Chapter 2: In Shadows
It was a place that did not exist, a hall filled with people who were not really there, people who did not even exist…
Yet that did not negate the fact that they were going to unmake the world.
Torches burned on columns made of black stone, golden light filtered in through windows that had never reflected the light of the sun. It was a hall of shadows, a place that was hidden even from the light of day, far from the prying of eyes of any who would think to do it harm, but that was the point.
No one knew about this place, and no one would…
…until it was too late.
A massive table sat in the center of the room. Nineteen figures sat around it, and behind them, flickering like ghosts, stood their agents and allies. People that no one would ever suspect were a part of what was about to come to pass.
Dangerous people all, but they were nothing compared to the one they waited for. Not a word passed between them, no one dared speak, when their leader arrived, he would no doubt wish to hear everything they had learned.
No one in this place would dare speak out of turn; such was their respect for their master.
Such…was their fear.
Finally, the doors to the great hall opened, and the leader finally stepped into the hall.
As one the figures seated rose and bowed their heads in both respect and submission.
The leader paused, his features hidden beneath a heavy hood, his slender body masking the power within, the power of the ages.
He sniffed at the sight of his followers, necessary evils all, but in the end…inconsequential.
They were nothing, simply shadows on the wall, not even really people, not by his definition of the term.
The leader sighed.
Everyone here was here because they wished to survive what was about to be unleashed, they accepted the fact that they would be servants in a new world.
The leader's eyes narrowed.
They might not truly exist as far as he was concerned, but their loyalty would be rewarded, provided they stayed the course.
He moved forward and took his seat, pausing only briefly to glance over at the empty chair to his right.
The leader frowned. Fury burned in his breast…
…Fury…and memory.
They're stronger than you think, you know. You know, I suspect you'll hate this, but she reminds me of…
The leader took a deep breath. He let his anger flow out with it.
His associate had paid for his betrayal; he would not let the man's foolishness derail their plans, his plans.
He sighed.
It was time to get back to business.
"Please be seated," he ordered.
As one the others found their places, more than a few looked at the empty chair to his right, no doubt wondering where their twentieth member was.
Their leader decided to enlighten them.
"I regret to inform you all of the death of one of our number. Brother Felassan lost faith in what we were trying to accomplish, and needed to be…removed.
None of the others responded, of they disagreed with his decision, none would speak it out loud.
It was the advantage of rule through fear, the leader thought; it allowed the single vision to flourish. In time, once the new world had begun, there would be time for multiple views to be spoken of again, but for now…now…
They needed to speak with one voice.
How far you have fallen.
The leader shook his head. It was not the first time he had heard his old friend's voice.
As before, he tried to ignore her.
You know what this course will bring about; you know what forces you are about to release.
For a moment he could almost see her face, see her sadness at what was to come.
Are you sure this is the only way?
Are you sure this is what you truly want?
The leader's eyes narrowed.
He would not be swayed from his course.
Not by the words of a ghost.
"The Eluvians are lost to us, at least for now," he continued, "It will take time to regain them, but time is what we will have plenty of…quite soon."
He turned to one his followers to his right.
"Did the Tevinters find our little…gift?"
"They…they did, Ser," his servant replied, "Though…I'm still not sure why we need them for this. Would it not be better if we carried out the plan ourselves?"
The leader gave him a sad chuckle.
"Perhaps, my friend, perhaps, but no game can be won without pawns. They are useful in their way, and…"
The leader smiled.
"They are also expendable."
The others around the table nodded, not that the leader expected them to disagree.
They all knew what was at stake, the fate of their people, their destiny.
Everyone here had pledged their lives to see that destiny fulfilled.
What was would be again, and what was now would crumble into ash. The world built since the leader had made his grand move so long ago was tumbling out of control.
All that was required now, was a nudge in the right direction.
Once that occurred, it would all fall apart.
"We believe our…gift, is even now on the way to Ferelden," another of his servants said, her voice cold and husky, even though she was hooded he could see the cold anger in her eyes. She had been born a slave, and freed only after enduring great pain and hardship…
Had she been born when he was young, the leader might have pitied her, but since she had not been…?
She was just another shadow, waiting to disappear with the coming dawn.
"We should see results soon," the girl added.
The leader nodded.
"Do we know where the Tevinters are taking it?"
"The village of Haven, Ser," the first servant informed him, "We know that Divine Justinia is holding a great Conclave there. She had summoned the leaders of both the mage rebellion and the Templars."
The servant shook his head.
"The old bat believes that she can end the war.
One of their agents in the back of the hall stepped forward, though he was not really there, his anger made him almost tangible for a moment.
Even the leader felt heat from the fires of his rage.
"UNACCETABLE!" the shadow snarled, "The war must continue! If we allow the shemlen to make peace it could ruin everything!"
The leader pinned him with a cold gaze, the man fell silent and retreated back, realizing just how badly he had overstepped his bounds.
Their leader's eyes narrowed.
Once he would have petrified a servant for such an outburst, now…he realized the value of patience. Too much of their world had been lost because of rash actions.
Besides, he could not blame the man for his feelings; everyone here had suffered under the reign of the shemlen.
He could not fault their desire to see that world end.
It was a desire he shared, and would see come to pass.
The man's sponsor rose from him seat, he bowed his head.
"Forgive my associate, great one," he almost whimpered, "He meant no disrespect."
The leader snorted.
"No forgiveness is needed," he replied, "Though spoken out of turn, our friend is not wrong, the wars must continue, at least until we are ready to make our final move."
The leader rose from his seat he looked down on those who served him, many who almost worshipped him.
He pursed his lips.
If only they were more to him then just ghosts. They were so limited, so cut off from the true world.
They were useful tools, but that was all they were, tools that could be discarded when the job was done. When the old world return he would see that most of them survived what came to pass, that was the least that he could do.
They might have been his lessers, but even lessers deserved some pity.
"We need to verify that the Tevinters are targeting the shemlen Conclave," he said, "If this is so, we will only have so much time once they have unlocked what we need them to unlock.
The leader smiled.
"Once the pawns have sacrificed themselves, we will then be free to continue, with the powers necessary to bring all that we desire to pass."
His second servant rose from her seat.
"Great one," she said bowing her head, "I request your permission to journey to the Conclave. Once the pawns have served their purpose, I will retrieve the item for you."
She smiled slyly.
"It would be my pleasure."
The leader met her eager gaze with his cool one, he considered her offer. It would be necessary to have a presence at the Conclave, once the Tevinters did what they were expected to do, there would be only a small window of time to reacquire the item.
The leader was tempted to let his servant go, to let her carry out this important mission; she had not failed him, not once during their brief relationship, but…but…
The leader frowned.
Felassan had never failed him either, until he did.
The thought was enough to give even the leader pause.
What was at stake was too big. They had lost the Eluvians. They could not afford to lose this.
He looked out over his assembled servants, his followers, he had promised them much…
How could he trust them to deliver on that promise?
Who was strong enough to even attempt it?
He sighed.
In the end, there had been no choice.
He knew who had to go.
Even, if he did not like it.
His eyes narrowed.
He would not, could not place the future of their people in the hands of mere agents. There was too much at stake.
They did not even truly understand what was coming, they only saw their own ambitions, not caring how easily discarded those ambitions would be once the old ones returned.
He sighed.
They were shadows.
They were nothing.
He could not afford to put all his faith in shadows.
There was far too much at stake for that.
"We cannot afford any mistakes," he said, "I will go myself."
All eyes were now on him, he heard the whispers as the shock spread through the chamber that was not there.
He gave them all a sad smile.
"My risk is no less than yours," he reminded them, "We all want the same things, the restoration of our people, our world."
He shook his head.
"It is best that I see to this matter personally. If I fail, then at least you may continue in my name."
He felt a ripple of pride go through the chamber. No doubt they thought him quite brave to put himself in such danger for their cause.
He resisted the urge to smile.
It was a fiction of course, but a useful one.
He would not risk one of these getting their hands on the item. Their ambitions were petty, clouded with visions of greatness of a world they could not truly understand.
They would be nothing when the old ones returned. He could not risk any of them finding out about that.
Not when he was so close…
Not when he was this close.
"We shall convene again once I have reached the Conclave. In the meantime, prepare yourselves."
The leader smiled.
"Our new world is about to begin."
His servants nodded, and one by one, they vanished in wisps of smoke, the servants that accompanied them faded away.
Even the hall vanished, leaving nothing but a small island floating in nothingness.
An island with a single occupant, their leader, he did not vanish like the others, he couldn't.
He was too real for such a simple parlor trick.
The leader sighed.
Once again he had convinced, his servants, his loyal dupes of the righteousness of his cause.
Now he needed to reward their faith in him.
Now, he needed to retrieve their prize, his prize.
Once that was done, the old world would come back, the better world.
And he…would be the architect of that return.
He made his way across the plains of the fade. In the distance he could already feel his body beginning to stir.
Soon it would be time to return to the waking world, back to the world where the people were all as thin as parchment, and as empty as a drunkard's wine cellar.
The leader sighed.
How he hated them, but he drew comfort from the fact that it was almost over.
Soon the prize would be his again, unlocked and ready to be used.
At long last his people would find their place again. It was ironic really.
It had been his choice that had ended the old world and brought new one into being, his greatest mistake.
Now… the time had come to erase that mistake.
The future was his.
Now…he needed to seize it.
It would not be hard.
It was not really a world he was destroying, it was realm of shadows, mortal things that had no idea what real life was.
Sadly, they would not have time to learn.
The old ways were coming back.
Let the mortal races…
…beware.