Chapter 16
Parvuils 7
Outside Redcliff
Dear Falon,
You would not believe what happened today. We met Tegan, without Alistair, of course, and he explained to us that there was a secret entrance into the castle through the mill. Through Leliana being my translator (mostly for my companions understanding) I asked him why he hadn't told me before but he said that he was afraid we would go into the castle rather than help the people.
Suddenly, the Arl's wife, Isolde, came running to us with a guard. She told Tegan that he needed to come back with her. She didn't seem too happy so see us. When we asked her questions she explained to us that she had hired a mage and that he was the reason behind it all. Tegan agrees to go with her and she looked so happy and relieved. He told her to wait at the bridge and once she was gone he gave me the ring that would open the door to the trapdoor. He wanted me to rescue the arl; that everyone else was expendable. I shook my head and promised I would save all of them. He smiled at me and kissed my closed hand that held the ring and then left.
We were able to get the trapdoor open with Sten's help and we descended into it. Morrigan lite a flame in her hand to keep light as we went on. The tunnel seemed dwarven to me, but perhaps I would ask Arl Eamon about it.
Anyway, we finally got to end and opened the door. Sten helped Chaka up and then the rest of us came up. We found ourselves in the Redcliff dungeon. As we went through we fought off more undead while saving a man in a cage. He told us his name was Jowan, an apostate from Kinloch Hold. He explained that Loghain had hired him to poison the Arl so he could go back. But the reason he escaped the Circle was because he was a blood mage. My inner child got a little excited about it, but I focused on our mission. He was hired by lady Isolde to tutor her son, after he started showing signs of being a mage. He was not responsible for the undead. He believes that Connor might have met a demon in the fade and so the demon made a deal with him and the demon possessed him.
I told Jowan to stay in the cell until all this was over. He understood and we went on. We were attacked by more corpses before we even left the dungeon. But as we went through the castle we kept on being attacked by more and more. Leaving no undead destroyed, I checked every room. Surprisingly, when I opened on of the closets I found a young girl who screamed when she saw me. Poor girl was merely a servent and was caught in the middle of it all. Not even knowing how many people were alive, I sent her through the way which we came—the only way I knew to be safe. She had grateful tears as she ran off to rejoin her family. Or what was left of it. Maker help her.
When we entered the court yard we found a reverent there. I had Morrigan open the gate to let the soldiers in and we fought the monsters in the court yard together. Once they were defeated, which I can tell you that fighting a reverent is not as easy as it seems, we made our way into the main hall of the castle. I still shutter at what we found.
Connor was there, as was Isolde and Tegan. Tegan was rolling on the ground and dancing. The demon had taken control of Connor and was making Tegan do so. It was very difficult to speak to the demon, but I had Leliaba tell him we meant no harm and only wished to help the Arl. But Connor-demon was having none of it and ran off, making the guards and Tegan attacked us. I had everyone knock the guards out while I bashed Tegan with my blade, rendering him unconscious. Tegan woke when the fight was over. Isolde begged me to help her son, but I could not believe her. If she had sent her son to the Circle then perhaps none of this would have happened. Because of her, Redcliff could have perished. She still blames the mage, Jowan, though, even when I vocalized—Maker, why do I even use that word?—my opinion. And she did not like my opinion. Well, I never got along with nobility anyway. Even though I am a noble.
She had Jowan brought to us so we could discuss what to do. So we have three choices. Well, four if I think about it. 1) Let Jowan preform a blood magic ritual where Isolde sacrifices herself to send a mage into the fade and kill the demon. 2) Kill Connor. 3) Go to the Circle of Magi for help. 4) Do nothing. Since 4 is something we really shouldn't do, I told Isolde we would try to go to the Circle. Despite Connor being a demon, I saw Oren when I looked at him. I did not want another life to be lost.
I left Sten and Morrigan there to watch Connor. I told Morrigan to keep Connor passive, but if he gets out of hand Sten would have to kill him. Maker, I hope he won't have to. We walked out of the castle as quick as we could and went down to the village. We got Alistair, told him what we were doing and we nodded, putting on his armor, wincing as he did so. I helped him, since the wound on his side wasn't exactly being easy on him. He couldn't believe Connor was mage, though. I shrugged but I can see his worried look. He worries for Redcliff and the people here. I do not blame him. He was born here. I tell him everything will be alright, and he smiles at me. He has such a nice smile, and I find myself smiling too.
We left Redcliff an hour later. By what Alistair tells me it will take about a day or so to reach Kinloch hold. Alistair seems glad we left Morrigan behind. Leliana giggled at this. So now it is just Chaka, Leliana, Alistair, and me. Hopefully all this mess with Redcliff will be over with soon. I also hope we will not have much trouble with the Circle as well, Maker preserve us.
Yours, Vercy.