Chapter 19: The Crow and the Soldier
"Orzammar huh?"
Alim did not reply, he did not like repeating himself. He had explained to Alistair his reasons for seeking out the dwarves next. From what he remembered from his readings in the tower, the dwarves were experts at killing darkspawn, among them they would likely find the staunches allies for their treaties.
Leliana's words from the other night came back to him. They could do this, they should not have been able to get the Dalish on their side but they had. If they avoided Loghain's men, slipped past the horde again, and stuck together, they had a chance.
Provided that Alistair did not make him strangle him in the meantime.
They were currently walking with a group of refugees. Most of them were chasind, but a few of them were farmers from the southern bannorn hoping to escape to Highever or Amaranthine. The chasind were understandably nervous around Morrigan, but their fears of the Witches of the Wilds kept them from doing anything stupid.
Travelling among the Chasind, surprisingly enough, was a Ferelden Knight.
The man was broad shouldered, and his heavy chainmail showed evidence of battle damage. The knight refused to give his name, saying that he was just a soldier who had been separated from his unit.
He had apparently been aiding the Chasind since they had found him wounded and unconscious in the wilds. Despite the man's successes against the monsters he seemed broken, and it only seemed to get worse when the man had heard Bodahn talking about the rioting and destruction currently taking place in Highever.
Apparently the entire Cousland family had been wiped out, down to the last child. Teyrn Loghain had made a statement declaring that Bryce Cousland and his wife had been selling military secrets to the Orlesians. That Arl Rendon Howe, and loyalist of Ferelden had discovered the treason and executed them.
The man looked ten times worse after hearing that, Alim wasn't surprised, the Couslands had always been good to their soldiers.
The poor man's eyes were haunted, he looked as if he had looked into the void, and it now looked back through him. He had said barely ten words to the wardens and their party. All he would say is that he was Highever, and that he needed to return to his family.
Alim offered to let him join them, but the man declined, as he had said he needed to return to Highever, his family needed him.
Alim was forced to submit to his wishes.
"You could invoke the right of conscription you know," Alistair reminded him.
Alim shook his head, he would not do that, you only had to look into the man's eyes to see that he had had enough of war.
That of course had led to the current Orzammar discussion.
"We could use the dwarves help," Alim reminded him, "plus, the chantry buys all its lyrium from the dwarves. If we have their support then the Circle will have no choice but to aid us."
"Makes sense," Alistair shrugged.
The tone in his voice made Alim pause.
"What?" the elf asked.
"Oh nothing," the former Templar shrugged, "it is just nice to see you back to your old self. After the whole Dalish thing I mean."
Alim snorted, he had actually gone ten minutes without thinking about Belle's death.
Thanks Alistair.
"What is done is done," Alim sighed.
"I'm just happy that I escaped without you frying me with a lightning bolt." Alistair shrugged.
"Don't worry," Alim said with a slight smile, "the day is still young, I might just find some reason to fry you yet."
"Thank you ever so much Lim," Alistair chuckled.
"You're quite welcome Ali," the elf snickered.
It was strange, Alim had actually come to like Alistair's presence, the man may not have been able to be serious about anything for ten minutes, but at least he had a talent for lightening the mood.
Plus, he was a great target for teasing that always put a smile on Alim's face.
He decided to indulge himself.
"So…how are things going between you and Morrigan," the elf asked,
Alistair did a double take, "My…my…what?"
"All things considered, I'm surprised she hasn't invited you to her tent yet," Alim smirked, "Taught you a whole different kind of magic?"
Alistair turned three shades of scarlet.
"Makers breath, why do you have to say such things Lim," Alistair groused.
"Because you are such an easy target Ali," he laughed.
Alistair glanced behind them, Morrigan was following near Bodahn, she was currently negotiating for a silver necklace he had in his possession.
The Witch glared at Alistair, who turned back nervously.
Alim chuckled, Alistair was just far too easy to fluster. He almost felt sorry for the former Templar…
Almost.
IOI
Leliana was troubled.
It was not the typical kind of troubled, the one that sprung from a battle injury or an empty stomach. No, this form of troubled was in a way that she did not truly understand.
She…she had had another vision the last two nights.
She knew the others did not believe her, so she said nothing, but…it had been so real, far more real than the one she had had about the blight.
It…it seemed like…
It seemed like someone had just walked over her grave.
She had seen them all dead, all of them. Alim, Alistair, even herself, their bodies filled with arrows, and standing over them…was an elf.
He had blonde hair and olive skin. The section of road where they were to die was the perfect place for an ambush, high hills on both sides, and trapped to oblivion.
They would not stand a chance.
Leliana tried to avoid thinking about that, but the dreams remained as strong as ever.
They were all facing eminent death.
Alim led them away from the refugees, the route they were now on was an old trade route not used in a while, not part of the main path. Bodahn assured them that no guards patrolled this route, not with the main highway so important. If they were to slip past Loghain's men undetected it would be the perfect route.
Leliana was not so sure.
They had been walking for about an hour when they came to a part of the road with two tall hills on both sides.
Leliana gasped.
It was the same from her vision!
"Alim," she said nervously, "Warden we need to stop."
"Stop sister," Alim gave her a curious look, "Why?"
She wanted to tell him about her vision, but she could not. He would never believe it!
"We are walking into a trap," she said, she pointed to the two hills, "That would be the perfect position to catch us in a crossfire. We would not stand a chance."
Alim regarded the hill thoughtfully, he was no military strategist, but the Ancient Stormbreaker had been.
His memories confirmed what Leliana was telling him.
That stretch of road was the perfect kill zone.
Leliana might be jumping at shadows, but then again…she might not be.
He was about to order them to turn around, better safe than sorry.
That is when he heard a woman scream.
He almost leaped forward, but caution and Leliana's warnings made him wary.
A beautiful blonde girl with a bloody torn blouse ran towards them, she was panting like an animal at bay, her eyes wild with fear.
She caught sight of the wardens and their companions.
"Oh thank the Maker," the girl cried, "Please…you must help us, darkspawn…darkspawn attacked the wagon! Please help us. Follow me…I will lead you to them."
The girl turned back the way she had come.
Alim's ears twitched nervously.
"Ali," he said to the former Templar, "Do you sense any darkspawn around here?"
Alistair shook his head, he did not.
""Me neither," Alim snorted. It was unlikely anyone but a grey warden would respond to the threat of darkspawn, but then again, most people were not aware that the wardens could sense them.
"A trap you say?" Alim asked Leliana.
The sister nodded, she already had her bow ready, an arrow loaded and ready to fly.
Alim sighed, one day he was going to be the one setting ambushes for people, he swore it.
"Prepare for battle," he said softly.
His companions drew their weapons. He pulled spellbinder from its sheath on his belt. He looked skyward, a few clouds up there, not enough to be much help, but the wind was with them.
That could be useful.
"Warden."
HE nearly jumped out of his skin, the voice came from behind them, it…
It was that knight from Highever.
"Yes," Alim said in a dangerous voice.
"I changed my mind," the knight said coldly, "If you are going after Loghain and Howe, I want in."
"Welcome aboard," Alim shrugged, "We currently have a trap waiting for us up ahead. You want to give us a hand dealing with it?"
"Gladly," the knight drew his sword. Alim could not help but notice the gold and silver markings on the hilt.
That…was not the sword of a common soldier.
"What is your name?" Alim asked.
"Gus," the man responded, "You may call me Gus."
"Well Gus," Alim chuckled, "you just walked into something interesting."
The knight regarded the way ahead of them.
"A perfect kill box," he agreed.
"Well I'm glad everyone agrees," Alim said rolling his eyes, he motioned them forward, "Come everyone," he said smirking, "let us see if we cannot turn this trap to our advantage.
As one the group moved forward.
It was time to spring the trap…their trap.
IOI
An hour later, Zevran Aranaii awoke with a splitting headache and his arms painfully bound.
Considering that he should have been dead, this was not that bad of a result to their failed trap.
He looked up at his captors, his rather attractive captors if he had to be perfectly honest.
He managed his best winning smile.
"Well…this is interesting," he said pleasantly, "I figured I would wake up dead, or not wake up at all as the case may be."
"You will speak when spoken to!" the small elf in the robes growled.
Ooh wasn't he a little spitfire.
Zev grinned.
"Ah so I am to be interrogated, let me cut to the chase and save us all some time. My name is Zevran, Zev to my friends; I am a member of the Antivan Crows, brought here for the purpose of slaying all surviving Grey Wardens, a purpose that I have failed at…sadly."
"Antivan Crows?" Alim asked.
"An order of assassins out of Antiva," the cute red-haired girl offered, "Very powerful, and known for always getting the job done, so to speak."
Zev nodded, it was always nice to meet a fan.
"Someone went to a lot of trouble to hire this man," the red head finished.
"Quite right my dear," Zev said, "I'm surprised none of you have heard of the crows down here. Where I come from we are rather infamous."
"I don't suppose I need to ask who hired you?" the elf in the robes and hat asked.
"A rather taciturn fellow in the capitol, Loghain I believe his name was, through his grace Teyrn Rendon Howe of Highever."
A knight in dirty armor drew his sword, the young man in splintmail, and the red head stopped him.
"Bastard," the knight spat, "You were one of the ones who attacked Highever weren't you?"
"Oh I have never been to that place," Zev admitted, "I was brought here to do a job, to perform a specific purpose."
"And now that you have failed," the elf in the hat asked.
"Well that is between Loghain and the Crows, and between the Crows and myself."
"And between you and I," the elf growled.
"But of course, but we have already established that," Zev reminded him helpfully.
The red head turned to the elf with the hat, "Alim there is no reason for us to believe anything he says."
"True enough my dear," Zev replied, "which is why I have no reason to lie to you. So, if we are done with the interrogation, I have an offer which might serve us both well…um…Alim was it?"
Alim nodded, "Speak quickly assassin, I am listening.
"Here is the thing," Zev sighed he recognized that he might have only one chance to save his life, "I have failed to kill you, so now…my life is forfeit, that is how it works, of course the problem with that is, is that I like living. So…what I propose is that I serve you instead."
Alim seemed confused by the offer, "But you just tried to kill me, Loghain paid you to."
"Actually he paid the crows, I got nothing, I would receive my share of the pay for the job once I had returned to Antiva, but that is likely not going to happen now is it," Zev said smiling, "So I think I would much rather have my life than coin."
"You switch loyalties quickly assassin," the dirty knight said.
"As I said, I was never loyal to this Loghain; I am simply a professional doing a job. One who recognizes a chance when he sees one. I know the crows, and I know their tactics. I can protect both you and myself, if I am permitted to of course."
The elf, Alim was considering his offer, "What do you want in return," he asked.
"Well, being allowed to live would be nice," Zev smirked, "and should I ever cease to be useful to you, you would let me go, but until then I am yours, is that fair?"
" A fine offer warden," a dark haired beauty in the back said in a sultry voice, "but I suggest we watch the food and water stores carefully. Poison is such a killer on the appetite."
"Quite right my dear," Zev agreed, "It seems the wardens do not travel with fools."
"No," the dark haired woman said glaring at the man in the splintmail, "They just recruit them."
"Hey," Splintmail whined.
Alim nodded, he had made his decision.
He pulled his dagger, for a brief moment Zev tensed, but then the warden leaned down and cut his bonds.
Zev sprang to his feet.
"So I am…part of the company now…marvelous," he said energetically.
Alim leaned in close, and whispered in his ear.
"At the first hint of betrayal, you die," the smaller elf growled.
"Sounds fair to me," Zev said dropping to one knee before Alim.
"I hereby pledge my service to you warden, until such time as I am dead or you release me. I am your man without question, this I swear."
Alim shook his head, this was just too surreal, but another blade against the Archdemon would be useful.
Provided it did not kill them anyway.
"Thank you…Zevran wasn't it?" he asked.
"Zev is fine warden," the assassin reminded him.
"Very well Zevran, come along then," Alim said curtly, "should anything be done about your friends?"
Zev turned to the bodies.
"Oh these were just hired swords warden, no one will miss them I am sure, for now we have places to be yes?"
He turned and started walking away.
The red head walked up beside him.
"Welcome Zevran," she said warmly, "I'm Leliana, having an Antivan crow join us seems like a fine plan,"
"And you are a companion to be as well then," Zev said warmly, " I never realized such beauty could be found among adventurers, perhaps we can share a tent tonight? I shall regal you with tales of Antiva while my head rests on your bosom.
Leliana frowned, perhaps this wasn't such a good idea after all.
Alim walked behind him, he had no desire to walk anywhere that the assassin might get the drop on him.
He found himself wondering how Leliana had known about the trap, instinct perhaps, or something more.
He promised himself to ask about it the next time they were in camp.
Whatever he might say about Leliana, one thing was certain.
She was not some simply chantry sister, but what she truly was, and what she was truly after…
Alim could not say.
IOI
Alistair shook his head.
An assassin, they were actually bringing an assassin along now. He agreed with recruiting Gus, but this…this Zevran?"
Alistair did not agree with this.
"I will kill him if he tries anything," Gus offered.
Alistair nodded, at least someone's head was in the right place.
They proceeded down the road, making good time as they made for the Frostback Mountains.
They still had a long way to go.