Mageling.
Every day for as long as she could remember she had worked hard to hide her magic. There was nothing more important. Normal children ran and jumped and shrieked their laughter to a world that embraced their normalcy. She sat inside reading books and wishing she had been born like them so she could do the same. Nights, when the others lay tucked in their beds, were for her long hours of tossing and turning making sure her guard did not fall even in slumber. Her perseverance had been rewarded and no one had found her secret though there had certainly been times when the call had been a close one.
And each close call had been a lesson and one that she took seriously. She suppressed her very nature to the point that she wasn't sure who she was but it was a small price to pay to remain alive and free.
Until now.
She couldn't comprehend how this woman found out her secret so quickly. There was nothing she could think of that would have exposed her. Yet somehow this horrifying creature before her had discovered the one thing she'd always hidden as if she had been waving it about for all to see. The woman turned away from the body and advanced on Madea, her lips rosy with her own blood.
"You seem surprised, little one." The voice that spoke was different now. It was hers, but not hers. There was a deeper intonation to it. Someone—or something—seemed to be speaking through her.
"H—How—?"
"How did I find out your precious, little secret?" The woman finished as she began the same predatory circle around Madea. "You faithful guardian made it impossible to seek you out in the Fade. I had to find you here where you are not so well guarded."
"What are you?" Madea asked.
Dark eyes regarded her curiously. "I am just someone who is interested in getting to know you."
The shreds of her courage emboldened her, though at what cost was not yet known. "I did not ask what you want with me!" she snarled. "I asked what you are!"
Pain exploded through her, sending her crashing to the floor. The woman sneered down at her, "Use your eyes; I'm just a woman," she replied.
"I do not believe you." Her words were forced between teeth clenched in agony. "A mage would not do this to a fellow mage!"
Laughter erupted from the woman as she cackled with mirth. "That just proves how naive you truly are! Your kind have been turning on each other from the very beginning!"
Her kind? Mages wouldn't turn on each other... Would they?
She forced herself to focus at the more pressing matter at hand. "And that just proves that you are not what you say you are."
"My, my. Clever and feisty. You are a treat, aren't you?"
Fury fueled her. "I AM NOTHING TO YOU!" The pain made her writhe. "Not a treat! Not anything!"
Yellow eyes swam into view and Madea started. A moment ago she would have sworn the woman's eyes were a dull brown. "Relax, child," the voice soothed. "I could be your best friend."
"I don't want you for my friend," Madea snapped, though the pain made her sound less than convincing.
"That's too bad. Many have benefited from being my friend and been better off because of it."
The woman twirled a lock of her hair absently and then brushed a finger across Madea's lips. "You have lived alone for a long time and survived on so little. Think of what you've always desired, but never thought you'd attain."
So many things flashed through her mind. Friends. A family. A life free of worry.
Her grin was seductive now. "I can give it to you. You just have to let me."
*****
Quiet as a mouse. Quiet as a mouse.
Bryce repeated that mantra to himself as he crept up the stairs and down the hallway. Three steps ahead and then he had to sidestep to the left to avoid the loose floorboard that would creak beneath his foot. The door at the end was his target; but he had to get there unheard or this would all be an exercise in futility.
He eased himself down onto all fours and crept up towards the door, careful to avoid the flickering light and the shadows they might cast.
He had seen the assassin arrive with a templar and the Commander had given him the look as they disappeared into the study at the end of the hall. He was not to interrupt, not to listen in. This was strictly Grey Warden business and he was not a part of the order, but that would be remedied if he had anything to say about it.
"A blood mage, you say?" The voice was unfamiliar. It must have been the templar.
"An apostate, blood mage with a taste for violence and an affinity for Orlais," another clarified. Bryce knew that lilting accent. "What more could you possibly need?" Zevran asked.
"The Templars are concerned only with keeping order per the will of Andraste. What Orlais plans or does not plan is a matter wholly removed from that," the templar corrected gruffly. Despite being separated by a solid slab of wood Bryce could hear the but in his voice.
Zevran caught it too. "But?"
"But the Orlesians are growing bold again and Nevarra will not cede lands that have always been ours. If what you say is true though, her allegiance to Orlais is the least of our concern."
The soft whisper of breath was the Commander sighing. She did that too often in Bryce's opinion. "That is what we count on, Ser."
There was a scraping of wood against wood and then the heavy thud of footsteps pacing back and forth. This templar was a warrior, through and through. No rogue would be so blatantly loud.
"And you are certain that your information is credible? It would look exceedingly poor if the templars were to arrest an innocent woman."
"You have my word," Zevran replied.
There was a pregnant pause. "You'll forgive me if your word does not hold the weight with me that it may with others."
The commander was quick to defend him. The templar may not know her true identity, but she was a force to be reckoned with even stripped of her titles. "His word is good."
Bryce knew that tone. She got it when her patience was at the breaking point. This templar needed to watch his step carefully if he wanted to walk away from this conversation with any thread of his dignity.
The templar cleared his throat. "Of course."
"What is the plan then?" That was Nathaniel.
"Given your information I think it best to proceed during the day when fewer patrons are there. At midday my men and I will go to the brothel and take this woman into custody. If you wish to accompany us the assistance will not be unappreciated, but this is templar business and you follow our lead."
Bryce winced. She was a tolerant woman, but she didn't like being ordered around. "I will follow your lead, Ser Jaron, but know this, if my people are put into danger I will not hesitate to act."
The templar was silent for a long moment. "Noted. I will see you tomorrow?"
"Yes."
"Very well. I shall take my leave then."
He barely made it into a darkened room in time as the templar stomped by and down the stairs. Bryce was back in position outside the meeting room before the door slammed shut on the floor below, signaling the templar's departure.
"Your thinly veiled threat was quite effective, warden," Zevran purred.
"There was no threat, Zev," she replied. "It was only a consideration for him to ponder."
The assassin's laugh told Bryce he wasn't convinced but knew better than to argue. She was always blunt when it came to the safety of those in her order. Mincing words lent to unnecessary injuries and deaths. She had taken great pains to rebuild the Ferelden order and she did so by keeping safety a top priority.
The door swung open, startling Bryce and leaving him sprawled on the floor. "You have much to learn, my young friend," Zevran said leaning against the door frame, grinning at him; Bryce's eyes cut to the commander who was standing behind the assassin with exasperation written all over her face.
Andraste's flaming knickers!Bryce was in for it now.
"He's just like his father," Zevran mused.
The commander only rolled her eyes. "His father would never have been caught eavesdropping outside a door from which he been ordered to stay away from." She strode forward and picked him up off the floor, pushing him into the room with a little more force than was strictly necessary. Yep, definitely in trouble.
"It seems like you have things to work out. I'm afraid I will not be able to join you tomorrow for your excursion to the brothel, but I will meet up with you as soon as my own business here is concluded."
The commander clasped his shoulder, "I appreciate the help, Zev. You know where to find me if you need anything."
"That I do." He nodded at the others, "Wardens." He looked at Bryce, humor sparking in his eyes. "Bryce."
And with those simple words he was gone.
The commander turned to the others. "Can you all excuse me? I need to have a word with Bryce."
Shit.
He'd had long lectures before, but never any quite like this. He supposed she had good reason. This was the first time she'd allowed him to come with the Wardens beyond Ferelden's borders.
Years of lectures had left him with an acute knowledge of how to get through them as quickly as possible. He shut his mouth, nodded or shook his head as was required and at the end he promised never to repeat the offending behavior.
"I told you to stay downstairs," she finally snapped after she had finished a particularly long winded lecture about responsibility and duty. "Do you have anything to say for yourself?"
He offered a sheepish grin. "Better to ask for forgiveness, than for permission?"
She groaned and let her face fall into her hands, "He's right, you know."
"Who's right?" Bryce asked.
"Zevran. You do take after your father."