.xxix.
Anders watches the rising sun as it sparkles across the water. He hopes the sight will awakening him; proper sleep has eluded him for weeks now. At his request, Justice has continues to search for her in the Fade, but to no avail. All he can do is pray that she's unharmed.
"You were right Bela," Varric congratulates as the Minrathous skyline appears on the horizon, "Your lovely Siren did not disappoint." He turns to the coastline. He looks out over the tops of tall buildings, bringing himself to his feet. Fenris appears seemingly from nowhere, brows drawn and face dark. He does not look happy to be home. Anders however, aside from the obvious anxiety over his dearest friend, is curious about finally setting foot in the country where being a mage doesn't get you immediately jailed.
"I know my ships." She looks incredibly pleased with herself. "She handled those straits very well too. I think I'm in love."
"Thank the Maker we're almost there," Carver moans, still looking a little green. Merrill pats his arm reassuringly.
"So am I. If I have to hear you void your stomach one more time," Sebastian frowns, looking a little nauseous himself.
"Looks like you're going to have to," Isabela points out as Carver dives for the prow.
"That brings the grand total to 16, I think,"Varric smirks, holding out a hand to Isabela, who grudgingly drops some silvers into his palm. "Ah, returning investments. Worth the risk."
"Gather round everyone," Aveline commands, waving them into the center of the deck. "Except you Carver. You stay downwind from us for the time being."
"I hate you all," he snarls, and then heaves himself back over the edge, coughing sickeningly.
Aveline waits until they've all settled before she begins to speak. "Aside from what we learned back in Kirkwall, we have virtually no leads, and no clues to pursue."
"That's very grim," sighs Merrill, her attention not entirely on the conversation.
"I know. However, we do have the benefit of being virtually unknown here. It may give us the element of surprise. We must be careful not to give that up. Fenris," his eyes snap from the coastline to the redhead, "You are not to leave this ship unless under the cover of night. Same for you, Merrill. And even then, I expect you to travel with one of us."
Fenris assents. "Being an elf alone in Tevinter is not wise."
"When we dock, I want you to stay below decks, just to be safe. Isabela, I'd like you to stay here and keep an eye on things."
"Fine by me," the Rivaini woman shrugs, though her frown belies her true thoughts.
"I assume that means you'll be scouting the city while we stay behind?" Merrill asks.
Varric pats her comfortingly, sensing her frustration at being left behind. "We're going to go poke around, ask some questions, see if anyone knows anything."
"Maybe bash some heads if need be," Anders adds in a low voice.
Isabela laughs. "That comes later. Don't speed up the itinerary or we'll miss the good parts."
"We'll be back when we've finished our sweep. From there. We'll plan our next move."
"Hopefully it will involve aforementioned head bashing," Varric grins.
It isn't much later when they finally dock, crew cheering loudly and knocking into each other like rowdy children. Aveline wastes no time with revelry, though she does look happy to be on land again, and they set off immediately.
"Tevinter is not what I imagined it to be..." Anders comments, watching people work magic on the streets as if it is nothing. One nobleman lights a fire with a flick of his wrist, a beautifully adorned lady chills drinks with ice and hands them to her excited children. Despite this liberty, the impoverished roam the streets, vastly outnumbering the affluent. It seems like only those with magic are well off, while everyone else...
It is not exactly what he had hoped for.
"A little hot for my tastes," Sebastian pants, fanning himself. "How does anyone live in this heat? Is it always like this?" He doesn't get an answer, just a few moans of agreement.
"Over there, look, the dock overseer," Aveline points. "I'll go ask him if he's seen anything."
Despite not having been asked, Anders joins her, leaving Carver and the two rogues behind.
"I don't need an entourage," she throws over her shoulder as he skips a little to catch up with her.
"Buddy system." He shrugs with a small smile.
She sighs, but allows him to accompany her.
.
Hours later, and he swears he's getting deja vu. Of all the people they've asked after Hawke, most have ignored them, some have skittered away in apparent fear, while a small portion have admitted to knowing nothing. Like Kirkwall all over again. At this point, it will take them another odd-sum weeks to get any closer to finding her. He hadn't expected to find her immediately after reaching port, but even a snippet of information would be Maker-sent.
"Hey Varric," Carver begins in a teasing voice as they walk down a wide cobblestone street through throngs of shoppers, "Why don't you rub a little of that dwarven luck on us or something. We're getting nowhere fast."
"'Dwarven luck'? Where the hell did you get that shit?"
Carver's formulating an answer when someone yells at them from across the way. "You! You- people!" A tall, lanky blonde man is charging at them, unclear in his intent, yelling in Common, surprisingly. Anders is immediately wary.
"Can we help you?" Carver asks, voice sharp. The blonde sizes them up, sweeping his hair back with an indignant huff. He looks incredibly self important.
"There is no need for such a tone, I am here to aid you."
"Just how do you plan to do that? And who are you, for that matter?" Anders asks, tone clipped.
"The slave you've been asking about all afternoon; I've seen her. I know where you can find her. My name is Primus, and I owe her my life."
Not surprising to hear that. If he had a copper for every person he'd ever heard claim that Hawke 'saved their life', he'd have enough to travel around Thedas several times.
"Where?" Carver immediately demands, voice mingling with Varric's suspicious "Why?"
Aveline shushes them. "Why tell us this? What do you benefit from it?"
"As I said, she saved my life. I am indebted to her. That, and I would very much like to see her master suffer."
"Master?" echoes Carver, face contorting, "She really has been taken as a slave?"
"Yes. She is the legal property of Magister Danarius. It is my understanding you intend to free her, yes?" The man looks hopeful for an answer in the affirmative.
Varric smirks. "Wouldn't be very smart to admit it if we were, would it?"
"No, I suppose not. By hypothetically, if this were your intent, I could tell you when the best time to attempt this would be, and other vital information."
They silently consider his offer, casting each other opinion laden looks they had long since perfected in their years of working and fighting together. Nobody seems incredibly opposed to the idea. It's a little concerning that they've been so readily approached by someone willing to help, but at this point, they've come too far to turn away from what might be exactly what they need. Or a trap.
"We have little choice on the matter," Aveline admits. "It's not as if we can storm the gates and take her back by force, not on unfamiliar ground."
"Danarius is throwing a gala event in several weeks to show off his new prize. He invited me." He produces the invitation from a pocket on his leather belt, jingling bottles of lyrium as he does so. The paper is thick and flecked with shining metal, incredibly expensive looking. "An insult. But I will use this against him, if you will lend me your strength."
"Revenge plots rarely end well," Sebastian whispers, speaking from experience, no doubt.
"Then do not think of it as 'revenge'," Primus huffs. "Think of it as a better plan to free your friend than whatever you had planned before."
"He's not wrong," Carver mutters.
"We will consider your offer. Where can we meet you with our decision?" Aveline asks.
"There is a tavern, Aureum Stellata. Come to me there when you are ready to discuss a plan of action."
Without so much as a word of goodbye, Primus turns and walks away, imperious and haughty in stride.
"Well he's certainly sure of himself, isn't he?" Anders comments as they watch the man's retreating form.
"I don't know if the tides have turned in our favor, or if this is too good to be true," sighs Aveline, shaking her head.
"I think it might be just we need, actually," Varric says. "Did you hear what the Magister's name was?"
"Danarius?" Sebastian supplies. "Why? Do you know the name?"
"Unfortunately. And I also know who'd not going to be happy to hear it."
They all seem to realize in stunned silence. Fenris. His former master.
This will not be good.
.
It's exactly as he expected.
When they return to the ship hours later, sun falling over the city late into the night, Merrill, Isabela, and Fenris all abandon their game of Wicked Grace expectantly, meeting them at the gangplank.
"Did you find anything?" Merrill asks. "You look like you found something. Something- oh no. It's not good is it?"
"Please share. We need some exciting news, it's been too quiet on the ship," Isabela jokes, but Merrill's suspicions have distressed her. Fenris remains quiet and motionless, perched on the edge of a crate, waiting for answers.
"Yes, we think we may have found something. But," Varric spares Fenris a cautious look, "you're not going to like it."
"Please, just tell us," Merrill implores, looking more and more worried by the second.
Anders cant stand the way the dwarf is tiptoeing around their revelation, so he simply says it: "Hawke has been claimed as a slave of..." he steels himself for the soon to come explosion, "Magister Danarius."
A pin could drop and make a resounding clatter the deck goes so silent.
"Nice going," Varric sarcastically commends as Fenris visibly quakes with anger, rising from his seat and stalking across the deck. The crewmen milling about quickly find other places to be.
"Where?" His gritted words are more of a demand than a question. "Where is she?!"
"Take it easy Broody," Varric attempts to calm him, but immediately snaps his mouth shut when the elf's lethal glare turns to him.
Aveline steps forward, hands up in petition. "It's not as bad as it sounds-"
"'Not as bad as it sounds?' Do you have any idea what you're saying? Do you understand what she faces even as we waste time here, speaking?! If this is the truth, she is in the worst danger she has ever faced in her life!"
"I don't know," Isabela mumbles. "That high dragon gave her a run for her money." Her humor is not appreciated.
"The man who told us this wants to help us set her free," Anders adds. "He seems to hate your old master as much as you do."
"Who is he?" Isabela asks, crossing her arms tellingly.
"A man who goes by 'Primus'. That's all we learned," Sebastian answers quickly. "Everything he told us seemed true. I don't think he was lying."
"He also told us that this magister is hosting some sort of event. Apparently, that will be the best time to break in and get my Sister back."
"And you trust him?" Merrill questions.
"It's a little too early in the relationship for trust," Varric smirks. "But he's the only lead we have. And like Choir Boy said, he seemed pretty earnest. I think we have a good shot."
"We will work with him," Fenris confirms, tone not leaving the statement open for debate, if anyone were brave enough to attempt it. "If he turns on us we will kill him and whomever he serves. We cannot leave Hawke-" his breath hitches. "We cannot leave her where she is. She is in worse danger than you can know."
"I'm with Broody," agrees Varric. "If this is a trap, it's by the same people holding Hawke hostage. Either way, we'll end up on the right path to her. We can't pass it up."
"Any opposed?" Carver offers, knowing full well not one of them will speak.
"Sounds like we're crashing a party, then," Isabela comments blithely. "What fun."
Fenris turns on his heel and disappears below decks. No one goes after him.
He may not like the elf very much, but in this moment, Anders feels for him.
Whatever he fears for her, though, cannot be as bad as whatever fate might await her in one of the Circles.
Author's Note: This one is dedicated to my da vhenan, who reminded me I needed to post a chapter.
Avatarfan444: You were close enough! And yes, Danarius is the human embodiment of a landfill.
MC: I don't plan on things going past a 'T' rating, but if you feel it's necessary, I would definitely put a warning on. Yes, Tevinter is a pretty awful place, wrapped up in bows. I don't think Anders will see it immediately, but will realize it more and more. And as for Hawke, he'll beef her up before the party somehow. Though arguably, it might be better for him to show how much hes weakened her. Who knows?
Everyone else: Thank you for your continued support! I love logging in and seeing all the messages!
Soon to come: What is Hawke going to do about Danarius' betrayal? Stay tuned and find out!