Chapter TWENTY-TWO

Aria had learned to dread it when Aveline called on her at home. Today was no different. The carrot-topped Guard-Captain had come to her as a messenger for the Viscount, who wanted her to report to his office as soon as she was able.

She quickly put on her light armour and strapped her daggers to her back after Aveline left. Bodahn questioned her attire and wished her well should she see battle. Truth be told, it'd been far too long since Aria had worn the garb. It had actually gotten looser on her, a testament to how much she'd let stress and anxiety rule her.

Aria was just stepping off her door step when Fenris greeted her. "We're going to have to put lessons on hold today," she groused as he strode up, his questioning gaze immediately taking in her battle-ready accoutrements.

He sighed. "May I deposit these inside and join you?"

"I have a feeling I'm going to need your help," Aria replied sadly.

Fenris smiled at this and went inside, where Bodahn was quick to take his things. He even gave the elf an enormous, lethal great sword from Aria's collection to take with them. Together, they strode purposefully up to the Keep.

"What's happened?" Fenris asked as they lightly bounded up the steps together.

"I don't know the details quite yet, but Aveline informed me that Viscount Dumar has summoned me," Aria answered, smiling shyly when Fenris's hand caught hers at the top step.

They walked through the enormous double doors of the Keep and quickly made their way to the Viscount's personal office. Aria didn't let go of his hand until they reached the Seneschal. He escorted just her inside, refusing to acknowledge Fenris at all. Seneschal Brann regarded her with a look of haughty, deep-loathing when the doors closed after them.

"Problem?" Aria snipped at him, challenging him to say something about the elf.

"None at all, messere," Brann sniveled, though his eyes spoke the opposite.

The Viscount handed Aria a letter he'd received just this morning. The Arishok had asked for her by name, refusing to allow any other human into the Qunari compound until she complied. The Viscount was deeply distressed at this turn of events, and he feared all out war was imminent.

She grumbled to herself as she left the office. "All I want to do is live in peace. But no, Hawke, go rescue mages. Hawke, go die in the Deep Roads. Hawke, help me with this little problem. Hawke, go talk to the scary Qunari because he's a dick to everyone else. Can't I just get fat and live off my spoils? Is it too much to ask? Sweet Andraste, this city will be the death of me." She threw her hands up in the air, then kicked the door jamb for good measure as she went through. The Seneschal glared at her, but wisely said nothing.

When she reached the landing, she was not surprised in the least that Aveline had joined Fenris to wait for her.

"Well?" the Guard-Captain immediately prompted when Aria reached them. "Out with it."

Aria glared at the chevalier-want-to-be, her amber eyes spitting sparks. "Is everyone done ordering me around today? Since when did I become everyone's go-to for their rotten dirty work?"

Aveline grinned and slapped the rogue on the shoulder. "Since you stepped off the damn boat. No one can do the things you do, and get away with them. What did the Viscount want?"

Aria looked to Fenris who curiously arched a brow at her. She sighed. "We can't talk about it here. Your office?"

"Indeed," Aveline said, immediately turning on her heel.

Fenris's hand rested at the small of Aria's back as they entered the office, a gesture of support. Aveline regarded the action with a curious gaze.

"You would do well to be a little less—open," Aveline addressed Aria and Fenris.

"Piss on it," Aria spat, but Fenris took a couple steps away from her. Aria smiled sadly at him then rounded on the Guard-Captain. "The Arishok asked for me by name and refuses to deal with anyone else."

Aveline pinched the bridge of her nose in trepidation and squeezed her eyes shut, a deep, worrisome sigh whistling out between her lips. "Maker, this is bad."

"You're telling me," Aria groused, taking a seat in the chair at Aveline's desk. Aveline sat in her own and motioned Fenris to sit in the other vacant chair next to Aria.

"Did he give any inclination as to what he wants you for?" Aveline queried.

"The Arishok is never very forthcoming about his motives. Hence why he's still even in this blighted city," Aria grumbled.

"Something binds him here," Fenris contemplatively added. "Or else he'd have already started invading."

"What? Maker, they've been here three years. They hate it here. We don't want them here. What could be so Maker-damned important?" Aveline asked, fuming.

Aria put her head down on Aveline's desk, none too gently. "I guess we have to go find out," she said, her breath fogging the lacquered hardwood surface, her voice muffled. "Maybe I should take him a kitten. Everyone softens at the sight of kittens."

"He'd probably use it for target practice or eat it," Aveline snidely replied, a slight smile spreading her thin lips when Fenris chuckled at this. It was rare that anyone other than Aria got him to laugh.

Aria sat up and leaned back a little in the chair. "You're probably right. I'm not going in there alone. You two at least are coming with me. Should I go get Varric?"

"With his connections and his savvy, he's a wise choice," Fenris approved.

Aveline nodded. "Yes. Hawke, go get Varric. I'll meet you at the Qunari compound and we can tackle this mess together."

"Just—let me do the talking at first, okay?" Aria pleaded. "Afterall, he did ask for me."

Aveline nodded and Fenris and Aria took their leave. They trotted the whole way to the Hanged Man. Aria waved at Isabela at the bar before they raced up the stairs. The other rogue looked curious, but she did not leave her post.

"Hawke! Elf! To what do I owe the pleasure?" Varric asked, standing as his comrades entered.

"Don't be too happy to see us," Aria good-naturedly said, grasping the dwarven merchant prince's forearm in greeting. "We've an errand to run, posthaste if you please."

Varric sighed and grabbed Bianca and his well-worn leather duster without pause. "What are we walking into now?"

"The Arishok has demanded an audience with Hawke, via the Viscount," Fenris filled him in as they bounded down the steps into the bar proper.

"Shit," Varric said, holstering Bianca on his back.

"My thoughts exactly," Aria growled.

Aria filled him in on the details as they made their way down to the docks, where the Qunari compound was located. Aveline waited for them outside the gate. The guard there saw Hawke and immediately granted them entrance.

Aria hated the Qunari compound. She disliked their glares and their indifference towards humans in general. Not everyone could be born with brute strength and horns on their head. But trying to get that through their overly thick skulls was an exercise in futility. The biggest thing Aria didn't like, however, was the fact that she was terrified of the Arishok. She'd fought Tal Vashoth, the defectors of the Qun before and come out on the winning end. She never wanted to have to face the Arishok in battle.

"Serah Hawke," the Arishok almost purred, sending the hairs up on the back of Aria's neck. The party halted just before the steps that led up to where the Arishok sat.

"Messere," Aria congenially stated, giving a slight bow.

"Last we met, I did not know your name. Did not care to. You have changed your fortune over the years. The Qunari have not. I offer a courtesy, Hawke. Someone has stolen what he thinks is the formula for gaatlok. You will want to hunt him," the Arishok smoothly stated, his eyes regarding her with much less disdain than they had in her past dealings with the monster.

Aria sighed, remembering the slippery dwarf who'd been after the bombs the Qunari possessed and had used her to attempt to procure them. The Qunari had refused, and the Arishok had been impressed with her. She didn't want to deal with Javaris Tintop again. She knew she should have just killed him when she had the chance.

"Excuse me, but that sounds like quite the feat," she said, pandering to the Arishok's glaringly evident sense of pride.

"It was allowed," the Arishok replied. "The stolen formula was a decoy. Saar-qamek—a poison gas, not explosives. A small amount is dangerous to your kind. But if made in quantity, perhaps by someone intending to sell it..." He trailed off, looking to Hawke to connect the dots.

"That merchant—Javaris," Aria said with bitter celerity.

"Would he be cautious, or would he assume success and make enough to threaten a district?" he continued, a slight, vicious smile lighting his lips. He licked them, then repeated, "A courtesy, Hawke. You will want to hunt him."

"How dangerous is this Saar-qamek?" Aveline interjected and Aria shook her head slightly, trying to keep the Guard-Captain from inciting the Arishok. They were too much alike and Aveline didn't have the horns to go head to head with him.

The Arishok looked at the redheaded warrior with open distaste, and instead of speaking to her, he answered her question by talking to Aria. "It is not a threat to Qunari. For your kind, it is as dangerous as those who breathe it."

"Can you elaborate?" Aria pressed before Aveline could make this any worse. The Guard-Captain glared at the rogue but held her tongue.

"The gas kills. But first, it turns allies against their own in blind rage. So, the greater the skill of those sent against us, the more dangerous they become to their own people."

Aria shook her head. "Hard to control at the best of times."

"It is no longer our problem," the Arishok replied almost happily. If he could indeed express that emotion. Aria doubted it.

"I appreciate you bringing this to me," Aria diplomatically stated, inclining her head.

"I have long thought this city would destroy itself. This will only hasten the inevitable. Panahedan, Hawke. I do not hope you die," he replied, also inclining his head.

They left then, Aria eager to put as much distance between them and the Qunari as possible. She didn't relent until they were back in Varric's room at the Hanged Man.

"We have to get out in front of this, and fast," Aveline said, almost out of breath. Varric closed his door and motioned them all to sit at the enormous table in his common room.

Aria rubbed her armored arms as though the gesture would warm them. She hated being terrified. She hated more that it showed. Fenris was keeping his distance from her, but his eyes softened when he looked at her. He quirked a half smile for her benefit.

"Where would we find Javaris?" Aria asked Varric, her voice shaking slightly.

"Good question. Coterie would be our best bet. I heard his lots were up for sale in Darktown. Maybe start there?" Varric suggested, smiling at Norah as she brought in a tray full of pints of ale for all of them. Aria was thankful—a drink would settle her fear-stricken nerves.

"I will double the guard postings right away," Aveline said, refusing the pint Norah offered her. She stood and moved to leave. "Hurry, Hawke. Lives may be at stake."

As soon as the Guard-Captain closed the door Aria put her head down on the table and covered her ears with her hands. Varric and Fenris exchanged curious glances.

"Hawke?" Varric said after a moment.

Aria lifted her head and took the pint from the tray. She downed the whole thing in one go and slammed the glass on the table. "I have a very, very bad feeling about all of this."

"You don't say?" Varric chuckled, sipping from his own pint. "Would you like Aveline's as well?"

"Maker, yes!" she sighed in exasperation, taking the unclaimed pint. She drank this one much more slowly.

"I don't think Javaris is the one behind all this," Fenris said then, taking a swig from his glass. "He doesn't seem..."

"Intelligent enough," Varric finished for him.

"Well I didn't want to insult a kinsmen," Fenris said, and Varric chuckled.

"He's no more my kin than Daisy is yours," Varric smoothly replied.

"Bah!" Fenris spat at this.

They finished their pints in relative silence before getting up from the table. "Since we're headed that way, why don't we go get Blondie. I'm sure he's itching to get out of the clinic for a day," Varric suggested as they walked down into the bar. Fenris only grunted in response. Aria nodded in agreement.

"Sure. Because I haven't had enough excitement for today," Aria half-joked.

Varric laughed but didn't say anything more on the matter.