Prologue: Betrayal
Mini-Chapter 3: The Breach
Time: Three days before Lyna's Conscription, 04:00 hours
"You ready?" A twisted snarl of a voice asked.
"What's there to be ready for? We're heavily outnumbered by trained killers. It's going to be a walk in the park." A more feminine voice responded.
"As you say, Dark Mother." The other responded.
"Stay here and begin the portal preparations. I'll get the relic and we will be gone from the surface." She said with a sigh, getting stopped.
"Dark Mother, are you sure you wish to do this alone?" The being accompanying her asked, "You are outnumbered, and if you are captured…"
"I won't be captured. Get that portal open, I'll be back within the hour." She concluded before walking away from the small dip in the ground they were hiding in.
Time: 04:35 hours
"So, have you ever seen what we're guarding anyway?" One of the Cousland guards asked, looking over to his comrade.
"No. Rumor has it only the Cousland Family and a few chosen guards have. Grunts like us aren't allowed inside." The other man replied with a soft chuckle. "I just can't wait until they change the guards. I want to see my wife and daughter again soon."
"I hear you there. We've been standing here for days, my feet are aching." His friend grumbled in response before spotting three men rushing towards them. "Oh now what, Sergeant is coming. At attention!"
The both of them snapped into a disciplined posture, their arms to their sides and their bodies standing tall. The only movement that was visible was barely seen, and that was their breathing. However, when they saw one of the men collapse with bloodied armor, they lost the posture and drew their weapons and shields.
"Sergeant! What's going on?!" One of them called out.
"Woman… in black! Wiped out everyone save for us! She's c- AARGH!" The man shouted before electricity swarmed he and his remaining comrade.
They convulsed for a good minute before the electricity dispersed and they collapsed to the ground. Behind them was a woman dressed in a tattered black cloak, along with robes that appeared very rugged and scavenged together. Her hands were bound in the same cloth wraps, as were her feet. She slowly approached the two, and when they raised their shields she stopped with a small smirk seen on her pale face.
"State your name, mage!" One of the men ordered with a wavering voice.
"Names? I have many, and none of them matter. You do not see me asking you of your names, yet you are most important to my mission." She stated with a cool and smooth voice.
"Like hell we are…" The other guard growled.
"Oh? You see, from what I understand all of your men are disposed of." She said with a shrug, "Unless you want a similar fate, I suggest you do what I ask."
"You're at the south entrance, mage, we've a whole lot more just waiting to hear us shout over in the north." One of them bluffed.
"Oh really? Show them, Gruk." She commanded and a large Hurlock clad in black twisted plate armor chuckled before tossing two bodies off of the top of the vault, which was built into a small hill.
"Your forces in the north were minimal, from what I understand. Or, I should say, the same as down here." She stated as the Hurlock jumped down and crashed onto his feet in front of the two men.
He turned around and eyed them with his greyed eyes that had flaming red pupils. "Now open the door." The woman commanded once more, walking up beside the Hurlock.
The men, stricken with fear, turned around and got out their keys. They shoved the pieces of metal into the sockets designated for them, and twisted them at the same time. Clicks were heard and the woman smiled once more as the two opened up the vault slowly. She walked inside, but not before relaying one final order the two would hear.
"Gruk, put them to sleep and wipe their memories of this encounter. We do not need to leave a trail."
"All of them, Mother?" He asked.
"No. Leave one glimpse of myself in their minds. I want the Couslands, nay, all of Ferelden to fear what is coming." She replied before venturing further into the vault.
"Your will be done, Mother." Gruk said just as the two guards turned and tried to fight him, only to get their heads slammed against the stone wall of the vault.
She walked inside slowly and looked around. It wasn't that large of a vault, in fact, she assumed that the north and south weren't even connected. That was evident by the stone wall right in front of her. The woman let out a soft sigh and looked down at the wooden and iron box that was bolted up tight. The effort into keeping the relic secure was so pathetic it made her giggle quietly. Such a powerful item to be left in such a pathetically secure 'vault.'
"Oh, you Couslands…" She muttered under her breath before waving her hand across the lock, breaking it open in an instant.
She bent down and slowly opened the chest, and in a spectacular bluish-purple glow the room lit up. The pure radiance of the relic she was looking at was nearly blinding, and it was enough to shine outside as well. This caused Gruk to look inside briefly, before remembering his orders not to look at the relic himself. The Hierarchs of the Logosha forbade all to look upon it, and when asked why they divined the answer that it would kill any Darkspawn who dared place their corrupted eyes on it. He hoped that was just a lazy answer given to keep the bulk of the Logosha off of their backs, but judging from what he felt during his brief glance, they had not lied.
The Dark Mother quickly covered up the relic and hurried outside. "Come, Gruk. Leave them behind. We've no need of them any longer." She said before a black and purple portal opened up in front of them.
"As you command." Gruk replied before following her into the portal.
The portal dissipated just in time, as after all of the traces had vanished, Cousland reinforcements arrived. "Sir! We've got wounded up ahead!" The scout called out. It looked like a battle had just taken place, but there were no signs of death.
Author Note: Hello everyone, do not worry. This is not the actual chapter that has taken so long. This is just a little... appetizer if you will. The real chapter should be posted tomorrow night! I will tell you now, if you are wondering about the awkward story that just popped up in this mini chapter, all will be answered as time passes on. This chapter is really just meant to make it so you can understand something in the next chapter.