Chapter 122: The Pearl
"Well…um…ah…here we are."
Alim glanced over at Jowan, his old friend looked as nervous as he felt. Alistair did not look too good either.
Alim coughed and tried to keep his head pointed forward, hoping he would not see something that he could not un-see.
He glanced over at Leliana, he could see the amused twinkle in her eyes, and how her lips were curling almost into a smile.
The fact that she found his discomfort even a little amusing did nothing for his attitude.
The elven warden's eyes narrowed.
What was he doing? This was stupid! He had faced demons, darkspawn, and Abominations. A simple brothel should not have intimidated him…
…but…it did.
He swallowed hard, and looked back at Alistair and Theron...
At least he wasn't alone in this.
The former Templar rubbed his neck nervously. Theron's elven ears twitched as he regarded the place around him.
Alim almost laughed.
It seemed that misery did love company.
"Yeah," Alistair agreed, "So…um…ah…we are."
Theron merely snorted, saying nothing more.
The group stood in the entry way, the sounds of many voices could be heard in the next room, voices that rang out in celebration.
Alistair looked around.
"Hm," he said with a slight blush coming to his cheeks, "Did you ever wonder why they called these places brothels…?"
"Alistair," Alim said giving his fellow warden a suffering look.
"I mean, do they serve broth here?" the former Templar continued.
"Alistair," Alim repeated.
"It couldn't be very good broth if they did. I mean…"
"Alistair."
"Yes, Lim?" he replied.
"Shut up."
"Sure Lim."
Theron sniffed, his silver eyes narrowing at the pink and gold decorations that seemed to be everywhere.
"Sooo," he said, "This is where shemlen come for…companionship."
Zevran chuckled at that.
"No my Dalish friend," he replied, "This is where people come looking for sex. It is a type of release, much pleasure can be found in a place like this."
The Dalish warden shook his head.
"My people do not look on…bonding as recreation. It is a solemn vow between two willing partners."
Oghren snorted at that.
"Sounds like your people have a stick up their arses, elf." The dwarf replied.
He looked around almost lecherously.
"You don't suppose they have any dwarven gals here, do yah?"
Leliana gave him a dirty look.
"Felsi, Oghren," she purred, "Remember Felsi."
The dwarven berserker scowled.
"Damn it," he growled under his breath, "You really have a way of sucking all the fun out of situation, don't you, Legs?"
Leliana smirked but said nothing more.
Zevran smiled and took a deep breath.
"Ah," he said pleasantly, "The smells, and sounds of a brothel."
He took another deep breath.
"Reminds me of home," he said with a cheery nod.
Alim shot the Antivan a dirty look.
"You have issues," he said.
Zevran chuckled.
"So I have been told."
Seri looked around with her nose in the air.
"Let's just find these warden allies and get out of here," she snorted, "Before Zev here gets any ideas."
The assassin smiled at his dwarven lover.
"Have no fear my dear Seri," he said, "Any ideas this place has given me, will be tried out on you this evening."
The dwarf blushed slightly, but still smiled.
Alim rolled his eyes.
Ugh, he thought.
"And on that note, let's get this done, before anyone says anything else and makes this more uncomfortable."
He led them through the entry way, and into the Pearl. His ears were burning red, and he prayed to Andraste, the Maker, and any elven gods that might be listening that Leliana would not notice.
I'm here in a brothel with my lover, Alim thought morosely.
…This cannot end well.
IOI
Leliana was trying extremely hard not to show the amusement she was feeling.
She hated to admit it, but Alim's reaction to this place was adorable. She had seen him walk into the darkest situations without fear, yet this…this place made him uncomfortable.
The bard frowned slightly.
Perhaps that was a problem, she thought.
Her dearest was so uncomfortable here, and yet, she was not.
She pursed her lips slightly.
The side effect she supposed of living a worldly life.
Little in the city could surprise her.
The Pearl was not the worst brothel she had ever been in. Early in her training with Marjolaine, she had spent a few weeks working at a singer in a similar place in Val Royeaux. Marjolaine had wanted some dirt on a local Baron who frequented the establishment, and had trusted her young protégé to get it.
She quirked her lip at the memory, the Madame had been a friend of Marjolaine's and had kept the younger bard safe, but even she could not protect her from what she had seen during those rather strange days and nights.
That had been…an odd assignment; she had still been a bit of an innocent then when it had come to the pleasures of the flesh. She had seen things in that brothel that had made her realize much about the darker side of physical pleasure.
After that, little in this world surprised her about the vices of the rich and powerful.
She had completed her mission of course; the Baron that Marjolaine had targeted had been reduced to a sobbing wreck when his depravities were revealed to all the wrong people. The man had ended up losing everything apparently. His family, his wealth, his status in Orlesian society…
The last she had heard the man had hung himself, just another casualty of the great game.
Thinking back, she realized she felt a tiny bit of sympathy for the man, a bit, but not much. If you played the game, then you should know the stakes, and be prepared to pay the consequences if you lost.
The man's death was unfortunate but that was all.
Now once again she found herself standing in another brothel, hoping to find allies of the grey wardens.
The bard's eyes narrowed.
She still had that cold feeling in the pit of her stomach.
She did not like this.
As they stepped into the brothel's main floor she got a better look at what was going on. The Pearl was dark and smoky; the smell of incense and scented oils filled the air. The place was also quite busy, most of the customers being soldiers, not surprising with a war on.
Leliana smiled slightly.
You could see the differences between the veterans and the new recruits here. The senior soldiers lounged about speaking with the girls while servants brought around drinks. The recruits were all blushing and nervous, still working up the courage to speak to one of the girls, not sure how to start the…negotiations.
There was a large board behind the bartender, scrawled across its surface were some of the…services the Pearl, offered, everything from a simple back rub to something more…intimate was on offer.
It might have seemed a little crass, but that was the way business was handled in such places.
And make no mistake, this was a business.
Leliana noticed a dark skinned Rivaini woman playing cards in the corner with several of the soldiers. Her golden eyes twinkled with mischief as she shuffled the deck in preparation of another hand.
Zevran who had been standing in the back came up to stand next to the bard.
"Well," he said with a slight whistle, "Small world isn't it?"
Leliana gave him a curious look.
"You know her?" she asked.
"Oh yes," the assassin replied, "In the most intimate form of the word, believe me."
Leliana rolled her eyes.
Same old Zevran.
Alim cleared his throat and motioned for them all to gather round.
He had just spoken to the Madame of this establishment, a lady known as Sanga; she had given him a key to the room where the friends of the griffon were supposed to be waiting.
Leliana suggested that only a few of their group go to investigate. She was still not entirely sure she trusted all this, and if the rooms in this brothel were as small as the rooms in Orlais.
It was best that they send in their best close quarters fighters.
Alim nodded in agreement. His own powers were a bit limited inside a building.
Alistair, Theron and, quite surprisingly, Morrigan volunteered to go with her.
Leliana accepted there company and made her way down the hall.
Alim and the others agreed to stay in the main room. If this was a trap, and Loghain had men waiting to storm the place, he Oghren, Zevran Jowan, and Seri would be the first stumbling block in their path.
Alistair still insisted that they at least consider that this was not a trap. He had faith that it wasn't. Leliana prayed that he was right, she had no desire to see their former Templar have his hoped dashed in the next few moments.
Leliana looked down at the key in her hand.
Sadly there was only one way to find out.
IOI
Alim leaned against the bar, speaking with a human named Casavir. The man had claimed to be providing security for the Rivaini woman, a woman he called Isabela.
The warden mage was about to ask him what he meant by that when the trouble began.
One of the soldiers she had been playing with flipped over the table, spilling both cards and drinks on the floor. He started to reach for the sword at his side.
Alim, being the gentlemanly sort started to step forward to help, but was stopped by both Zevran and the man, Casavir.
"Watch this, friend Alim," Zevran purred.
"It is going to be awesome!"
Alim returned his gaze to fight, the woman remained seated, and suddenly she wasn't…
Shit, the elf thought.
One moment the man had been about to reach for his weapon, the next he was laying on the floor with blood leaking out of his nose. The Rivaini woman was fast, so fast that Alim had barely see her move. The man's companions went for their weapons, but the Rivaini now had her own daggers drawn.
The fight was over before it even really started.
The woman lunged forward, her blades catching theirs before they could even blink. One dagger slashed one of the man's cheeks; the other severed his ally's belt causing his pants to fall down.
An elbow to the jaw of the man who had been pantsed, and a knee to the groin of his friend with the bloody cheek was all it had taken to end their threat to the woman.
The man who started the fight had started to rise, but now found the woman straddling him, both of her blades at his throat.
The man slipped back, the daggers pinning him to the floor.
The Rivaini woman smirked down at him.
"Tell me, sweet thing," she cooed, "Is a few coins really worth dying for?"
The man lay there, holding his breath; finally he shook his head no.
The woman smirked, and stepped away from him.
"Off with you now," she said with a sneer, "And be glad that I only took from you your gold."
The three soldiers staggered out of the place.
The Rivaini shook her head.
"Fools," she said under her breath.
The warden shook his head. It had been over so quickly, and despite the savagery of it, the only damage to the Pearl had been a single overturned table.
The Rivaini had beaten the three without even knocking over a single chair.
In fact, she had not even spilled her drink.
An impressive display to be sure.
Maker, he thought.
What a woman!
Zevran chuckled, he smiled at the Rivaini woman as she took a drink from a passing server, and she downed it in almost one gulp.
He applauded and stepped forward.
"Bravo, my dear, bravo," he said.
"Impressive as always."
The Rivaini smirked.
"Well, well," she cooed, "Zevran Arainai, have you finally come here to apologize for the death of my poor husband?"
The assassin shrugged.
"That was just business Isabela, as you well know, besides you seem better off for my work, you inherited the ship, I take it?"
The woman smirked as she wiped the blood off her daggers.
"I suppose it did," she admitted, "He was a greasy bastard after all, and The Call does handle better in my hands, ask any of my crew."
The woman, Isabela looked right at Alim, her fierce golden eyes pinned him in place.
He would have been lying if he said it did not make him a little weak in the knees.
The woman practically oozed sexuality.
"Your being rude Zev," she said with a pout, "Why not introduce me to your friends?"
Alim glanced at the assassin.
"I'm guessing you two know each other?" he said.
"Indeed" the assassin said, "Alim, allow me to introduce you to Isabela, Captain of the Siren's Call, and the sharpest blade in Llomerryn."
Alim bowed slightly.
"Isabela," Zevran continued, "This is Alim of the Grey Wardens, Warden Commander of Ferelden.
The woman gave him a sly smile.
"A warden," she cooed, "charmed, I'm sure."
Alim swallowed, trying to work some saliva back into his mouth. He was trying not to stare; Isabela wore leggings that might as well have been painted on. Her white silk top was slit down the front from neck to naval. Even the blue Captain's coat she wore did nothing to hide the fact that you could tell what the dusky skinned beauty would look like naked.
Alim was trying really hard not to think about that.
"Milady," he said, "Or do you prefer Captain?"
Isabela chuckled.
"Captain is just fine," she said, "And few men would call me a Lady."
She gave him what might be called a lustful look.
"After a night with me, ladies will cease to interest you. Trust me; no lady could match my skills."
Alim swallowed hard.
Easy, he thought, you're with Leliana remember…
Remember Leliana.
Isabela offered him her hand. Alim was just about to approach her when a bloody elven woman in plate armor nearly bumped into him, she was wounded, that much was clear; she glanced back down the hall, before staggering after the retreating gambler and his friends.
Leliana and the others emerged a few seconds later, though Alim saw no sign of Morrigan. Alistair looked a little angry. Theron's face was speckled with blood, his eyes cold and empty.
Alim's ears twitched when he saw Leliana, she looked unhurt but…
It was clear that their meeting with the friends of the griffons had not gone very well.
He gave her an arched look.
"Trap?" he inquired.
"Trap," the bard confirmed.
"Shit," the elf said under his breath.
He had hoped for more than that.
He looked at Theron.
"Where is Morrigan?"
The Dalish shivered.
"Finishing what is left of our attackers," he said, "she turned into a giant spider and…"
The Dalish shuddered.
"Trust me Lethallin, there is a reason why the Dalish say never get between a witch and her prey."
Alim pursed his lips.
Maybe he should not have asked.
IOI
Leliana sighed. She had hoped that she was wrong, but it was clear that she had been right about all this.
At least the trap had been sprung, and no more friends of the warden would fall into it.
Morrigan had seen to that.
She glanced over at Alim. Zevran stood between him and the Rivaini woman and there leader, but it was clear that the woman was more interested in their leader than she was in the assassin.
The bard's eyes narrowed, a sense of…protectiveness washed over her.
She stepped over and draped her arm over her lover's shoulder.
"Hello," she purred to the other woman, "I'm Leliana."
The Rivaini smirked at her.
"Of course, you are sweet thing, I'm Isabela."
She took the woman's offered hand.
"A pleasure," she said coolly.
Alim gave her a nervous look. No doubt he wondered if she was angry.
She smiled and kissed the point of one of his ears.
"We should be off dearest," Leliana cooed, "There is nothing for us here now."
Alim nodded.
"You're leaving so soon, aww," Isabela said with a pout, "And just when things were starting to get interesting."
Leliana gave her a sweet but icy smile.
"Duty calls," she said, "Isn't that right dearest?"
Alim cleared his throat.
"Um…yes…yes…um…Leli, you are quite right."
The bard smirked.
In this, she thought, she was.
Jowan agreed to come with them. Oghren did as well, begrudgingly, not really wanting to risk talking a bit of business with the Madame when Leliana was around. Morrigan emerged a few moments later, grinning like the cat that ate the canary.
Alistair gave her a worried look.
"Sometimes you scare me," he said.
The witch gave him her sweetest smile.
Zevran decided to stay at the Pearl see if he could find out anything more about the mercenaries who had set up the Friends of the Griffons trap, and to catch up with his old friend Isabela of course.
Seri decided to stay as well, to keep an eye on her lover.
Leliana did not blame her.
That Isabela woman was trouble.
So the group left the Pearl. Alim said little as they left; he seemed a bit, ashamed.
Leliana gave him a curious look.
"Nothing happened," he murmured to her.
She gave him a soft smile and took his hand.
"I know dearest," she purred.
"I know."