eyes, Lana. But yes, actually – you are my type. So is Leliana, but she's with my sister; the Rivaini pirate named Isabela is also my type – and so is the witch of the wilds named Morrigan, Flissa, Cassandra, and even Josie – that's the thing… I don't have a specific type when it comes to looks. Women that can beat a man into submission with or without physically fighting them – that is my type."

Varric snorted, "Makes sense – you need a partner that can match up to you. Rivaini did more than hit to make a man submit though."

"Oh, I know." I sighed dreamily, "Do you think I might convince Cullen to let her into our bed just once?"

"If you can't, then no one can." Varric smirked.

We finished breakfast and packed up. Solas asked, "So, we are not in any danger from your husband or betrothed for our 'failure' to protect you?"

"Nope – I've gotten good at bribing those two. It's so easy; Alistair likes cheese, occult items, statuettes, and such – Cullen likes military items like chess, strategy books, sword polish, and such."

"Wait – the King likes occult items?" Cass asked.

"Particularly runestones, yes; I was thinking of bribing Solas with more Earth knowledge to make me a few runestones. I've already bought up every statuette in Haven… did anyone else know that there is a rumor that the Cousland line is descended from Vivial and Regulan – Andrastes' exiled daughter – because Teyrna Elethea was Alamarri and a mage? Alistair accidentally started that rumor because he was musing about the Guardian of sacred ashes remarking to Elissa about the 'line returning' or something like that and poof – I am now a very holy figure. I don't actually believe it, but I guess it helps our cause."

Solas looked amused, "It is possible when you put it like that. Did Andraste not have a wonderful singing voice that bewitched the maker?"

Cassandra shot him a glare, "She did not bewitch him!"

I cleared my throat, "Ahem – as I was saying… Cousland women are apparently known for lovely singing voices. And our line was blessed when we lost a fight against Calenhad – not when we won. It usually doesn't work like that, right?"

"You're right – Calenhad was anointed but we do not know how his line was truly blessed."

"He drank the blood of a Great-Dragon, Cass; that was how. Also – my line is the only one that passes down through mother and father – not just father. It would make sense if it were because of a relation to Andraste. Look, I'm still not saying I believe it – but these are ways you can hype it up. Propaganda is the friend of any upstart."

Solas gave me a discreet, approving nod – so did Ellana. I would need to pull her aside later and find out if she really wanted to work for Fen'Harel – and I would make sure Solas was listening.

Cass frowned, "I can understand why you do not believe in the Maker – you were not raised with him… but what about the fact that it could very well be possible that you are related to Andraste?"

"Andraste was blonde, you know – and blue-eyed. Cass, sweetie – I believe in Andraste, but honestly, I think she was a Mage."

"You believe Tevinter was right?" she looked upset.

"Not exactly – I just think she might have been an Arcane Warrior – Dirth'ena Enasalin; Knowledge that led to Victory. There was no concrete proof one way or the other, but her abilities sounded a lot like what I know of Arcane Warriors. I will admit – if I were a mage, that would be the path I would want to take. Will made manifest – mind shaping the body into the perfect weapon. Arcane Warrior is a specialization that is thought to be lost – but there are two people I know that use it; both are elven. One is a Grey Warden that fled from Denerim when Howe raided the Alienage and killed his family; the other will work for the inquisition. He'll come from the Ralaferin clan and his name is Cillian… that's a question…"

I called Alistair on the spot. He answered while laughing, "I was just talking about you – your ears must have been burning."

"Nope – actually, I had a question. Did you go into the Werewolf Lair in the Brecillian Forest during the Blight?"

"Of course I did – we all did. Elissa had this notion to always take as many of us with her on dangerous missions as she could. Why?"

"I just need to know two things about that particular mission – did you do the ancient ritual and did you find the Phylactery?"

"No to both… Oh, alright. My dear, you are on with Bann Alfstanna of the Waking Sea."

"How is your brother Irminric, my lady?" I asked.

"Much better since the whole debacle with Jowan and Howe, Your Majesty, thank you. He chose not to go back to the Templars after what happened – he'd already gone through whatever he won't tell me happened and just… couldn't bear to go back."

"… I applaud his courage; tell him that the Inquisition will welcome him and that my husband – our commander, Cullen Rutherford – is a former knight-captain and also left the order. You see, Alfstanna, Templars are given Lyrium. Lyrium is addictive. They can die from the withdrawal. Your brother is a very strong man."

"I… I had no idea! He could have died?"

"The chantry keeps that secret, but Cullen plans to open a rehab for former Templars so the secret will not stay secret for too long. And now I need to go to that lair in the forest… damn…"

"I'm actually leaving Denerim in two days – if you tell me what you need from the lair, I can do it."

"Do you have a mage that you can take with you?" I asked at Alistairs' question.

"I… do… er… I snagged Solona Amell for the official Circle Liaison and Court Mage years ago… why?"

"In the room with the stone alter there's actually a long-lost phylactery… as I said. Have Solona touch the gem on it, tell the spirit within that she will give it the release it seeks in exchange for the knowledge it can provide, and it will have her take the gem to the alter and shatter it. After that, I will need her in the Inquisition to teach a few of our mages about being an Arcane Warrior – because it's an almost lost Elvhen art. The ritual wasn't needed unless you wanted to put old Arlathan spirits to rest. That was an Uthenera Temple; which is why it was underground."

"How do we do the ritual – we can give them rest." He said softly.

"The pool had an earthen jug – fill it, take it to the alter in the room, kneel and prey, take a single sip, then pour the rest of the water back into the pool. Make damn sure your people don't disturb any of the sarcophagi, if you please. Blake will have their heads on pikes faster than you can say 'what?' if they do and if Blake is too slow, then my elven companions will gladly disembowel the offending bastards. I do not care how shiny the armors, blades or such look – that site is 7,000 years old and I do not want them disturbed."

Alfstanna coughed, "I doubt anyone is willing to go against you at the moment… we have heard some interesting rumors."

I made a motion and we all began walking, "This I have to hear – what mess did I seduce my way into this time?"

Varric snorted and Maxwell sniggered.

Alistair laughed, "Apparently, it's not your seduction abilities that are the source of this rumor – more that you could single-handedly take on the Qun, kind of rumor. Your darling husband is supposedly the subject of a lot of broken bones."

"Uh… I thought rumors were generally false? Cullen and I don't hold back when we spar – how else is he meant to learn Krav Maga? To learn, you need to be hit a few times… he gives as good as he gets though. He's been getting a lot better at countering my moves and putting me on my ass."

"Wait – are you telling me your husband breaks your bones?" Alistair asked.

"And I break his – we have a healer standing by; usually Solas. But the recruits we have in the Inquisition are too green. We have to make them understand what they're up against. So – I wear a bra and cloth pants, Cullen wears full plate armor, and we go hard. I still win 3 times out of 5, but we spar seriously."

"Can you repeat that? I could have sworn you said that you fight him while you wear cloth and he's in armor," Alfstanna said.

I hummed, "That's right. Anyway – I just called to ask about the ruins and mostly just the Phylactery. If you can do that for me, Alistair, I will be in your debt. I'm expecting a call from Cullen soon and I'm coming up on the new Camp site we're setting up near Lake Luthias we'll have 6 dedicated Inquisition camps throughout the Hinterlands. You don't mind, right?"

"I told you that as long as I'm informed of the movements, then I can't be too upset with that hole in the sky."

"Your Majesty, will you ever consider marrying a second man? I hear you are quite… traditional…" Alfstanna asked. I gave an amused smile as my companions all gave varying noises of amusement.

"Not without love, I'm afraid – and if I were in love with two men, then I don't believe I would ever give them up willingly. See, I don't recognize dissolutions of marriage without a good reason – abuse, for example. Infertility isn't a good excuse for a dissolution so the Landsmeet breaking up my sisters' marriage was… I can understand if they didn't want to be together – so you're lucky that is the case here. But this means that you must understand that I will look for a way to protect my marriages so that your Landsmeet doesn't try to fuck them up."

She sounded chastised, "I can… understand that."

"I'm glad; now, I really must go. Cullen is calling me. Talk to you later, Alistair."

I hung up with a headache before answering the other sending stone while Cassandra marked the camping area.

Elissas' voice came through, "Little sister – Cullen said you have a request and that my marriage was annulled?"

"Er… yeah – I'm sorry about…"

"Don't be – there was never any love between the King and I. He's good in bed, but I love Leliana. Now what's this request?"

"You don't use the Arl of Denerims' estate – I want it so I can make an orphanage. You know I grew up as an orphan and Alistair says that the kids just fall through the cracks here… please, Lis? A mansion is the perfect place to house kids that have lost everything else. I want to teach them, care for them, watch them grow…"

"You want it? It's yours – I can't stand the place; Howe took it over during the Blight and the master bedroom has an entrance to the dungeons… it's all yours; title and all. Arlessa and Princess – I'll have the papers drawn up relinquishing the title and estate to you. It will require a bit of… renovation. I went through and completely gutted the dungeon so it's just empty space now. I keep guards and servants on staff, but I leave the upkeep to Alistair since he was the Arl as my husband. I suppose now he's no longer the Arl of Denerim or the Teyrn of Gwaren. Cullen wouldn't say if you were accepting Alistair as a second husband or not – just that the Landsmeet pulled that from their asses and Elemena approved it."

"It might be fun to have two men pampering me with peeled grapes and large leaves to fan me. Maybe I can start a Harem… I'm just joking; don't tell Cullen."

Cullens' voice snorted, "I am here, my love… and I'm glad you're joking. Blake wants a name for the leggy Blonde – what should I tell him?"

"… Marilyn. Eventually he'll piece it together that we're fucking with him; Marilyn Monroe was a famous actress; her blonde hair was iconic."

"So I shouldn't give her last name – I want this to go for as long as I can stretch it."

"Then tell him I am always talking about her singing voice and 'model-like figure'. It'll really fuck with him. He'll think it's a coincidence and wonder if this woman is the Thedas version of Monroe until I come back without her."

Elissa sounded amused, "You're a bit evil, aren't you?"

"Only always, sister. When it comes to Blake, we're always doing this shit to each other."

"Maybe that's why he wanted me to lie to you and say he found a lover," Cullen sighed.

"Yup – that would be why." I acknowledged. "Okay, we're coming up on the Carta hide-away so I got to go. I love you both, and thank you for the estate, sis. Talk to y'all later."

"Love you too, my wife," Cullen replied before cutting the connection.

Varric spoke as we climbed the area behind the waterfall, "So, Waves… I thought you didn't want a harem."

"I don't." I shot him a frown.

"I'm just asking – most of the people you mentioned would be joining us in the Inquisition are men."

"Most of the people I mentioned as fighters, yes – but our archivists, scribes, researchers, arcanist, and merchants are almost exclusively women. It's not really balanced, but if that's what they want to do, then more power to em. Ah, look – company."

The people guarding the door were on the defensive at once. I ended up having to throw myself in front of Maxwells' unguarded back, however, when one with a crossbow thought he'd make an easy target.

Blood slipped from my mouth – I had trouble breathing as the arrow pierced my lung. Solas shouted and at once everyone in my group went into a frenzy to protect Solas and I as he worked to heal me after shoving the arrow the rest of the way through – after breaking off the fletching, of course.

I was drowning in my own blood – but thank fuck for magic; Solas managed to stop the blood from draining into my lungs and patch me up a bit. I was still wounded – he wasn't able to completely heal it. I was sore as fuck.

When the fighting ended, Cassandra was kneeling by me, "How are you not dead?"

"Seeker – remember she mentioned her heart is on the wrong side? Saved her damn life, it did," Varric shook his head.

Maxwell looked horrified, "You took that hit for me… Maker, Celeste – you should have let it hit me – it would have hit lower and… I would have been fine."

"You idiot," I rasped.

Solas nodded, "You hold the Mark, Herald – if you were hit and couldn't fight, we couldn't close rifts. The Admiral is correct in this – your wellbeing is more important."

"I won't have wellbeing if the King and Commander kill me! Next time, shove Varric in the way or something!" Maxwell looked panicked.

Varric shouted, "Hey! I'm too short – pick the Seeker."

Cassandra nodded, "Indeed – my armor would have deflected it and if it did pierce then it also wouldn't have been the lung."

I rolled my eyes, "Couldn't get… to you… in time. React, or he… would get hurt…"

Maxwell narrowed his eyes and snagged the sending stones from around my neck, activating both. I felt horror, but was currently too weak to stop him.

"My love?" Cullen answered.

"Princess?" Alistair answered too… fuck!

I gave pleading eyes to Solas. He gave me a sympathetic pat on the hand while Maxwell said, "The Admiral took an arrow to the chest – she jumped in front of me. She's alive since it pierced the left side and Solas attended her at once, but she's having a bit of trouble breathing and moving."

Both men were cursing up a storm. I gave Maxwell a look of betrayal and muttered, "Harellan; Ma banal Enasalin – Bellanaris Din'an Heem."

Solas roared in laughter – startling everyone but Ellana who was also laughing. Alistair coughed, "Well, Maxwell – it appears you called us without her permission…"

"You know what she said?"

"Trickster; that was no victory – make you dead. That's the closest translation, I believe. In other words, she just threatened you." Alistair said. Solas snorted, "Essentially, yes. Our dear Admiral has a way with Elvhen."

I groaned, "Na Abelas."

"I suppose he will be, at that," Ellana said drily. Solas nodded, "Why speak Elvhen, Da'len?"

"Easier – less… taxing." I muttered.

Solas thought for a moment, "The rhythm of Elvhen does flow easier than the Kings Tongue. I did notice you don't need to take breaks in speaking when you speak in Elvhen."

Cullen spoke, "Celeste, are you alright?"

"Ir. Ar Lath Ma, Vhenan," I said. Solas translated for me with an amused chuckle, "She says she is; and that she loves you… and calls you her 'heart'."

"I love you too – please don't throw yourself in front of arrows. I agree that Lord Trevelyan is important – but not at the cost of you. Yes, we need the mark, so we need him – but Celeste, you know the future and… Makers' Breath; you are important to me. Please – I really do not wish to receive a letter or a call telling me that you did this again and didn't survive."

Alistair cleared his throat, "I must care for you more than anticipated – my heart all but fell from my chest to hear Lord Trevelyan say you caught an arrow in the chest. I didn't even feel this terrified when we learned how one kills an Archdemon."

I flinched at that, "Ir Abelas… fuck, that smarts…"

Alistair sighed, "Well… as I said earlier – I head out in two days. With the two wagons I have to bring, it should take me a week to reach as far as the Hinterlands… meaning I should catch up to you just as you're leaving the area; and that is counting the detour you want me to make with Solona."

"Solona? Tell me you don't mean…?" Cullen coughed.

"Amell – that's her. Celeste has requested her special assistance in a trip to the Temple in the Brecillian Forest and then leaving Solona with the Inquisition to train people in a mostly lost art. By the way – Solona asked if it was okay for her to keep in contact with her husband… ahem… Zevran…"

"Oh yes please. We'll… need his help… later. Son of a whore," I cursed as Solas moved me. "You guys… go clear… Valamar… Solas, Ellana… stay with me."

Maxwell handed me the chain with the two sending stones on it before taking Cass and Varric into the Thaig. I grunted when Solas and Ellana propped me against the wall. Cullens' voice sounded again, "It's not a personal call, Sister Nightingale – Celeste was injured… she took an arrow for Lord Trevelyan."

"I'm… fine," I hissed out.

"Very convincing," Alistair said drily. I sighed, "Look – I've had worse scrapes."

"How – without magic, that would have killed you," Ellana pointed out.

I shook my head, "Not exactly. A punctured lung can be serious, yes… but it's not usually… fatal. It can be treated. It just smarts… is that a potion…?" I eyed the vial of orange liquid in Solas' hand suspiciously.

"No – it is a rejuvenation potion; it will accelerate healing and give you a boost of energy." I sighed and downed the thing – I hated being reliant on drugs of any kind. I usually didn't take meds unless it was needed badly.

But I guess this proved a point – this experience, I mean. I may be better trained and better equipped; but I was still human, after all. My chest hurt.

Cullen said, "I need to…"

I cut him off, "What were you… talking about… with Rylen and the… 2-6-10?"

"You heard that? Ahem – I had gotten a report and he used inappropriate language to congratulate me on our nuptials."

"Oh… was curious. Shit, I'm tired…" I yawned.

Solas nodded, "An effect of the healing – the energy from the magically accelerated healing has to come from somewhere in your body. I'm afraid you may sleep until tomorrow morning. Thankfully, the Halla are just below us since they followed us from the Farm."

Cullen coughed, "Leliana is calling me for a war meeting – we'll be sending troops to hold those camps and more support for the crossroads since you told me the food ran down almost at once."

"… Thank you – for helping take care of the people," Alistair said.

Cullen stammered, "T-thank Celeste; it was her orders as Inquisitor."

"Too much pain for that – better be pretty," I grunted as my vision tunneled.

Ellana laughed, "I take it she means to distract her with pretty words!"

"Ah – my specialty; My most lovely princess, you have my sincerest thanks for caring for our people. When I first see you, I will be sure to thank you with a kiss and throw myself to your feet to worship you as the indestructible goddess you are."

"Wow – he's good at this," Ellana muttered. Solas looked amused but helped me to stand and move toward the Halla as I slurred, "Very pretty…"

Cullen chuckled, "Alistair, you always did have a honeyed tongue."

"Got me out of the kitchens in the Monastery more times than I can count – which is a lot; I can count very high," he quipped back.

"Right – as our beloved is on the verge of passing out, let's cut this call short and get back to our respective jobs." Cullen pointed out.

Ellanas' voice was the last thing I heard, "Verge? She's already…"


My first thought on waking was 'I hate the fucking Hinterlands'.

I crawled out of the tent – my second thought was, 'Fuck those rejuvenation potions'. Heaven, help me if I needed those again.

Solas was the only one awake at the pre-dawn. His magic flared and I felt it wash over me, "How odd – you seem to be completely healed; I estimated it would take at least two days of rejuvenation potions and healing to get you back to 100%."

"Self-defense – I hate those potions; they taste like mint; I hate mint. My body was simply defending me," I quipped to him. He smirked, "Lethallan, you do realize that isn't possible."

"I don't know – I've always healed fast. Truth be told, it's the only reason that I'm still alive. Some of the wounds I've received should have killed me before help ever arrived… the only reason we even know that is because the doctors marveled at the scar tissue and told me exactly that after several 'lethal' blows. I have no explanation."

"It isn't your family mark?" Ellanas' voice whispered behind me. I almost had a heart-attack but shook my head steadily, "No – that seriously just negates toxins of all kinds. Allergies are not toxins though. The Cousland strength comes from something else entirely and sometimes doesn't manifest at all according to Leliana. No one seems to remember how the Couslands got their strength. Ellana – I'm not sure how I know this, but… you want to be an agent of Fen'Harel, right?"

"Yes – I… I found some very old texts about him; he freed slaves from what I found… he wasn't a trickster – just a rebel… right?" she sounded unsure. I smiled and nodded, "That's exactly right. I think I'm the only human in his organization and I sort of strong-armed my way in. I will carry your request to my handler – but remember; no one else is to know about me."

She nodded swiftly, "Understood, Lethallan. What about… Solas?"

"I am… also part of it. Actually, I am her Handler. She is the only human in the group – as she said – so we needed someone close to her."

I was surprised that Solas outed himself. I was just going to say that Solas was also being recruited. Ellana looked fascinated, "Can you tell me more, Hahren?"

"I'm going to bathe in the lake – you two don't do anything I wouldn't do," I gave an exaggerated wink – making Ellana flush bright red.

"You shouldn't go alone, Lethallan; I can wake the Seeker…" Solas' face told me that he knew I would protest.

"Look – I'll keep my gun close by and my sending stones around my neck. I'll be fine." Famous last words, right?

He motioned to one of the wolves that hadn't gone with Cullen – Ellanas' wolf. It perked up and followed me. I rolled my eyes, but didn't protest.

I was relaxing in the water as the sun slowly began to rise, when I heard a familiar voice that I shouldn't have heard until after Val Royeaux.

"They will make this a fight, not us."

I cursed and pulled on my shirt and panties – but Ellanas' playful puppy wouldn't relinquish my pants. I slowly approached the cabin on the other side of the lake – I was going to have to change back at camp. Well – this was one way to recruit someone.

"Line there and there – no gaps. Remember how to carry your shields! You're not hiding, you're holding. Otherwise, it's useless."

I spoke from the water – still half submerged and dripping-wet, "Blackwall? Warden Blackwall?"

"Who…? My Queen?" he gaped for a moment before taking in my eyes, "You're not… how do you know my name?"

That was when we heard shouts – but I simply raised my weapon and fired three 'warning' shots into their heads. The three men dropped and I said, "Admiral Celeste Rutherford – lost Cousland and princess of Ferelden; agent of the Inquisition."

The loud bang from my gun and the howl of the wolf had my whole group come running. Blackwall tensed until I said, "Stand down, Inquisition – the situation is handled."

My friends sheathed their weapons and Maxwell asked, "What happened?"

"Bandits chose to bother me while I was trying to have a proper conversation."

"You're still in the water…" Ellana pointed out. I flushed and cleared my throat, "Your puppy would not give me back my pants – so here I am, shielding these people from seeing my lacy see-trough small clothes. What would you have done?"

Ellana glanced at her puppy – who had taken back up my pants and said, "Revas – drop it."

The puppy shook its head, flinging the pants back and forth while Blackwall said, "Conscripts – take back what they stole and go back to your families. You were willing to fight; you saved yourselves. Princess; what can I do for you?"

Good man – pretending it was completely normal for me to be a Lady of the Lake.

I waited until the others were gone before saying, "Cut the crap Thom; you can play at being Blackwall all you like, but you can't hide it from a Herald of Andraste. I'm here to recruit you. You're a good man – been playing at Warden for 4 years and no one noticed. Andraste pardons you; the Warden Commander says you have her blessing; and I want your help to stop the Wardens from summoning a demon army by killing fellow wardens. Your choices are to join the Inquisition or the Wardens – but I promised Alistair I would spare you the wardens. You still need to make amends for the shit you pulled, but…"

He was pale… he shook slightly, "You know."

"Ser Robert Chapuis ordered you to attack one of Empress Celene's allies, Lord Vincent Callier. You only told your people that you were on an important mission – not that you were attacking civilians. The attack turned into a slaughter, as they massacred not only Callier but Callier's wife and children. You knew they were present with enough time to call off the attack, Thom – but you didn't. when word got out, Gaspard disavowed your actions. Chapuis committed suicide and you ran. Many of your men were arrested and put to death as traitors. You took up Merc work and in 36 Dragon, visiting a tavern near Churneau, you saved a barmaid from rowdy village militia harassing her. The real Blackwall was there. He conscripted you. But on your way to Val Chevin, you stopped by a Deep Roads entrance on the Storm Coast and he sent you in to get the blood needed for the Joining. You were, however, ambushed and Blackwall died saving you. This inspired you – you took his place to keep the world from losing a good man. You succeeded."

He looked ready to collapse, "It can't be as simple as letting me go…"

"It isn't – you are free to atone as the man you are; not the man you pretended to be or the traitor you thought you were."

He looked up at me, "The man I am? I hardly know him. But he… I have a lot to make up for. I suppose then… if my future is mine… then I will pledge it to the inquisition – to aid in saving the Wardens; my sword is yours."

Who knew that jumping right to the judgement would save so much time and dancing? I smiled, "Good – we'll pass quite a few Warden Camps; we can collect some artifacts from the camps so that they don't get lost to time. Those treaties you have – Elissa can utilize them for us; she actually is a Warden-Commander so…"

He nodded, "As you wish, My Lady."

"None of that… do you still wish to be called Blackwall? Like a title," I was still smiling. He looked relieved, "I think I would like that."

"Welcome abord, Blackwall – now, all men turn the fuck around so I can get out of this water…"

At once all the men whirled around and I got out of the water and wrestled my pants from 'Revas' the wolf.