Lilith watched the ensuing slaughter with open wonder... Saris was giddy. The twins ran about, pulling the children spared by the silver skinned assaulters to safety, but did nothing to save anyone else. Lilith understood... finally... SHE - Saris - set this whole thing up to watch THEM die; To have their heirs see the cost of coruption, and end it's reign.
The red head looked at the young beauty, and smiled. Two women, of one mind, two very different ways to the same end: one exploited the lust of her youth and beauty, the other the lust for power.
Lilith flew over as a dove and Saris offered her throat.
THEIR ambition. IT was what left HIM imprisoned. What led to the blighting of the world; leading to HER imprisonment for being born, and all that transpired to her since
THAT was why she, humbled, humiliated, maimed, and done with the whole rotten role of underling to blood mages and selfish fools, crawled after the mother and child as they left her old mentor as the fool lay half eaten on the floor. NOT for revenge, but for a higher purpose.
SHE had been spared, mercy showed her by what? The old gods? The Maker? The child. HE had great power, perhaps he could restore her... she wanted to serve a greater good than some old fools selfish ambition. She knew the child would see it in her... just as his father had. Aeden: Those eyes she never forgot.
She saw the pair in the market; smiled at the compassion shown the abused girl, such a beautiful act... Cormack.
A magister with more money than cares tossed a few gold coins at this haggard looking woman: ten gold coins, she could eat good for a week; or the newly freed slave could get over the Orlisian border with the right friends before another...
She didn't think about it; she grabbed the elf's arm, "Red Jenny," she whispered, and pointed to a brothel,"my friends are your friends. Say those words. They'll 'hire' you. Your first client will offer you wine, drink it... wake up in a new life."
The elf motioned to protest.
"The boy freed you... Tevinter did not." She placed the gold in the elf's hand,"The doors of that brothel swing both ways: malificars, and apostates in - slaves out. I was an escaped prisoner, seeking a life and freedom. I did terrible things for it; I will do more for yours... please trust me. But do so quickly. The side entrance, say the words, and wait."
The elf ran. She watched the elf walk to the side entrance, saw the eyes peer out, and stood so they could see her.
The door unlocked.
The elf ran back to her and handed her a stone necklace, "It was my mothers. It is all I have... till now." before the mage could refuse the giift, the elf returned to the door.
She smiled, and turned back to watch a procession of people following the mother and child. She was cautious, perhaps the mother wouldn't trust...
"AHEM!"
The wise looking blind man was dressed in fine robes, as was his elven female servant. "Could you tell me what all the excitement is? My servant is kind, but mute."
She could see there was genuine love between them, and smiled, "Change has come to Tevinter."
He smiled, and touched her hand, "And to you Saris. That path you seek to follow now will end abruptly... come. The one you need to follow is you."
"I have no great power. I'm nobody."
"You do have great power," the blind man said kindly, "You have found great purpose, and are willing to give all for others left ignored to realize it's glory. To such as you has the Maker bestowed greatness." He opened his hand, and from the air materialised twenty gold coins. "Come... fellow nobody, safe in the knowledge NOBODY will notice."
They traversed the whole of Tevinter to the south, to HIM. He saw in her the means to their ends, and the end of those who don't see beyond themselves, regardless of who dies to see their desires fulfilled. She would become the demon they sold their souls to to gain his power... idiots. All she needed was the perfect foil, the one to do the killing of the selfish sheep she led. As each thief of his power died, the stronger he became, the more power she wielded.
Misinformation would need to be discreetly fed out, conflicting legends, red herrings... hints at godhood. He concocted a deadly serum allowing anyone who survived it's consumption to know what others knew from his preferred means... living blood. To survive it would take one also immune to the corruption of the taint... or red lyrium; the child conceived in a womb that held an old god. News travels fast when 'nobody' is listening.
So she had her arm restored, comprised of elements that fed off coruption, and made those so inclined puppets to her seeming selfish will. Tevinter, after Coryphius, was fat with those as she once was, paniced rats scrambling to another ship... no matter the captain. The more lies, the more 'power' HE was said to possess that SHE discovered - the more rats.
The ultimate spell, the summoning of the army of Wrath, required the ample spilling of the blood of the corrupted, and the willing submission of the one who spilled it to the summoner; it sealed their fates. But then again... they were Tevinters.
