Chapter 88) Dark Wolves

Cleon POV


"There is no way this is going to work," Merrill hissed. I simply grinned and continued setting up. "We're going to get in so much trouble."

"They have to catch us, first," I pointed out. I rigged everything up nicely, and took her hand. "And we are going to be conveniently away."

"We are?" She yelped as I dragged her behind me. "Oh, Cleon!"

It turned out that the prank went off without a hitch, and Tamlen and Lyna were blamed. I gave them my dessert the next couple of days to make up for it.


It wasn't the first time we'd split up. I think it was the first time I wasn't there to keep an eye on Aiden since Ostagar, though. Since before Ostagar, even. The divisions had always been Nuada and Layla, Aiden and me. It made me twitchy, not being there to watch out for him. I trusted Nuada, of course, but it still… made me twitchy.

Of course, I'd prefer if I was there to keep an eye on both of them. This was Howe. Howe, who destroyed Nuada's life. Howe, who ravaged Aiden's alienage. There were so many ways this could blow up in faces because of emotions. Now, granted, Aiden and Nuada were probably the champions at not letting their emotions cloud their judgment, but this was different. They were different. Yes, Leliana and Wynne were there, and maybe they could keep a leash on them, but…

A tug on my sleeve reminded me what I was doing. I was outside the estate with Elspeth, keeping an eye out for anything that looked suspicious, while she paid attention to sounds. She kept a grip on my arm for convenience, and we kept our hoods up for the same. We had also smeared some dirt on my face to hide my vallaslin. I disliked the idea, but I understood. A Dalish would not wander around such a busy shemlen city, especially now.

'The city is both united and split.' Elspeth's signs were small, almost as if she was whispering. 'They are united in opposing Loghain, but split on who would be ruler.'

'Aiden mentioned something similar last time he went out,' I signed back, keeping my own signs small. Some guards skirted too close, and I watched them as they left. No, I think that had been just normal bullying. 'Is it still three way split?'

'Yes.' Her eyes were a little sad, but she shook her head. I could practically hear her saying that Couslands did their duty. 'Though, it really would be unseemly for Anora to remarry so soon. To secure the throne, or power, I am certain she will agree, but only then.'

'Do you like this Anora?' There was no response. 'Elspeth?'

'I did.' Her signs somehow became even smaller. 'But after Howe, I do not…' she waved her hand almost helplessly. 'When Zathrian proved himself responsible for the curse, what did you think?' Huh? 'Did you question your memories of him?'

I shook my head. 'Regardless of the curse, I know he cared for me as genuinely as he could.'

'I see.' She drooped, eyes sad again, and I almost thought she might be holding back tears. 'I can't do that with Howe. This wasn't some revenge thing that I got caught in the middle in. He betrayed us. Every memory I have of him is now tainted, because I do not know when he liked us and when he hated us. I don't know what was a lie and what wasn't.' She curled into herself further. 'I cannot help but wonder if there are others like that. What if Cailan only pretended to like us? What if Anora was only friends with us because it helped secure her position? What if Uncle Maric smiled at us because it was too risky to offend Father?'

'Why would you think things like that?' I noticed she did not mention Loghain, but chose to not comment on it.

'That was how it was when we were abroad. That's why Nuada and I were always alone.' Her hands shook. 'I thought Fereldan was different. It was home. We made good friends and memories. But now, I am no longer certain. If he, my father's best friend, was false, then it could be anyone else.' Yeah, though from what I understand, her father, and family, was probably the only ones who thought well of the guy. Still, that didn't change the fact that he had been kind, friendly, and then pulled this. 'So, I do not know how to answer. I want to trust my memories, but I can't.' And, just like Aiden's fear of red, this likely wasn't something going away anytime soon, if ever.

'What about us?'

'You all are different. I met you after.' Met us after, went through so much, and thus, we were above the questioning. She trusted us, but she could not trust anyone else. 'Might we…?'

'Think Morrigan might like that?' I pointed to a mirror on sale nearby, a golden one you could hold in your hand. Deer and sparrows frolicked together in the scene on the back. 'She likes shiny things.'

'Like jewelry!' Her smile was a little too bright, but I saw the appreciation in it, and her eyes. 'Here, let's buy it for her.'

'Sounds good.' I nodded to a person with short red hair waving at us. 'I think he is trying to get our attention.'

'Then we shall see what he wants after I buy a few things.' She made a face. 'I am meeting with some nobles at the tavern tomorrow, and I need jewelry that matches the dress Eamon had made for me.'

'Aren't you heading to a ball tonight?'

'And one after that.' She shook her head. 'I will, hopefully, win allies.'

'Take a guard.'

'Sten and Oghren have already volunteered.' Oh, well, that's good. 'Shale might be fun, though.'

'I would pay to see that!' I felt her shake from laughter even as she conversed with the shopkeeper, and I hid a grin behind my hand. It wasn't long at all before the mirror was carefully wrapped and placed in a bag, along with earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and other assorted jewelry. I had a feeling she bought some for the rest of the group too, those that wore them.

With that done, we headed to the man with red hair, who smiled warmly at us. 'Hello there, Sir Warden, my lady,' the man greeted. He waited patiently as Elspeth signed, so he definitely knew who we were. 'The name is Slim. I know Aiden.' And Aiden wasn't here to confirm. 'You lot are fighting the good fight against Loghain, yes?'

'Well, that is the purpose of the Landsmeet, yes.' Elspeth shifted slightly, to free up the sword on her hip. I subtly checked that my daggers were within easy reach. 'Why?'

'Well, I've heard that you and some of your companions have certain skills. Skills of the street you might say?' Skills of the… wait, was this things like sneaking around? 'I am an… information broker.'

'You are one who gives rumors and tips to would be thieves.' Elspeth smiled wryly. 'You take a payment, give the information, and then you have plausible deniability just in case. I know the game. I've played it.'

'Precisely.' Well, this was interesting. 'Of course, I am not fond of blood. Call me old fashioned, but the Maker said thou shall not strange, decapitate, or whatnot unless the fellow really had it coming.' Ha! 'But I have potential jobs, ones that will help your cause.'

'Which, of course, will get you a great deal of money in return.' Elspeth glanced at me, and switched to just signing, no talking. 'What do you think?'

'I think we're bored, and this will be a fun distraction,' I signed back, unable to keep from grinning. 'It's like pranking.'

'I suppose that is true,' she signed, looking thoughtful. 'There is a lot of information that can only be gained in the shadows.' She smiled back. 'Shall we, then?'

'Time to go hunting.'


We stopped by the estate on the way and picked up Zevran and Morrigan for the fun. And it was fun. It was a lot of fun, far more than illegal activity probably should be.

We stole a purse of gems and a stupidly ornamental sword. Raided a warehouse that belonged to a man whose tastes in women apparently ran way too young. Zevran killed him after we were done raiding his warehouse.

We broke into a lady's room at the Gnawed Noble Tavern, apparently a lady with horrendous taste in men, given that she and Howe were sexually involved. We raided one of Howe's warehouses too. Elspeth was particularly happy about that one, because it provided proof of embezzlement, whatever that word actually meant, and would cast further doubt on Loghain. The last one ended up in an ambush, but after getting screeched at by Morrigan, Slim promised to rework that one (and he returned the money, which was kind of him).

Now we were getting him that time, by going to steal Loghain's crown. This was the best day ever.

Elspeth and Morrigan were the 'bait' for this situation. Specifically, Morrigan had shapeshifted into a cat, and Elspeth was pretending to be a traveling Nevarran noblewoman who just had to find her 'precious kitten'. Who, of course, was going to be as catty as possible. Honestly, this was all worth it just for Elspeth to pretend to be hysterical and watching heavily armed people panic over a 'crying girl' and try to catch a cat.

Zevran and I were tasked with sneaking in and stealing the crown. Which resulted in me choking the keeper of said crown until he passed out. Part of me was worried that he might die, but hey, he might live, and it was a little more reliable than hitting him in the head and hoping that would do it.

'So, valuables tend to be hidden under and in things,' Zevran signed. He was bouncing on his toes, grinning widely, and I knew why. He'd been having the time of his life too, though I do think he would have preferred outright assassination. Preferably of Howe, and then we'd conveniently be with Aiden and Nuada. 'So, I will check for hidden compartments. You check for other things.'

'Like what, the bed?' I signed back, making my expression as droll as possible. He bit back a laugh; I could tell by how his shoulders shook slightly. 'Well, why not?' With a shrug, I headed for it, peeking under it. Nothing, of course.

The wood bent under my hand, though. There was empty space under it. But I could not hook my hand around the board to pull it up. So, instead, I nudged Zevran with my foot, and when he turned to look at me, I pointed to the floor.

He got what I meant immediately, and crouched down to poke around too. 'Well, this might be the quaintest hiding place,' he signed, grinning. He shifted to lie on his stomach, feeling around with one hand while he signed with the other. 'I hear many creative curses outside. I think Morrigan scratched one of them.'

'Yes, her nails are sharp,' I signed back, glancing up to the door. Things would be bad if it opened. 'My back always hurts in the morning.'

'As well as other parts~' He actually fluttered his hand to add a little bit of lightness to the sentence. 'Oh, might have found something.'

Yeah, but the door was opening. So, I shoved him further under, and ducked underneath as well, hoping that whoever was entering would not look underneath the bed. Zevran tugged us a little further under, nudging me to draw my legs up, to be smaller.

We both held our breath as shiny shoes appeared in our vision. The shoes slipped underneath, tapping the area where I had noticed the wood bending. They did this a few times, before stepped back. Then, slowly, the shoes left.

I waited until Zevran nudged me, and then I slowly crawled out, glancing around. No one. They had come in to check the area, and then left, likely because the guards were busy with Morrigan and Elspeth.

A tap on my leg brought my attention down, and I saw Zevran had pried the board up. Inside was a very, very shiny crown. We won~

We exchanged a grin, and quickly took the crown, storing it in my pack as Zevran replaced the board. Then, we peeked outside, and bolted. We'd get Elspeth and Morrigan later, when it was a little safer.

Haha! We stole the crown~ We stole the crown~


Slim ended up finding an alternate route for stealing the 'Tears of Andraste', and one successfully stolen vial later, Slim was delivering it to the Chantry, and we returned to the estate, still far too pleased by everything. However, the heavy air inside that estate told me something had happened. Something horrible had happened. I could see it in the drooping servants and their forced smiles as they escorted us into Eamon's study.

As soon as I saw the others, I knew exactly what was wrong. Leliana and Wynne were back, along with a blonde woman I neither knew nor cared to know. Aiden and Nuada were not with them. That was what I cared about.

'What happened?' Zevran asked. He outwardly appeared calm, if annoyed, but I saw his hands shake. He did not like it that Aiden wasn't back. 'Even Shale looks aggravated.'

'It is nothing a good head crushing won't solve,' Shale immediately responded. So immediately that there was actually a delay between the slight laughter and relaxing of the air and someone signing me the words. 'I have a few good ideas. But really, is anyone surprised? I'm not. Since when do things ever go right with this group?' I wished that was less true than it was.

'Besides, it isn't that much of a problem,' Oghren added. His signs were clunky, and Alistair helpfully signed too so that I could make sure I knew what was going on. 'Nothing that can't be solved with a few pints of ale, a nug, and a team of exotic dancers.' Elgar'nan, what is going on? 'But, ah, you guys walked in right where we were about to learn how one weak willed soldier with no thought in her head captured two skilled warriors.' …Captured? CAPTURED?!

'There were… there were a lot of prisoners in the estate,' Leliana explained. She didn't sign. She couldn't seem to unclench her fists to do so. Alistair signed for her too. 'Nuada and Aiden prioritized their escape, and used themselves as bait.' This made marginally more sense. 'Oh, Andraste, watch over our friends, please…'

'And they were taken to this Fort Drakon place.' As if any of the non-Fereldan in this room knew of… in fact, as if anyone but Alistair, Eamon, the blond woman I assumed was Anora, and Elspeth had any idea. Though, judging by how pale the former two went, and how Anora grimaced, I imagined it was bad.

'It's a tower that predates Fereldan, an Imperium thing,' Alistair explained slowly. His hands shook slightly, and I saw him grind his teeth in frustration. 'Think the Tower at Ostagar.' Oh, okay. 'It's the garrison for the city guard, and a high security prison.' Oh. 'Very high security.'

'Then what are we waiting for, exactly?' I asked, signing carefully. Was there something I was missing? I looked at everyone to see if there was, but all I saw was determination. Determination, and a little bit of scorn directed at Anora. They… weren't exactly impressed. I was impressed that she'd apparently made that poor of a first impression. Then again, telling us that two of our own were captured to bring her to safety probably wasn't going to help. 'We should go rescue them.'

'Yes, we need to plan,' Wynne agreed easily. She and Morrigan glanced at each other, and I could already see the wheels spin in their head. 'Perhaps Morrigan and I can destroy the front gates?' I would pay to see that. 'From there, we could-'

'There is another issue.' It took Sten pointing for me to realize that Anora was speaking. 'Ever since Ostagar, the entire country has been screaming from pain," she was saying, holding herself tall and proud. 'But, strangely, the unrest is worst in the Alienage.' How was that strange? No, seriously, how was that strange? 'Few elves accompanied the army. They should have little reason to be upset.' What? Were they not allowed to mourn the few here? Fen'harel's teeth, maybe them thinking Aiden was dead might have triggered something. 'Which means that Howe and my father must have given them reason.' WHAT ABOUT THE FREAKING 'CULL THE HERD' THING THAT HOWE ADMITTED TO ALREADY?! CREATORS ABOVE, DID SHE THINK WE WERE STUPID OR WAS SHE HERSELF THAT DAMN IGNORANT? ' I do not know what is happening there, but-'

Elspeth waved her hand, mostly to catch my attention. I noticed with amusement that Anora blinked slowly, clearly startled. 'While I can think of many reasons for the elves to be upset right now, there is still the chance of something occurring there, right now,' Elspeth signed. Her eyes were thoughtful. 'There was a quarantine, if I recall correctly. Either they were inflicted with a serious illness, which means they need help, or that quarantine is hiding something, which means they need help.'

'But what about Nuada and Aiden?' Layla asked, voicing . Her eyes wavered with worry and I rested a hand on her shoulder in hopes it would ease her mind. 'They are…'

'Oh, I really wouldn't worry so much about them.' Um… 'Ah, yes, Eamon?' I knew that was more of a prompt for me than anyone else, but I was grateful for it. 'I didn't catch the first part.' I doubted that, but it was still good for me.

'Elspeth, should you not be more worried?' Eamon asked. He looked so confused. 'This is your brother, and a dear friend, and it's… Fort… Drakon…' The signs slowed to show how he slowly trailed off. 'Oh, how could I forget?' Eamon actually facepalmed, and Elspeth seemed to laugh, face lighting up with the smile. 'You and Nuada accidentally broke in during your first Landsmeet, and purposely did so just a few years ago.' …What.

'Precisely.' Elspeth's signs were light, matching her smile. 'But even without that, Fort Drakon cannot be worse to escape from than a Nevarran crypt, and we got locked into those plenty of times.' Uh…. 'So, please…' Please save Aiden's home since he cannot protect it.

Well, I couldn't refuse with that. We'll come up with a group and head out, then. This time… this time, we will actually help. Not like last time where we could only control the damage. We would…


Author's note: Crime wave is an eight part quest, basically, given if you have stealth and steal. You gain the name 'Dark Wolf' if you steal the crown, hence the title. In game, the conversation about the quest start is accompanied by Anora making her case, but Elspeth cut her off before then. Also, how impressed the party is with Anora depends on how the encounter with Cauthrien went. It's best when you surrender, and this is mildly reflected here. The Golden Mirror is a plot-gift that you can give Morrigan.

Next Chapter – Unrest in the Alienage with Layla