Chapter Fourteen
Nicolae Moon stood in front of them, his hands dropped to his sides as Sinfi made no move towards him.
"I don't understand," Sinfi growled out, anger and hurt painting every word. Confusion settled upon the party as they all slowly tried to understand just what had happened. Nicolae had appeared out of thin air and sliced open Samson's throat.
"What isn't there to understand?" Nicolae looked at his daughter with a perplexed expression as he slowly advanced towards her. "My people cast me out because I was a man with access to our precious Mists. My family discarded me because I discovered the true power that our blood held."
Silence filled the space as they waited for him to continue. Nicolae let out a sigh as he unhooked the black cloak and let it drop to the ground, "I was able to survive alone and away from the Vistani for only a few years with the use of my blood, but that magic dissipated over time. Thus, requiring more and more blood over time to access the Mists. One day I woke up and the connection was gone completely, so I had to resort to using others' blood to get what I wanted." He paused for a moment and looked off into the distance, "Over time, whispers spread within the deserters about missing Vistani girls and suspicion starts to pile up against you, then you have to figure out some way to get your powers back."
"So, you did actually kill someone in our Troupe," Sinfi spat, her eyes were like sharp jagged pieces of metal.
"It wasn't supposed to happen that way," Nicolae barked out as he looked his daughter up and down slowly as the flare of emotions dissipated. "I needed just enough to prove my experiment and theory." A sly smile spread across his features, "Which, in the end, was correct."
"I'm elated to hear that you proved your point," Sarcasm dripped from Sinfi's voice.
"You should be. I am the reason you got back to Thedas, after all."
"So daddy turns out to be a psychopath and then joins up with someone trying to become a god. That's a pretty far jump," Varric questioned, his tone mocking. Nicolae's blue eyes quickly shifted to Varric, rage burned underneath the cool depths.
"I found him wandering the Mists, lost and confused. I took him to the Threads of Fate and showed him what could be. I made it possible for him to be in the right place at the right time to receive the Traveler's Orb. I promised him unspeakable power so long as mine were restored to me tenfold," Nicolae's voice rose with every word as his anger swelled.
"Knowing full well what that could mean for everyone in every realm." Sinfi finished, her voice cool against Nicolae's rage.
"A small price to pay for power." His eyes glided over each companion ending on Solas, "I think all of us here understand that."
"The Traveler's Orb?" Solas scoffed. "This is an elven artifact from Thedas, not some myth's trinket."
"I never said it wasn't elven or from this land," Nicolae's eyebrow rose as he looked closer at the elf. "The Traveler may be able to move between time dimensions at the slightest whim, but they had to come from somewhere."
"That does not explain your interest in the orb," Solas replied, his glare never breaking from the intruder's eyes.
"It's true that power is a wondrous thing, but there has to be more than just that." Morrigan mused softly.
Nicolae's lip twitched slightly "It was the only way to get at least part of my life back," Something in his voice broke apart as his gaze landed back onto Sinfi, "It would allow me just the possibility to get you and your siblings back... maybe even the love of my life."
Nicolae stepped closer to Sinfi, cupping her chin in his long fingers. "Join me," He begged. "We can rule these worlds together. We could have the power of the Mists and the Threads of Fate at our fingertips, no matter where we were to go or how far the rest of the Troupe is. We could be gods, my little shadow."
Sinfi's golden eyes were glassy, Bull watched as a single tear rolled down her cheek.
"I can't," She whispered. "This is wrong and you know it."
"Our kind deserves this power. The Vistani had been enslaved for generations, just because we had a fragment of it," Nicolae pleaded with his daughter. "Tieflings have been murdered just because of how we look. Together, we could tip the scales into our favor. We could be the ones to dispense justice for the wrongs committed."
Sinfi said nothing, her eyes were glassy as she shook her head, refusing his offer once again. Nicolae's face fell, disappointment etched across it at Sinfi's answer. He glanced down quickly as he pushed the hurt away, leaving no trace of emotion, "Then so be it."
Sinfi quickly moved out of Nicolae's radius as a grey dagger tried, unsuccessfully, to lodge itself into her gut.
"Once upon a time, you were my father," Sinfi pulled out her own daggers and tossed them in her grip before looking back to Nicolae. "Now you are just a crazy fanatic."
"At least I'm on the right side of history," Nicolae smirked as they started to circle one another.
"This is between you and I," Sinfi stated. "One on one; no companions or help."
Bull's jaw tightened as he looked toward where Sinfi stood. She couldn't be serious, taking on an enemy in one on one combat after fighting all day would be a dangerous task. But as their eyes connected, Bull knew she was serious and understood why as the memories of training with Mordecai flashed through his mind. Nicolae had magic not found in Thedas and could potentially control them with just a few words. Nicolae would become the puppet master while the group tried to kill Sinfi. The only person who knew how to protect themselves against that onslaught was Sinfi herself.
"I won't hold back," Nicolae said slowly, his eyes looked deadly as he watched his daughter.
Sinfi gave a tight nod before charging towards her father. They traded blow after blow, each mirroring the other with attacks and blocks. Nicolae, though, had decades of fighting and training on his side, whereas Sinfi did not. He began to gain more ground against his daughter. She fought with every ounce of energy she had, neither one refusing to back down from the fight. Only one of them would walk out alive. Blades clanged against one another, interlocked in a struggle for the upper-hand. Sinfi pushed Nicolae away, sweat dripping from her brow as she started to breath heavier. Yet, he came back faster and harder, giving the woman made of fire and dawnstone no chance to regain her composure. Nicolae's red tail slowly snaked behind Sinfi who was focused entirely on his daggers.
"Sinfi-," Bull yelled out, but he was too late with the warning. He watched as Sinfi fell backwards. Her daggers knocked out of her grasp and quickly kicked to the side by her father. She looked around frantically as she tried to scramble away. A twisted smile spread across Nicolae's face as he went in for the fatal blow.
Sinfi's hand shot out in front of her, tendrils of the Mists' magic swirled from her palm and surrounded Nicolae. Her eyes locked with her father's before whispering, "Patior."
Nicolae froze in place as the Mist grasped onto him tightly, the magic seeping into every exposed pore on his body. His daggers dropped from his hands as his body started to crumple upon itself. The man collapsed into a pile on the moss covered ground, screams of anguish bounced off the stone walls of the chamber. Sinfi got up and picked up her daggers, sheathing them quickly at her thigh.
"Varric," Her voice was void of any emotion. "Give me the rope so I can tie up our prisoner."
Varric looked between Sinfi and her father before pulling the rope out of the bag. He handed it to Sinfi who kept her unblinking eyes on the man crying out in pain. She placed her knee on the older tiefling's back as she quickly bound his hands, muttering an incantation under her breath all the meanwhile.
"He shouldn't be able to get out," She said softly as she got up. "If he tries to use magic on his bindings, it will just hurt him instead."
"You can't stop this," Nicolae growled out, his face twisted in pain. "You can't stop him."
Sinfi glared at the man on the ground, "Just watch me."
"So," Bull dragged the word out as he dropped the bound and now gagged Nicolae Moon on the ground where they stood around the man let out a muffled cry of pain, Sinfi's spell still in effect until she chose to release him from eternal pain and punishment, "Anyone know what that talk about some Traveler was about?"
Sinfi let out a sigh as she looked out to the Well of sorrows. Abelas had left them peacefully, but his warnings of the Well's powers still hung in the air, "The Traveler is a god. One that likes to jump in and out of history of the different worlds. Always spreading chaos and trickery wherever their hands touch."
"They?" Varric asked.
"They," Sinfi confirmed with a nod. "They're always shrouded, never alluding to who they truly are. The Traveler could walk through a crowd unmasked and no one would be the wiser. Some Vistani clans believe the Traveler is the embodiment of the Mists. Some think they were once Vistani and, somehow, learned to harness the Mists without their Troupe. Yet no one knows for sure."
"What do they have to do with Thedas?" Bull asked as he crossed his arms.
"The spirits in the Fade seem to think Fen'Harel and The Traveler are one in the same," Solas spoke up, his stance going a little more rigid as Sinfi's eyes quickly darted to him.
"You know about The Traveler?" Sinfi asked, not even trying to mask the surprise in her voice.
"I know about a lot of things, Inquisitor," Solas said with a slight smile. "When you've spent as much time in the Fade as I have, you hear stories from spirits from all over. You start to piece stories and history together."
"Right," She whispered softly. Bull could see her trying to piece the new information together in her head before she spoke again, "I sometimes forget that you've spent so much time that close to the Threads of Fate."
Her eyes slowly drifted back to the real task at hand and not the theology lesson. Someone would have to drink from the Well of Sorrows, but the question was who.
Much to Bull's disagreement, it was Morrigan who was chosen to hold the Well's power. Sinfi had already been blessed and bound to the Mists, becoming bound to another god was not an option. That was unless she decided to renounce her ties to the Mists, which Sinfi would never sacrifice. Solas refused to step near the pool when he was asked, where Varric had found it laughable he was being asked his thoughts on the matter. In the end, it had to be Morrigan.
They watched as the witch slowly waded into the water, the crystal surface lapping lazily against her legs. Blue light reflected off the surface of the water, filling the space in an ethereal glow. Her fingertips glided on the water, breaking the mirror-like image with ripples. Morrigan turned to them once she reached the center, giving Sinfi a smile and a slight nod silently thanking her for the opportunity. Then the witch of the wilds sank into the dark water, becoming entirely immersed. A plume of blue smoke rose from the surface before exploding and filling the chamber. Bull lifted his arms quickly, shielding his face from the unknown.
They continued to cough as the smoke dissipated, each of them looked back to the pool and realized the water had dried up, leaving the intricate tiled and gilded bottom open to them. Morrigan laid motionless in the center.
"Morrigan?" Sinfi called out, quickly taking the steps towards the witch. "Are you alright?"
Slowly, the Inquisitor helped the older woman up, their voices were low as they tried to assess what had happened, but they didn't have enough time to process the events as a shadow fell over the Well. Up on the balcony Corypheus walked out, glaring towards them. His eyes danced over the fallen bodies of his foot soldiers and the now dead general. Finally, his sights landed on the bound and gagged Nicolae, laying on the ground struggling to free himself despite the pain. Corypheus let out an unearthly scream of anger and hatred as he lifted from the ground. He knew he had lost the race to the Well and his secret weapon, Nicolae Moon. All that was left in his corner was anger and an unstoppable will.
"I think it's time to go Pinky," Varric said softly as he watched the magister with wide eyes.
"The Eluvian," Morrigan cried out and pointed towards the tall gateway as it started to glow in a similar fashion as the rest of the magic in the temple.
Bull quickly grabbed Nicolae, and tossed him over his shoulder. Another muffled scream of pain came from the red tiefling, causing Bull to smile slightly. It was the little things like that, that made Bull appreciate his line of work.
Together, the group raced through the magical gateway. The glass shattered behind them, blocking the way for Corypheus to follow. They were thrown out into a pile in a dusty room, everyone coughing and breathing hard as they tried to untangle themselves. Bull looked around at the stone walls and furniture covered in white sheets, he couldn't help but smile slowly. They were in Skyhold and alive.
Morrigan rose from the ground slowly, she waved her hand in front of the mirror's surface, the magical blue glow dissipated and turned back into an unassuming old looking glass.
"It is done," the witch whispered as she looked towards Sinfi.
The Inquisitor nodded and walked towards the door, "I'll go send a message to the troops to retreat and start the journey back."
"Boss," Bull said softly as he picked up Nicolae. "What do you want me to do with-"
"I don't care what you do with that thing," Her voice was harsh as it bounced on the stone. Everyone stood motionless, quick and silent glances were shared between the group. She paused for a moment, exhaling slowly through her nose as her hand rested on the handle of the door leading out into the gardens, "Bring the prisoner to the cells to wait for judgment. Have Mordecai join you to magically lock him in, we can't afford having him escape and call his master to Skyhold."
Bull couldn't see her face, but he could hear the pain and anger in her voice. She had just lost her father for a second time.
Sinfi sat upon her throne in simple black silks. All frills, beading, or signs of extravagance were removed. The normal jewelry and decorations attached to her horns were gone. Wrists bared to the world. The only exception was the one necklace showing her commitment to him. Bull glanced towards the Troupe, they were all dressed similarly. All color removed, all jewelry locked away. The normally boisterous group was silent as they all stared into the space in front of them. Lost in their own thoughts.
Bull could see that Sinfi's knuckles had turned white from gripping the armrests of her throne. Her nails dug into the wood, forever leaving a scar on the piece of furniture. Her jaw was tight as she clenched her teeth together. Golden eyes never breaking contact with the two massive doors leading into the day they all had been dreading was finally here; the judgment of Nicolae Moon.
The doors opened and the Vistani snapped back into reality from the abrupt noise. They hissed words of hatred and spat at Nicolae as he was led past. The red tiefling's blue eyes watched Sinfi unblinkingly as he was thrown in front of her onto his knees. Bull watched as Vera stepped up to the dais to Sinfi's right hand, the older golden eyes never acknowledging Nicolae.
"Inquisitor, Jospehine and I have agreed that I will handle this hearing today as this involves both Inquisition and Vistani law," Vera spoke softly but her voice surrounded them all. "Nicolae Valichar Moon, leader of the Thieves' Guild and former Vistani member, has been brought before you for judgment."
Vera took a shaky breath before looking towards her former partner, "In another lifetime, this man did many great services for his people. He was courageous and worked tirelessly to help free many of our Troupes from enslavement; many of whom would still be in chains today. Once upon a time, this man was considered a hero and rightful partner of the first in line." She paused for a moment, "But the good deeds happened before he had been caught and found guilty of murder within the troupe. Banished from our people and the Mists for the remainder of his days. Now he is to be judged once again, for aiding Corypheus, a threat to the existence of life to every world imaginable."
Sinfi was silent as she watched the man before her, golden eyes burned in the shadows that fell over her. Her voice was hard and strained when she finally spoke, "Do you have anything to say, Proditor?"
"You look like you were made to be up there, my little shadow," Nicolae smiled slightly. "I wish you had taken the offer to join me, we could have done great things."
"That's it?" Sinfi hissed softly. Nicolae tilted his head slightly at the question.
"I do not regret my actions, if that's what you're asking," Nicolae straightened up, his face turning cold and calculating once more. "You don't understand the feeling of your power leaving your body. You don't know the fear of losing your connection to the Mists, having the Threads of Fate ripped from you."
Nicolae looked around at the Vistani angrily, "If any of you did, you would have joined me in an instant just to have a taste of it once again. You would understand that I didn't have a choice."
"There is always a choice!" Sinfi screamed, her voice reverberating through the hall. Slowly, she uncrossed her legs and stood from where she sat. She walked towards him, hips swaying slowly with every step, "We are taught since birth that there is always a choice, no matter the situation. We are taught the Threads are fickle and can change in a heartbeat due to our choices. We are taught to make choices for the good of our people and not use our powers for selfish gain."
Sing paused, her voice turning into a broken whisper, "You had a choice, and you chose wrong."
She was in front of her father and took his face into her hand, nails digging into the red skin, "Maybe the Threads of Fate turned their back on you because they knew what you were going to do and they would never condone it."
Golden eyes stared into sapphire ones. Sinfi let go of him before she started to circle him. Bull watched as she silently slid a dark dagger out of her sleeve. The rubies on the grip looked like frozen drops of blood. She studied the dagger as she tossed it in the air and caught it like one would with a coin.
"Nicolae Valichar Moon," Sinfi's voice rang out as she stood behind him. "You are sentenced to death by your own blade."
"I expected nothing less," Nicolae said softly, slowly closing his eyes. "You are Vistani through and through."
In a quick motion, Sinfi stabbed the man in the back, burying the dagger to the hilt. He toiled a pained breath, but did not cry out. Sinfi slowly knelt behind him, her lips were next to his ear.
"You will die, knowing that your Troupe has forsaken you. Your name will be wiped from our history," Sinfi's voice was soft and almost sweet despite the words. "You will die knowing that, after this, we will bury your body. You will forever be trapped; your ashes never allowed to travel across the winds and go back to the Threads of Fate. You will be damned to forever suffer on this plane."
Bull watched as a tear rolled down Nicolae's face. Blue eyes opening and looking up towards the stained glass work. The light shone down on the man as blood slowly trickled onto the grey stone below him.
"Threads of Fate, Forgive-" Quickly Sinfi twisted the knife in his back severing his spinal column and opening the main artery, killing Nicolae before he could finish his request for forgiveness.
Slowly, Sinfi stood, pulling the bloody dagger out of his back, blood dripping from the blade. Silently, she walked towards the door to her chamber. She paused in the doorway but did not look back.
"Bury his body, don't tell me where it is," Sinfi whispered. "Court is adjourned."
The door shut behind her, leaving everyone in silence.
It was night and Sinfi hadn't left her chambers since the judgment and execution. Her oldest siblings had gone after her once Nicolae had been buried away from the keep's walls, in an unmarked grave in the woods. As Sinfi had sentenced, he would be forgotten and forever tied to this world. The man may have gone crazy, he may have turned his back on everyone and everything, but family was still one of the most important pillars in Vistani life. No matter his crimes, the siblings still had lost their father once again and, tonight, they would mourn together.
Bull walked up the stairs slowly, listening for any indication of life up in the Inquisitor's chambers. With the exception of his boots on the stone staircase, it was dark and absolutely silent. The blood stained silks had been discarded at the top of the stone staircase. The dagger, now covered in dried blood, had been tossed onto her writing desk. The glow from the fireplace was the only light source in the chambers. One lone figure stood in the room.
Mordecai was only partially lit as he leaned against the wall, watching the flames dance in the fireplace. He may have been watching the wood pop and crackle before him, but he wasn't truly seeing it. An unlit cigarette twirled in his red fingers as he stared into space. Bull glanced around the room, the triplets and Sinfi were not in sight.
"They're out on the balcony," Mordecai answered softly as he glanced towards the Qunari. "Fi hurts for now, but she will be fine."
Bull let out a sigh, "Still not easy, sentencing your father to death."
"No, it's not," Mordecai whispered. "She did her duty to her people, even if it felt more like a crime in her mind."
Bull was silent as he looked the man up and down. The black hair that was normally slicked back was mussed, natural curls went in every direction. Like Sinfi, all jewelry and baubles had been removed, leaving Mordecai bare to the world. The black clothing was wrinkled and his button down shirt had become partially untucked. Golden eyes were dim and the black kohl that normally outlined them had smudged down his cheeks, most likely from tears that had since dried.
"What about you?" Bull asked softly, causing Mordecai to let out a breathless laugh, golden eyes shifting back towards the fire.
"Fine. I'm fine. It's fine," He said with a shrug. "We're technically not even supposed to mourn our father since he was banished. Should have been dead to us already, but…"
"But, that's not the case," Bull finished for him.
Mordecai grimaced with a nod, "He was a bastard, but he was still my father."
Bull was silent as he looked out towards the balcony, he could hear the whispering of the sisters but couldn't make any of their words out, "And the triplets?"
"Didn't know him," Mordecai sighed softly. "Father was banished when they were around two, almost three, years old. Their memories of him are few and foggy at best."
"Maybe it's for the better," Bull stated, Mordecai nodded slowly as he pushed himself off the wall.
"Dorian is probably wondering where I am, and Cullen for the girls," he sighed as he walked towards the balcony with Bull by his side.
The four women were all sitting on the chilled marble floor. The triplets surrounded Sinfi who was looking up to the stars, silently. She was wrapped up in a blanket, her makeup had been ruined from crying. Two continuous streams of tears ran down her cheeks, yet she made no sound. The dark raven waves had frizzed and become a tangled mass since the judgment. The triplets looked up quickly at their footsteps, their faces instantly glaring towards the intruders, but softened as Bull and Mordecai stepped out of the shadows.
Slowly, one by one, the sisters got up, pressed their horns against Sinfi's before walking towards the exit. They gave their silent goodbyes to Mordecai, their foreheads and horns just touching briefly before heading in. Esma and Drina each gave Bull a small smile and a nod as they passed, but it was Catarina who stopped in front of him. Silently, she stood on her tiptoes and pressed the base of her horns against his. Bull let out a slight chuckle as he mirrored the gesture. She pulled away and mouthed the words 'Thank you,' before joining her sisters.
Mordecai knelt down next to Sinfi, his lips softly kissed her forehead, "Send me a message if you need me, no matter the time." Sinfi nodded silently in understanding. Mordecai patted her shoulder before getting up and leaving, the sound of his shoes hitting the stone breaking the impossible quiet.
Bull walked up behind her, sitting down carefully on the hard stone so her back would be facing his chest. With gentle prodding he pulled the pink tiefing into his lap, arms wrapping tightly around her, pressing her against him.
"Sometimes I wonder- " Her voice sounded far away as she stared up at the sky. "-where free will ends and the Threads of Fate begin."
"Was this all predetermined or was it from the choices we all made?" She whetted her lips slightly, eyes scanning the constellations above them. "Was I always going to be the one to…"
Her voice died in her throat, unable to complete the thought. They both knew the question, though: was she always meant to be the one to kill her own father? Sinfi let out a small sniffle as she reached out and tried to wipe away the tears. The hand was still stained with blood.
"Kadan, let me," Bull whispered, his large hand reached up, his thumb gently wiping away the streaks on her face.
"I'm fine," She whispered softly. "I did my duty to the Troupe, I should be fine."
"Being fine and should be fine are two different things, Kadan," Bull looked up, scanning the sky as if the celestial body held the answers. "Look, I'm not sure what to believe. Growing up with the Qun, you're hardwired differently. Under the Qun, you don't question existence or have moral dilemmas, that's not your place… unless you're part of the priesthood. I was taught the bare minimum that everything and everyone had a purpose and reason."
Sinfi let out a dark laugh as she pulled the blanket tighter around her, "So, that leads to the question: what was the reason that I had to be the one to execute my own father?"
"I… don't know," Bull said simply with a shrug. "I don't think we're supposed to know."
Sinfi sighed as her shoulders slumped, her voice was quiet against the mountain breeze, "Maybe you're right."
Bull chewed at the inside of his cheek, "You did what you had to. If you hadn't…"
"Then Corypheus would have won. You're right," She finished for him as she pressed herself entirely against Bull, leaning all of her weight onto his chest. "Thank you Bull, I needed that."
His arms wrapped tighter around her waist, shielding her from the night chill, "Ben-Hassrath training."
Bull could hear a laugh bubble from Sinfi's lips. Even if he couldn't see them, he could feel her eyes roll at the ridiculousness of his response. They sat on the stone balcony for hours, looking up to the night sky; silently counting the stars and checking off the constellations. Bull didn't press for more, she needed time and to work everything out on her own. Instead, he was there, a rock to ground herself with.
Slowly, her breathing evened out. Bull picked the sleeping tiefling up in his arms with ease. Silently, he walked through their chambers, laying his partner down onto the oversized bed. Meticulously, he cleaned up the blood on her hands, careful not to disturb her, then wiped down the dried blood from Nicolae's dagger, and hid it into one of the drawers of the writing desk. Finally, he tossed the blood stained silks and bloody washcloth towards the bottom of the stairs, leaving them for someone else to deal with in the morning.
Sinfi would wake up with no obvious reminders of what had happened the day before and what she had been forced to do. As Bull has once promised her: he would give her what she needed, and right now it was a fresh start.
Bull was in the courtyard, training with the Chargers when it happened. The sickly green light of the Fade burst around them, filling the sky and painting everything in its hues. Everyone in the courtyard froze in shock and horror as they watched the sky rip apart once more. Just like before, the boom from the explosion shook everything around them. Loose stone and delicate glass shook and broke apart. Slowly, the explosion of light dissipated, storm clouds began to form and circle around the wound in the sky. Thunder rumbled above them, the sound echoing through the valley below.
"Chief," Krem 's voice was quiet, his eyes unbreaking from the sight. "Didn't we close that thing already?"
"Yeah..." Bull's voice began to die in his throat as the haunting screech of the lyrium dragon bounced off the mountain sides and green lightning struck the earth. Bull strapped his axe on to his back, "I have to get the Boss."
As he turned, Sinfi was already rushing out of Skyhold, her eyes turned to the sky as she bounced down the stairs. Dorian and Varric were following quickly behind her, throwing on gear and preparing themselves for the fight that was right on their doorstep. This was the moment they all had been dreading, the battle once and for all against Corypheus.
"Bull," Sinfi curtly greeted him as she pulled on her fingerless gloves.
"Boss," Bull nodded to her. Golden eyes caught his, she didn't have to ask the question anymore. He was coming with her no matter the costs. Bull gave her a half smile, "Ready to kick ass whenever you are."
Sinfi gave a quick nod as the color slowly drained out of her eyes, leaving only milky white irises. Mists formed around them quickly, swirling around their feet and swiftly crawling up their bodies. The dark abyss of the Mists accepted them quickly as they tumbled through the place between worlds and time. Images of what if's flying passed them at breakneck speeds. In the blink of an eye, it was all over. They were standing at the base of the Temple of Sacred Ashes. Red lyrium spikes surrounded them, leaving only one way to go; up.
"Tell me, where is your Maker now?" Corypheus' voice echoed around them. "Call him. Call down his wrath upon me," His voice paused for a moment, waiting for something to happen.
"You cannot," He continued. "For he does not exist."
The screams of demons and soldiers came from the path ahead of them. Bull pulled out his axe as Sinfi readied her daggers. A loud clunk came from behind them, Bianca was loaded and ready. It was time.
They rushed up the mountain trail, avoiding the loose rocks and debris littering the ground. Large boulders began to shift and levitate all around them. The corrupted magister's powers were strong as Inquisition recruits fought against the onslaught of demons summoned by him. Bull felt a crossbow bolt shoot off from behind him, the fletching just barely skimming along his left ear. The bolt landed square in the center of the demon's chest, a high pitched wail escaped from it as the body slowly disintegrated in front of them.
"There's one," Varric said smugly.
"You could have hit me!" Bull yelled back to the dwarf as he charged towards the last demon.
"But I didn't!"
Bull swung the axe over his head and with a war cry and brought it down upon the rage demon, slicing it in two. Out of the corner of his eye he could see Sinfi slowly approaching the Magister.
"I knew you would come," The creature hissed out.
"This ends here, Corypheus," Her voice echoed around them.
"And so it shall," The magister promised sinisterly. Red and orange sparks jumped through the air around him. His arms lifted slowly to the sky as the dark energy focused into one beam. The ground around them shook. The ground fractured around them as the platform they were on rose to the sky. Dirt and debris crumbled and plummeted to the earth below.
Slowly, Corypheus stepped closer to Sinfi, the cadence in his voice turned almost conversational, "You have been most successful in foiling my plans, Little Shadow."
Bull saw Sinfi's jaw clenched tightly as Corypheus used her father's nickname for her. He was poking at the unhealed wound.
"But, let us not forget what you are," He continued. "A thief, in the wrong place at the wrong time. An interloper. A gnat. In the end, you are just a scared, little Vistani girl."
Her hands balled into fists as fiery eyes glared down at Corypheus. The magister smiled slowly at the reaction, he was trying to throw her off, trying to make her erratic.
"We shall prove here, once and for all, which of us is worthy of Godhood and the Threads of Fate."
"Then what are we doing talking?" Sinfi asked sarcastically as golden daggers spun in her hands, her eyes locked on the target. "Let's dance."
A low reverberating growl came from behind one of the toppled stone walls as the red lyrium dragon stalked out from the shadows. It eyed Sinfi and, like a cat, it sprang forward, claws and fangs out stretched. But before it could reach the Inquisitor, Bull watched as an iridescent purple dragon intercepted the attack. The lyrium beast cried out in surprise as they toppled backwards and over the cliff side.
"You dare," Corypheus hissed.
"Oh," Sinfi smirked slowly. "I dare."
With that, she leapt towards the Magister, daggers glinting in the night.
Sweat dripped off of Bull's brow, his arms burned from swinging the heavy battle axe. Blood and guts dripped off of the blade as he charged towards the magister once again. He didn't know how long they had been fighting, but they had Corypheus slowly backtracking up the levitating mountain side. He was running and, soon, he would have nowhere to go.
The magister's defenses were strong, but they refused to yield. Bull could see Sinfi's chest was heaving, her breaths were ragged but she never broke from the fight with Corypheus. Every slice from the golden daggers was filled with all of the pain, anger, and hurt she had bottled up for the last year.
As they continued to ascend, the two dragons flew through the sky, locked in a battle of their own. Blood seeped from fresh wounds, their wings battered, and chunks of flesh missing from both creatures. Bull had to admit, he was impressed by the witch of the wilds. Morrigan held her own in the duel against her lyrium counterpart, allowing them to focus on it's master. Morrigan weaved in and out of the floating obstacles, the lyrium dragon right behind her. They continued to climb higher and higher within the sky, Morrigan was so close to the Breach, Bull swore she could have reached out and touched the green tear.
And then, she was falling. Crashing into the lyrium dragon and bringing it down with her. They were falling, interlocked in a struggle. The enemy beast, trying to escape from Morrigan's purple clutches, but there was no hope. Morrigan's claws had sunk into its flesh, keeping it close to her as they plummeted to their doom.
They hit the ground near the party hard, stone and earth crumbling away, leaving a large crater from the impact. As the dust slowly settled around them, they came to realize three things. First, Morrigan was motionless in the center of the pit. Second, the lyrium dragon was nowhere in sight. Finally, Corypheus had used this distraction to move further up the ruins and lick his wounds. They could hear the low growls and hisses of the dragon, but couldn't pinpoint it. Their backs were pressed against one another, continuously scanning the rubble for any sign of movement. Black claws dug into the earth as the creature pulled itself up from the cliff's edge, it's beady eyes never breaking from Sinfi. Then, it charged.
Sinfi and Varric quickly rolled out of the way of the incoming attack as Bull picked Dorian up, throwing him far from the dragon's reach. With just seconds left, Bull ducked, missing the incoming claws.
"Bull!" Sinfi screamed, eyes wide with fear.
"I'm fine, Boss. Go kill that asshole!" Bull yelled back as he swung his axe around, hitting the dragon hard on its front leg. The dragon let out a pained screech as he unlodged the weapon. "I got this!"
He watched as Sinfi hesitated, her weight shifting from foot to foot as she weighed her options. She grimaced slightly as she looked to where Corypheus had fled to. Her soft words caressed his ears, "I'm not done with you yet, The Iron Bull, be careful."
Then the pink woman disappeared into thin air. A smile formed on Bull's lips at the words he had once said to her in a little alcove before her suicide mission were thrown back to him. He swore he could feel her horns press against his, but she was nowhere to be seen.
"Will do, Kadan," He whispered as he readied himself for the next incoming attack. Eyes trained on the black dragon in front of him. He would survive this. She would survive this. Tomorrow, a new day would dawn and they would spend three glorious fucking days in bed.
Dodge, hit, then hit harder over and over again was Bull's routine. Bolts from Bianca and spells flew through the air around him, every impact on the dragon pushed it closer towards the edge. The hide of the dragon broke away with every hit, Bull's blade separating the muscle and tissue. Blood pooled around him, slowly seeping into the cracks of the stone. The beast was limping, the gushing wounds had begun to slow from the loss of blood. Bull swung the axe up, lodging it into the giant maw. He ripped the weapon away with a war cry that echoed through the valley, a loud snap confirmed he had struck and broken bone. The beast swayed on its feet slowly before collapsing into a lifeless heap.
Green light streaked up into the air, a wave of golden light burst from the rift. Bolts of green lightning struck down to the earth as the storm clouds slowly stopped circling the Breach. Bull watched as the tear between the worlds slowly knit itself back together. She had done it.
Sinfi Moon, First Daughter of the Vistani, Mistress of Shadows, leader of the Inquisition… His Kadan… had fucking done it.
Before the joy could set in, Bull watched in horror as the floating boulders and islands began to crash around them. Bull pushed Dorian and Varric into a stone archway as the rocks around them crumbled. Dust and debris filled the air and their lungs, causing them to cough and hack. Bull scanned the world around them as the dust began to settle, there was no flash of pink, no golden eyes, no bangles on the wind.
"Sinfi!" Bull called out. No response.
"Kadan?" He yelled as he stumbled out of the archway, his eye frantically scanning the destroyed mountain top for any sign of movement.
The sound of bangles behind him graced Bull's ears. He turned to watch a bloody Sinfi walking down the stairs. A gash ran through her left eyebrow and her upper lip. The tip of her right horn had broken off, leaving the spiral incomplete. But she was here.
"You're alive," Bull said in a breath. He watched as she slowly lifted a sheet of extensively marked up parchment. Graphite lines had started to bleed together, making the tally almost illegible.
A smirk grew on Sinfi's lips before simply saying, "I won."
Notes: well... hey now. How ya doing? good? good. This is not the end, we got a few more chapters left.
As always thanks for the comments and feedback.
Translations:
Patior- Suffer
Proditor- Traitor