Kirkwall was not ready for the full onslaught from the Qunari, it was difficult for anyone to be. They moved in a unified force, destroying anything that opposed them. Trampling on anything or anyone who stood in the way of their goal and the goal currently was to destroy Kirkwall and build it back up from its ashes is the name of the Qun.
Everything was glowing orange she had never seen Kirkwall looking so bright even when the sun had been out, however this wasn't from the soft caress of the summer sun, no, this colour came from the burning of people's belongings. Tama winced when she heard the far off screams echoing down the small alleyways.
Sneaking a glance round a corner Tama quickly moved her hand to signal that all was clear. The shuffling of small feet seem to echo throughout the tiny alleyway. Pulling her hood further over her horns she quickly joined them moving somewhat silently through the orange hue of the night. Suddenly a scream was seemed to rip through the night in front of her. Snarling Tama quickly pulled a male off one of the children and began beating him. It felt good to beat at something even if it was a human. All of her brothers and sisters had been tasked with sieging the city however her elder sister had made it clear that she was to protect the children at any cost.
Feeling the small hand on her shoulder Tama stopped, glancing down she noticed the man was no longer moving rubbing a bloodied hand across her face she was quickly drawn to the child next to her who was trying his best not to cry. Placing her hands on his cheeks she smiled, "Now now little one. Help me protect the others." She couldn't help but smile as she saw him stand a little taller, his small horns already breaking through.
Motioning for the others to join the small party began making their way towards the Viscount's Keep. They were all going to gather there and announce their victory.
The Saarebas fell to the ground with a thud making Tama jump back a little as she regained her footing. Looking up she noticed she was being stared at by the small female who had earlier stood up to the Arishok. Feeling for the small dagger at her side Tama braced herself for a fight when she faltered as she saw the female's companions join her. Bracing herself for battle she was shocked when she felt a small set of hands grasp around her thigh, moving her hand away from the dagger she automatically brought her full attention to the small boy at her side ignoring the group in front of them.
"Let's get this over with." Sebastian whispered pulling his bow taught however he lowered it when he noticed Hawke sheath her sword.
"Shit." Varric cursed looking to the large Qunari female and smaller children, "There is no way I'm fighting kids."
"Hey." Everyone stood surprised as Hawke shouted to the female Qunari. All hands went to their weapons when without making a noise the female stood at her full height towering over them and began to prowl up to them. Hawke held up her hands, "We shouldn't fight in front of the kids." She couldn't help but chuckle a little when she noticed the adorable twitch of the women's ears.
"No." A thick accent rolled of Tama's tongue as she tried to remember the small handful of common phrases she had heard. Looking to the group Tama knew straight away she wouldn't win a fight against them, cursing in her head she took a deep breath and held up her hands to match the women's, "No." she repeated.
Rubbing his neck Varric chuckled, "Think we might have a little language barrier here."
"No kidding." Anders groaned rubbing his temple.
The group stood silently for a moment before a roar and explosion made every turn their heads towards the hightown market. Pulling her hood over her head Tama did not wait any longer, turning no longer caring that she gave the group her back she motioned for the children to hurry. There was another violent roar before she saw the lightning streak across the sky, it was a sure sign that another Saarebas was approaching and was most likely with a troop of her brothers. Hurrying the children on she heard the other's bracing the weapons at the ready. Turning she quickly bowed her head in thanks before catching up to the children, turning around she finally noticed the fatigue of the group. Cursing to the heavens she quickly ran back and violently shoved some healing tonics into the woman's hands. Earning her a surprised look from the group.
"Th… Thank you." The small woman returned looking to her small comrade in shock.
Tama could not understand but didn't really care what was being said, she didn't even question herself on why she was helping them but when she heard the approaching roar of her brothers she took her finger and placed it at the base of the woman's skull and tapped before returning to the children and getting the hell away from the upcoming battle.
The Viscount's Keep was enormous, Tama could not help but look around it was beautiful. Stone columns stood proudly holding up a very elegant looking ceiling but the grandeur was soon overcast by the worried cries of the humans below. Shushing the children into one of the side rooms Tama closed the door before joining her brothers looking over one of the balconies. She began to frown when she noticed one male stand up to the Arishok. Heaven's these people were Qalaba's. Her fists clenched when she noticed Arishok tighten his grip on his blade and within one second the brave man's head was rolling across the floor.
Tama could only watch as the large doors were thrown open and the small female she had met earlier walked in, head held high and not showing any battle damage, Tama had to hide her small smile behind her hand.
She could not hear what was being said however the whispers soon reached her eyes from her brothers and sisters at her side. The Arishok had announced the women to be Basalit-an and now she was declaring a duel. Tama wrapped her arms around herself with worry she had never seen anyone survive a duel with him, hell even the mightiest of her brothers would show nerves when sparring with him.
Just as the duel was about to start the large doors once again swung open announcing another arrival, this time however the human seemed to be less dressed for the occasion, it was then her eyes fell upon the object underneath the human's arms it couldn't be? Tama heard her brothers hiss as the woman threw the tome at the Arishok as if it was a piece of dirt.
Of course Tama still couldn't hear what was being said between the groups below, shortly the hushed whispers were replaced by the screaming woman's voice as she was being led away.
"The Qun never demanded us to siege this city."
"What is he playing at?"
"At least we get to go back … don't we?"
The hushed whispers of her brothers and sisters surrounded her once again. It was true. Arishok had stated that the Qun had demanded they bring the city to order and show them the correct ways of the Qun, but seeing him now holding the Tome of Koslun, Tama could not help but frown. It wasn't victory or relief she was feeling no, not even pride for the return of the Tome, no it was deceit. Turning around Tama quickly began attending to the children once more, she couldn't be happier to finally leave this forsaken place.
The compound had once again been locked no one was to enter as they prepared to leave. The female prisoner had finally stopped her screaming. Tama wiped her forehead once more as she began packing away the healing tonics ready for the voyage back to Seheron. No one had spoke of their concerns over the Arishok's decision to attack the city, however if you watched carefully there were quite a few second glances towards their leader.
Placing the last crate on top of the others Tama stood back and smiled as she saw the once crowded room was now just a pile of supplies. Once again the faint screams of the prisoner could be heard travelling throughout the compound, frowning Tama began walking towards her own quarters when one of her elder sisters grabbed her arm. "Take this to the prisoner." The woman spoke in hurried Qunlat as a bowl of watered down soup was thrust into Tama's arms.
Bowing her head Tama hurriedly made her way to the holding cell. Passing her brothers the screams became louder and more desperate. Walking into the cell Tama had to stop herself from wincing as she noticed the rope bound flesh was bleeding from her struggles.
The woman hung her head in defeat, covering her features with her dark black hair. Kneeling Tama gently placed the hair behind the woman's ears and offered her some soup.
From the way she was accepting it without question made Tama realise that the woman was starving. Noticing the rope Kitty frowned, she knew this woman was an enemy but in her current state there was no way she could fight her way out of here, and if she wasn't careful her wounds would become infected and she would suffer a horrible slow death before Seheron was even in sight.
Looking around the room Tama thanked the heavens as she noticed the small bucket of water, taking a ribbon out of her hair she soaked up some water before slowly dabbing at the woman's wounds, earning her a string of strange curses before her head dipped again.
Continuing her administrations Tama felt the woman sigh in relief. The woman began to speak but Tama could only kneel back and look at her curiously before speaking, "Little tongue." Tama spoke her accent still thick.
The woman could only laugh before looking into her eyes, "Isabela."
"Tamassran." It was whispered between the small space between the woman as she feared her brothers would hear her. Once again she moved to ease at least some of the pain this woman was enduring. Waiting till she had finished the bowl of soup, Tama stood before leaving taking one last look over her shoulder at the human.
Over the past few days Tama's mind kept wandering back to the woman prisoner, were her wounds healing? Was she being fed? Had she given up? The questions kept building and building inside her mind. Biting her tongue was becoming difficult, she wanted to enquire but it was not her place, and even if she did would she end up also being a prisoner? She wouldn't put it past the Arishok.
Tama finally felt herself falling asleep on her small cot, they would finally be leaving within two days and she could feel the excitement building within her gut as she counted down the hours till they set sail.
A cold large hand gripped her mouth as she tried to struggle to scream, "Tamassran calm sister, it's me Isskari, calm." A deep voice whispered back making her still instantly. "Be quiet."
Tama nodded before sitting up in her cot, "What is wrong Isskari?" She whispered noticing that he had not lit a candle and only the moonlight from the small window were highlighting his features.
"Shhh." Checking over his shoulder he quickly continued, "Get dressed. I need you. Hurry."
It only took her a few moments to dress as she watched her brother checking outside her small room. Why was he waking her up in the middle of the night? Noticing his clothing she realised he was in his fighting gear, his large sword strapped to his back. Tying her hair on top of her head she began to follow him quietly throughout the compound, making sure to follow his footsteps as they made their way through the shadows.
It was only when he closed a door behind them that she finally was able to see where they were. "What are we doing here Isskari?" She whispered.
"Tama." She noted he used her nickname, he continued walking down the passage, "I need you to make sure the prisoner gets out of the compound and to the safehouse."
Tama stopped moving, "Wait. The prisoner?"
He grabbed both her shoulders bringing his face close to her own, "Please Tama. Listen this is an order from Seheron. They know about what happened and well …" She could see him struggling to admit the next part, "The tomb is still missing, the one we have is a fake."
What? Tama's mind went into overdrive as they both continued onto the holding cell. The tomb was a fake? How? … Biting her bottom lip Tama could only place her faith in her brother who was now working on opening the cell door, after all finding things like this was his calling. He would know a fake by eyesight alone. Checking behind them she quickly joined him in the room.
The woman was about to make a sound when Isskari held his finger to his mouth quieting her, watching as he worked on her bindings Tama held her tongue. "Tama." His voice barely whispered as she helped the woman down, "Take her to this location. You both will be safe for a few hours. Then get out of Kirkwall you hear me Tama?" Nodding her head she had to stop the woman from falling from weakness.
Bracing herself Tama placed the woman on her back, the human seem to weigh nothing it was only at this moment that she realised she did not have a weapon on her person, she would have to be as quiet as possible. Testing the weight once more she began walking towards the door, seeing the nod from her brother she continued further down the passage towards the back of the compound.
Luckily it seemed Issakari had made sure none of the guards were alerted to their presence. Finally crossing the large gates of the compound Tama looked back at her brother as he began locking them once more. "Go on Tama remember the location. Guards shouldn't be a problem. Panahedan Tama."
"Panaedan Issakari." Adjusting the woman on her back she quickly made her way through the alleyways of Kirkwall.
The large home stood proudly shrouded in darkness, the large windows showed a faint glow from inside. This had to be the location. Adjusting the woman once more on her back Tama kicked the door with her foot seemingly making the sound echo throughout the night.
A small man finally answered the door and stood shell shocked when he saw her standing there, frowning Tama quickly pushed her way past him and hurried into the building. The man was shouting after her, but Tama could not make out his words.
Finally stepping into what must of been the main room she was met by the sound of hurried steps before the room seemed to be filled with people. It was then her eyes fell on the familiar face of the woman.
Tama tried to speak but saw even more confusion on the human's face, scowling she motioned to the woman on her back, finally seeing the realisation on the woman's face she was led into the library where she placed the woman down as the others began working on her.
Standing back Tama could only watch, after a few moments it finally hit her what she had done, falling to her knees she could only cover her face in shame. She had betrayed her brothers and sisters. Gone against everything she believed … or had she? Issakari had mentioned a fake.
The sound of a knock on the large bay windows made her jump. Tama turned and smiled when she noticed a familiar hat motioning him to enter she shook the memories from her mind, "You seem distressed."
"No need to worry Cole." Motioning for him to join her on the large sofa, "Just remembering something." The feeling of dread filling her stomach.
Cole frowned, "Anything I can help with?"
Tama laughed, "No no. So want to tell me what you have been upto today then?"
