Chapter 67: Old Sins
The walkway to the old mage tower was quite treacherous, icy, trapped, and still more warden corpses tried to breach its defenses.
Zevran took point; Leliana was still recovering from her ordeal with the Dryden-demon. She needed time before she could return to her duties.
Zev did not mind, it gave him a chance to show off a little in front of Seri.
The corpses turned, they fired arrows at the Wardens and their advancing party. Alim had had enough of their foul number, the elf gestured, invoking the wind to aid him, asking it to blow away these obscenities from their sight.
The undead flew off the walkway, to be smashed against the mountains near the peak.
The way now clear, Zev got to work, disabling the traps that blocked their path.
Once he had pronounced the way clear and safe, the others followed him.
Seri stayed behind as the others passed by.
"Not bad," she said quietly.
"Such high praise," he said smiling with an exaggerated bow, "Are you starting to see my value to our party now?"
The former princess snorted.
"You're an excellent target for archer's Master Elf," she said, "I shall endeavor to stay more closely behind you in the future."
The assassin grinned lecherously.
"I hope you enjoy the view my good woman."
Seri rolled her eyes and motioned him to proceed.
Zev did as she commanded, but was well aware of her eyes upon him; he knew when someone was watching him. It was a talent that had saved his life many times in Antiva.
Had he managed to peak Seri's interest now? He thought that he very well might have, regardless their game continued.
He grinned.
He thought that he had just pulled ahead on points.
IOI
Alim was in a foul mood now; this place was starting to get to him. He was sick of demons, corpses, and loudmouth long dead great-grandmothers.
And you're worried about Leliana, a voice in his head chimed in, she is never going to be safe around you.
The elf's ears twitched with frustration. Leliana was a big girl, she could take care of herself, and she did not need a too short elf with two big ears defending her honor. She had proved her mettle to him, both in the deep roads, the circle tower, and here. He had been too blind by his own prejudices to see her strength in the Brecilian, but he knew that strength now.
It did not stop him being concerned for her welfare however.
The elven mage shook his head.
Their little talk earlier had helped, to know that she had not rejected him outright. He did not know if she desired him the way he was starting to desire her. The…the want for her that he was feeling, it was a wonderful and terrible distraction.
There will be time to discuss this later, he reminded himself, when you and the others are safe, when Leliana is safe. For now, focus on finding a way to undo Sophia's Dryden's blunder.
The tower was surprisingly better maintained than the rest of the peak. No dust or cobwebs, but it was extremely messy, old tomes were piled everywhere, some still had place markers. It was as if someone was still living here, reading something before moving on to something new.
Alim leaned down; he read one of the marked passages. It made him frown.
Day 32: The subject is not responding to the stimuli, only three subjects are left.
I hope to duplicate last night's success, but the few number of subjects I have left to work with hampers my efforts. Pain is unimportant, the blood is the key.
Electricity and blood, the electricity allowed for a breakthrough last night, but the blood remains the key.
I'm confident that I'm sitting on the edge of a breakthrough, but there are no more subjects left! If only I could have two more, or perhaps a dozen! The things I could do.
Alim snorted, he looked at the cover of the old journal, he suspected that it likely belonged to that bastard Avernus, or one of his acolytes. It was clear that the man had been a skilled blood mage, and demonologist, that is likely the only reason he was able to do what he did for Commander Dryden.
The elf's brow furrowed.
Had they already destroyed Avernus's corpse? He could not say for certain, and still no sign of any book that might help him remove the summoning circles in the great hall.
Alim shook his head.
He had hoped to secure Soldier's Peak for the Grey Wardens, to give them back a part of their history, not to mention a fall back spot. Spring would be here before they knew it, and Loghain and his army would be out on the prowl again.
It would be nice to have a place of their own to rest if Loghain came looking for them.
"Are you alright?"
He turned to greet Leliana, a stern look on his face.
"I told you to stay in the back," he said, "Cover us with your bow."
"I'm feeling better," she said.
"You have been through two very bad magical ordeals in the last few weeks," he said, "I would not see you endure a third, please stay in the back and recover."
"But Alim…"
"Leli please," he said sternly, "Stay in the back with Morrigan and Wynne. Bandit will keep you safe until we are out of here."
She was about to protest, but he stopped her with a raised hand.
"Leli, please, for me."
IOI
The bard looked hurt for a moment, but then she looked into Alim's eyes. There was no anger there, none directed at her anyway.
There was concern, and there was fear.
She found herself surprised.
Alim was worried about her, actually worried.
She suddenly felt like a fool, an infant. He was concerned about her, and why not? She had fallen prey to two demons already, three if you counted that shade in the Brecilian Forest.
She…she had no defense against magical attacks.
Perhaps she would speak with Wynne when this was over, or Alistair. Perhaps there was a way to armor herself against magical enemies.
Or you could just ask Alim? He is a wise mage; he might know the answer as well.
She could not deny that, but she feared that his concern for her might get in the way.
She was grateful for that, considering how they had begun this journey. She had feared that he had hated her.
They had come so far.
She was not some fragile doll, but she felt warmed by the concern he showed her, the warmth in his eyes.
It brought more than a few butterflies to her stomach.
Bandit came up to her with a happy 'woof.'
She smiled down at the warhound.
"Are you to be my bodyguard then?"
He barked and wagged his stubby tail.
She gave him a gentle pat on the head.
"Let us see what we can do to help Alim, yes?"
The dog licked her hand, and led the way.
She followed, gladly.
IOI
The wardens finally entered the central part of the tower. The smell of the place surprised Alim, a mix of sweet herbs and putrification. Long dead bodies were laid out on examining tables, tiny note books surrounded them.
Alim wrinkled his nose in distaste.
It seemed that they had found Avernus's laboratory.
The elf shook his head; it was time to find the means to end this.
"I hear you."
They all paused. The voice that had called out to them was old and reedy, but it was also familiar.
"Do not try and break my concentration."
Alim glanced up; on a small raised platform was the main working part of the lab.
It was here that they saw an old man, working with some kind tube, studying a decaying arm. He stopped and jotted down some notes. Then with a sigh and a creaky stretch of his back rose and walked towards them. He used and a mage staff as a walking stick.
The old man regarded them with hard eyes.
"Even now the demons seek to replenish their numbers, are you the ones I have to thank for this brief respite?"
Kally's good eye widened.
"You…you are Avernus are you not?" the elf asked.
The old man nodded.
"You're still alive," Alim said with no small measure of surprise.
The old man huffed.
"Only just," he snorted, "I have only a short time left, a decade, maybe five…after that even I will submit to the ravages of time.
Alim almost laughed, few would call fifty years a short time, but if this was truly Avernus, he had lived for over two hundred years.
That was impressive.
"How did you survive so long?"
Avernus smiled proudly.
"The chantry forbids blood magic, but there are so many uses for it. As my body weakened, I was able to find a way to extend it."
He stood a little straighter despite his stooped back.
"Demons only know blood magic, the darkspawn taint is alien to them, and it is far stronger than even the wardens realized."
He smiled.
"I could teach you much little warden," he told Alim, "I sense old magic in you, older than I, older than the towers of Tevinter."
Alim's eyes narrowed at the little comment, but he did not attack. The old man was far more perceptive than most.
"I'm a stormbreaker," he said, "The last of my kind and a grey warden."
Avernus chuckled.
"Or the first of the new," the old man smirked, "There is a change in the world, I've felt it, perhaps the time of the elves is coming again, or perhaps we shall all be consumed by the Archdemon Urthemiel, I'm still a warden after all, I felt his clumsy clawing at my mind. You have your work cut out for you young wardens. Will you survive the darkness, only time will tell?"
Leliana stayed in the back, but she shivered at this…this person.
"Careful," she said, "This…this man has dabbled in arts forbidden by the Maker. He might look frail but do not trust him."
The old man snorted at her.
"Did Your Maker tell you that?" he said dismissively, "It is the foolish fears of men that deny my work, not any god. All that I have done…"
"Is depraved," Gus said, "Cruel and villainous."
Avernus glared at him.
"Perhaps, but necessary," he said, "A warden does what he must."
He shook his head, eager to return to his work.
"Enough, why are you here? What is your intent?"
IOI
Alim sighed, he had wanted to stop the demons here, and here was man who had summoned them in the first place. If anyone could dissolve the summoning circles, it was Avernus himself.
Gus was not wrong, what he said about Avernus's grotesque work, but Avernus was not wrong either. The horrors of the past might just hold the key to the future.
He had answers to both the questions of Levi Dryden, and possibly the Blight.
Alim explained why they had come, and what he intended to do.
When he had finished, Avernus promised to help them.
He saw Leliana, Gus, Wynne, and Alistair apprehension, in truth the elf did not like the idea that much either, but Avernus was right about another thing as well.
A warden does what he must.
IOI
A few hours later, the group found itself camped within the walls of Soldier's Peak, the demons were gone, the bodies of the fallen turned to ash as the veil had been closed off.
The Peak was secure again, for the first time in centuries.
Avernus had chosen to remain in his tower, under house arrest. Levi had promised to contact his cousins and send word to the Grey Wardens of Orlais. Once the Blight was done, they would take custody of the ancient mage. He would continue his work under their supervision, the secrets of his longevity alone would have mages debating his work for decades.
Alim felt that for the best. What had happened here had been horrible, but it had not been entirely Avernus's fault, he had been acting under orders from Sophia Dryden, and in opposition to a paranoid tyrant.
The elf glanced over at Levi, he…he felt sorry for the man. He had come here looking to redeem his family name, and had found that things were far more complicated than even he knew.
Sophia Dryden had been related to King Arland Theirin. She had tried to seize the throne for herself when she was young, but the King had discovered her plot. He had forced her into the wardens as punishment. The joining had not killed her, but it had neutralized her.
Then as the years went by, Arland's mind had begun to break; he had become crazed and paranoid. Killing loyal nobles for the most minor of slights; some likely were even innocent of the charges.
The nobles had turned to Sophia for help, and she had seen her opportunity regain the crown she had coveted in her youth. Those nobles that joined her were welcomed, but some had to be convinced. Avernus had use mind domination spells to force their involvement.
Gus had been shocked to hear that the Cousland family had joined this rebellion; Arland had killed the Teyrn when he found out, and used his head at a centerpiece at the victory feast.
The knight said he had served the Cousland family proudly, he could not imagine them traitors to the throne.
Alim understood how the man had felt, but if Arland Theirin was as bad as Avernus suggested, then perhaps it was understandable.
Arland had moved before Sophia was ready, and Soldier's Peak had been surrounded. Sophia had sent out the call for aid from the other warden garrisons, but they refused her request. They saw the grand rebellion as violation of their neutrality. They would not come and save her.
The rest, as the bards say, was history.
Alim sighed.
Poor Levi.
Not that the merchant was prepared to give up on his family. He would hold the secret until the rest of the Drydens were ready to hear it, in the meantime, he intended to move his family into soldiers peak, fix the place up a bit. It would be a good place to hold trade goods, and the Dryden's wealth would benefit the wardens' cause greatly.
Alim had agreed, and as warden commander of Ferelden, declared Levi Dryden, Steward of Soldier's Peak.
He thought the whole ceremony thing foolish considering he, Alistair, and Theron were the only wardens here in Ferelden, not counting Avernus of course.
Levi embraced the charge, promising to see the peak restored to its former glory.
Alim returned to Avernus's tower for a short visit. The old mage knew many secrets of the place, including hidden weapons catches, which included not only spell books, but talismans to ward of darkspawn and demons.
Among them was a small gold one that bore the mark of Andraste.
The elf had smiled.
He had presented it to Leliana, she definitely needed the protection.
Her cheeks had turned rosy from the necessary, yet beautiful, gift.
She had hugged Alim tightly, bringing a blush to his cheeks and a feeling of lightness in his breast.
That night they sat on watch together, as always she talked and he listened. When she fell asleep he held her as the moon made its way across the sky.
The warden mage sighed.
He enjoyed the quiet of the night, a chance to rest amidst the chaos.
The elf smiled.
The warmth of a certain red-haired woman was not too bad either.
He was grateful for the peace of this moment.
He gazed out at the land beyond the keep. In the distant south, dark clouds rolled across the land, rainbow lightning danced among them.
Alim felt a coldness in his chest.
The Blight was advancing, the horde was moving north.
The Archdemon would not be far behind.
Alim remembered the terror he had felt in the deep roads, the paralyzing fear burning in his blood.
He would not be so paralyzed the next time the Archdemon and he met.
He glared at the blighted clouds.
Enjoy your victories for now you bastards, he thought, we will be seeing you soon.
And on that day…only one of us will be walking away alive.