Solas kneeled next to the prisoner. The Dalish elf was still unconscious. Cold sweat was on the body and the blood read hair was clinging to the head. The green mark on the left hand of the prisoner sparkled up and Solas could hear how the breach in the sky expanded with a loud rumble. Two days ago the Temple of sacred Ashed had exploded and Thousands of people had died in the blast and immense heat. The magic had ripped a whole in the vail. And now Demons appeared keeping the survivors in breath and also in fear. The shacking of the prisoner stopped and the breach as well as the mark calmed down a bit.
Well? How is he Cassandra Pentaghast asked behind Solas. Cassandra was a tall Nevarran woman of the royal Pentaghast family and Seeker of the Chantry. She had been the Right Hand of the Divine. Divine Justinia was dead. She got killed in the blast like so many others. Behind Cassandra stood Leliana. The left hand of the Divine was quiet and observing. she serves as the Divines spymaster and as an advisor.
He gets better. Slowly but surely. If his body grows accustomed to this magic and the mark he has on the hand, then he will wake up in a few days Solas answered and stood up turning around to Cassandra and Leliana. If you don't make any progress, I will have to execute you. Cassandra said with a face like a stormcloud. Solas nodded. I know that. Now please let me have some water and fresh clothes for him.
Leliana nodded and walked out. Cassandra followed her and Solas kneeled down to the Dalish elf. He sighted and checked on the mark once again. He poured his magic in it to calm it down. A few moments later the door opened and a brown haired elven woman brought him clothes and water. Solas thanked her and started to work on the prisoner.
Mahanon woke up slowly. He was cold and apparently he did lay on stone. His head hurted and there was pain in his left arm. From time to time it flashed up just to calm down again. He tried to open his eyes but they were heavy. To heavy to lift. Cool hands were taking his hurting hand carefully and the hands made the pain calm down. Solas brushed the long red hair off from the prisoners face. The prisoner reacted a little and the apostate smiled. Your body has been through a lot. Here drink this. Solas said, lifted him up and holded a cup with water to the prisoners mouth.
He felt the strong arms who picked him up so far that he could drink. He wanted to ask the stranger what had happened but he couldn't. His body was to heavy and his tongue felt like a piece of dry meat. He spilled most of the water before he was able to swallow a mouthful. His throat burned. He started to chough and spilled even more water. He needed a few more trys before he could drink properly. After a while the person laid him back down. You should sleep now. I`ll come again in a few hours and check on you. Solas said and moved the blanket over him. Mahanon managed to make an approving sound then sleep took him.
When he woke up again he was kneeling on the ground. His hands were bounded and Soldiers stood around him in a circle. Their swords were drawn and pointed at him. Hot pain shooted up Mahanons left arm and he looked downwards. There was a green glowing mark in his palm. It was green and sparkled up from time to time. Everytime it did Mahanon felt pain. He groaned as it sparkled up. He looked around. apparently he was in a dungeon. Torches iluminate the room he was in and the flames danced and drawed shadows on the faces of the humans who were standing around him. Water dropped from the wall in a small pool next to Mahanons right side. No one said a word and so he also did stay silent. What had happened? The last thing he did remember was that he had entered the Temple of Sacred Ashes with Tom and Valanna. Then things who chased him and then a woman? He did shake his head slightly. He didn't remember properly. He tried to bring order in his still hurting head and then he heard steps. The door opened. Two women's came in. Both tall but very different. The one who approached him first had a face with a long scar on her chin and her black hair was cut short. The other one wore chainmail and a hood. Her calm cold eyes observed him. The Soldiers around Mahanon stepped back and sheathed their swords. Both started to walk around him.
Tell me why we shouldn't kill you now? The Conclave is destroyed. Everyone who attended is dead. Except for you. The woman said. Her voice was harsh and loud in Mahanons ears. His head was still blurry and his voice should be really sour from the feeling of his throat. His answer was to slow for the woman. She grabbed his arm with the strange mark on his hand. Explain this! she said with suppressed anger in her voice. The mark in Mahanons hand flared up and he answered. I can´t. What do you mean, you can´t? She asked and continued to walk around him I don't know what that is or how it got there. Mahanon answered with a sour voice. Your lying! The woman yelled in his face and grabbed him by the shoulders. The other woman with the chainmail stopped her and pulled her back. We need him, Cassandra She said calm, grabbing Cassandra by the shoulders until she had calmed down a bit.
I cant believe it, all those people…dead? Mahanon asked The woman with the chainmail stood now before him. Do you remember what happened? How this began? I remember running, things where chasing me, and then….a woman? Mahanon answered and noticed how Cassandra started to walk around him again. A woman? The woman in chainmail asked Mahanon and crossed her arms. She reached out to me, but then…. he stopped talking. He didn't remember. Cassandra walked now to her companion. Go to the forward Camp, Leliana. I will take him to the rift she said and directed her to the door with a small smile. Leliana nodded and she disappeared through the door. Cassandra kneeled down to Mahanon and started to undo his iron shackle's. What did happen? he asked in the meanwhile, desperate to find it out. He didn't do anything did he? It will be easier to show you. Cassandra said and pulled him up after she had bonded his hands again. The knot was tight and the cord didn't feel good on his arms. She walked forward in the direction of the door and Mahanon followed. Behind the door was a corridor. Illuminated only from torches. Cassandra turned left after a while and walked upstairs. Once they went through another door, Mahanon found himself in a large chantry. Soldiers guarded the main entrance. The opened it as Cassandra and he came closer. Cold air and snowflakes came in. Mahanon heard a strange sound. Like thunder. He followed Cassandra and lifted his hands to his eyes. The light did sting in them. After he grew accustomed he looked upwards. He gasped. Where once was the Temple of sacred Ashes stood was nothing just some green strain of light who did move into the sky. Mahanon followed it with his eyes. In the sky was a massive hole in the vail. The sickly green light came from it and green meteorites falled from it. It made an awful sound. Shit! Mahanon said. We call it the Breach. It is a massive rift into the world of Demons, that grows larger with each passing hour. It´s not the only such rift, just the largest. All were caused by the explosion at the Conclave Cassandras voice came from far away to Mahanons ears while he still stared up to the breach in the sky. He didn't know what had happened. But he knew one thing ,he had problems now. Big problems.