An eager Qunari child sat in a shaded enclave of large ferns. He peered out from under the foliage reassuring himself he hadn't been followed before cupping his hands together and holding them out in front of his body. With small quivering fingers the child beckoned a mysterious force from within watching in awe as thin pale vapor drifted from his hands. The air around him grew frigid and with a mere brush of his fingertip a fern curled in on itself as it froze. He shivered enjoying relief from the thick humid air.
"Imekari! Child, what do you think you're doing?!" A deep voice hissed from the underbrush.
The child startled gasping withdrawing his hands to his sides.
"I'm sorry Father! My deepest regrets."
"Adaar you know how dangerous the jungles are. Do you not fear for your own life? We are Tal-Vashoth child. We are hunted by the Qun. By the Imperium. By the Fog. We are enemies to all and friends to none." The broad Qunari scolded before quickly helping the child to his feet.
"We need to get out of here now. Follow- quickly."
"Why quickly father? What's happened?" Adaar kept in stride with his father as they pushed through the dense growth.
"Another raid. They caught wind of our encampment and they're coming." His father picked up the pace showing no signs of tiring. Adaar matched his father's brisk footfalls with ease. The two had often traveled the jungles together and were well conditioned despite the terrain.
"I can help. I can summon the ice. I'm getting stronger everyday!" The horned child persisted.
"No. You are no match for the Arvaarad. The mage keepers will not spare you. If they do not kill you for being a Tal-Vashoth they will bind you. You will become their slave." He sneered. "It's exactly what your mother and I have tried to prevent all of these years." He came to a sudden halt pulling the child down with him into the brush crouching low to the ground.
A group of Qunari warriors marched ahead. Fully armored and covered in unique patterns of vitaar. Adaar gaped in shock. He had never seen followers of the Qun before. Now he wished he never had.
"Vinek kathas!" One of them bellowed pointing towards the Tal-Vashoth camp.
"Enaan esaam Qun!" The group called out in a rallying cry.
His father's breaths came faster now. Adaar looked to his father witnessing the look of horror masking his face. Never before had he seen him look so mortified. The qunari turned to his son gripping him by the shoulders.
"They can not have you Adaar. They can not take you from us." He shook him gently.
"When I run you run with me. Never falter. Never leave my side. Run with me like we always do."
Adaar nodded and braced himself for the sprint. His father began to count.
"Now!"
They leapt forward like arrows freed from a bow; rushing towards the camp desperately clawing their way through the endless green brush. The warriors sounded a horn and began chase. If they could make it to the camp they would at least have rebel protection. Out here they had nothing but the legs that carried them. Despite being weighed down by their armor the warriors hacked through the jungle with eery grace. This is what they had been bred and trained to do. Entire lives dedicated to hunting rebels of the Qun.
"I will never hurt you." Iron Bull's words echoed softly.
"He isn't waking. He cries and squirms in his sleep. Does he hurt? Is he broken?" Cole patted Adaar desperately.
"No the poor sod is just having a nightmare is all. C'mon now Boss wake up. We need to find chief while this storm has let up." Krem nudged him gently with his foot.
He grunted, struggling to breathe, Cole gently helping him sit wind whipped and lapped at the tent walls as rain came down in sheets outside. He could taste salt and brine on his tongue and inhaled deeply enjoying the sea air.
"The storm has let up huh? Really seems like it." He patted Cole reassuring him that he was alright.
"Well it's as good as it's going to get Boss. Aye what's the plan anyways? Are we going to sail after them then?"
"That's Plan B actually." Adaar finished gathering his things before ushering the party outside into the storm. They quickly pitched camp and began wandering the coast on foot.
"Cullen has already dispatched several brigades out to sea. And Josephine has made contacts with nobles in Tevinter hoping to persuade friends in high places to keep watch. As far as I know Leliana is doing something similar. Keeping eyes out to catch for any vint ships coming in. We're pretty well situated...but they're smart. They'll be expecting resistance. I want to execute something they won't be expecting."
They shuffled on, Adaar tentatively guiding Cole across the slippery rocks so he wouldn't fall into the sea. Krem observed quietly.
"You're nervous your plan will fail. You're scared of falling into the sea. You're frightened." Cole murmured quietly. Adaar squinted against the harsh rain heaving himself upwards as he scaled a slope.
"Just remember you two volunteered to come along." He reached down helping the two climb the steep rock-face. Krem had no idea what Adaar had in mind and it didn't matter to him. If there was a way to rescue the Chief he'd do it. No matter the cost. No questions asked.
"Ah, there you are. I was beginning to wonder if you had gotten lost."
Morrigan stood tall at the summit staring down at them calmly. The storm seemed gentle in comparison.
"Not lost. But some actually need sleep you know. Unlike you." He chuckled as they finished the climb standing at her side.
"I might need to sleep after this proposition. It's ludicrous. She might not even agree to it." She remarked clearly annoyed and unimpressed.
"Well it's our chance to get an edge up on our enemy. We don't exactly have a lot of time."
"True. It doesn't make this idea any more realistic. But, this is your choice. Not mine."
Morrigan had prepared a small ritual circle and called out incantations into the grey sky. Magic flowed from her fingertips pooling across the runes she had etched into the surface of the Earth. The wind seemed to strengthen, shrieking and shoving past, and then stepping out from a thick fog stood Flemeth. She remained poised although a brief look of surprise flickered across her face.
"My daughter summoned me? Couldn't imagine what for. Why have I been brought here girl?" She spoke dryly.
"The Inquisitor can answer your questions. I was merely a vessel." Morrigan shrugged.
"Flemeth," Adaar began. "I'd like to ask for your assistance."
He felt uneasy as her inhuman stare eyed him up like prey. A curious grin stretched across her face.
"My assistance? On behalf of the Inquisition? I'm not interested in getting involved in your affairs Inquisitor."
"No, it isn't like that. This isn't on behalf of the Inquisition. Rather...this is uh, well it's personal." He cleared his throat. "A friend has been captured and we suspect he's been taken over seas. I fear it'd be too late to reach him by boat so I was hoping you'd be willing to...give us a ride. On your back." His side of the conversation had played out a lot smoother in his head on the way here.
A brief moment of silence followed then she threw back her head cackling into the rain.
"The Inquisitor summons me here to this stormy crag to ask for a ride on a dragon's back across the ocean? This is amusing and unexpected!"
Adaar glanced to Morrigan for help but she remained reserved and unmoving.
"Do you have anything to offer me boy? Nothing I do comes freely."
Adaar offered various riches and trinkets the Inquisition had collected knowing well that his efforts were futile. She was timeless. She had no use for riches or weapons and Adaar had nothing of interest to her. Cole quietly removed an amulet from around his neck revealing it with an unsteady hand.
"A pendant that protects. That keeps me here. It keeps me safe so that I do not go away. They can not take me but...for you…" He murmured quietly unable to meet her gaze. She took the amulet from him studying it momentarily before tucking it away.
"I will take you. But a favor to me is still owed. I will reclaim this favor when I see fit even if it is at your expense." She chuckled turning and throwing out her arms against the winds. Her form changed rapidly expanding into a monster larger than life. Adaar turned to thank Morrigan for her cooperation but saw she had already taken her leave.
"So this is what you had in mind all along?" Krem mumbled quietly.
"Yeah...not my first choice but…" Krem cut him off shaking his head as he climbed up onto Flemeth's back.
"We do what we have to do to save Chief. It's what he would've done for us."
Adaar nodded helping Cole make the climb and with a roar Flemeth sprang forth ascending into the vast sky.
Iron Bull grunted, carriage colliding with a bump on the road, slamming him against it's iron bars. They had been off-sea for a few days now. Still no food or water to show for it. He was having trouble staying conscious and at a glance he had no clue where they were headed. His best guess was that the Vints were taking him deep into the Imperium. Minrathous maybe? But why? He hadn't been making a name for himself against the Vints in a very long time. Were they hoping to lure out the Inquisitor? Bull shook his head.
He had better not be stupid enough to follow them straight into a trap.
Still he wasn't sure why he bothered hoping. Without a doubt he knew The Chargers and the Inquisition would be out looking for him. It was strange...knowing that there were people out there actively searching. Wanting to find him. Not because they needed him for another job but because they wanted him home. Home. The very idea felt...unsettling. He sighed forcing the idea from his mind and focused on clearing his head. He needed to pay attention to his surroundings. When he finally escaped and was able to bash some skulls he'd need to know how to make his way back to the Free Marches if possible. If he could get back to Kirkwall he'd have a fairly easy shot back to Ferelden.
He heard a call from one of the men up ahead. The carriage coming to a sudden halt.
One of the men, thin and lanky, reported to his officer. He couldn't make out what was being said. Most likely a scout.
He noticed his unease and saw the rest of the envoy beginning to fidget and eye the area around them carefully. What had the scout seen?
Bull only had to ponder for a moment longer before he heard the long deep bellow sounding from the area ahead.
Well...shit. Always have perfect timing don't they?
Bull immediately began prying at the bars trying to force his way out. The sound of a Qunari war-horn wasn't something he could be mistaken. Regardless of what they were doing here he severely doubted they were here for his rescue. In fact, once they were done killing the Vints they'd most likely find a special means of treatment for him.
The Qunari hate Tevinter.
But Qunari hate traitors even more so.
