The fade seemed less playful as leaves swirled about on the ground. The garden was unkempt from what looked like years of decay, when really it was a day. Fade birds twittered and screeched as the sun slowly dimmed. A week passed, turning the garden into a marsh that avoided life instead of one teeming with another subset of it. It looked like the fabled Black marsh or Kocari Wilds lurking with unknown danger to outside visitors.
Durga perhaps viewed herself more as a trespasser on these lands. These frail markings on the fade were disappearing and with Bethany's consequent death, no longer remained without her living mana. Instead, it was claimed back by the Fade like nature on ruined cities, back to a natural state of ever-changing. Only with Durga's current presence was there something to remember the girl who taught her some semblance of magic. Looking over the landscape, Durga sat up, viewing with somber memories the idea that such a sweet woman had taken in her prime. She in some way had gained a sister and lost her all the same. Moving about from one spot to the next, demons began prowling in hopes of marking new territory, making it time to wake up.
Durga stretched out her aching muscles, relishing in the feeling of every crack, twitch, and burn passing along her joints and muscles. Sweeping her legs off the side of the bed earned a whine from behind as Lady pressed her nose into the small of Durga's back.
For a wolf passing as an overbearing Mabari, she was very motherly in Durga's presence, yet cold and indifferent to others. Aveline being the exception, of course. Those two got along well like some sort of secret strong female pack.
Lady sniffed at Durga as a morning ritual before landing on the floor for a good stretch. The bed was barely big enough for both, yet Lady always slept next to her as a security blanket. Even if her apartment was safe, it was not safe from the others working under Athenril, something Durga was paranoid about ever since her employment. She finished her stretches, groaning at the smell outside, wondering if the heat would die down just so the garbage would smell less.
"At least we're not living in Darktown, girl. Imagine the smell along with all the other dangers waiting about for us." Durga pulled on her clothes, wondering if Lady could fully understand her.
Lady replied in the simple manner of huffing her nose and bearing her teeth in some sort of mock anger.
"Hmmm. Well that about answers my former question about any Mabari lineage in you." A small gruff was replied as Lady sat up looking pleased. "Yes, yes. You have more pedigree on you than I have in magic. Still, I could not ask for much better company during these dire times. Care for a visit with my other favorite leading lady?"
Lady stood on all fours walking to the door as Durga finished dressing, before venturing down the stairs. The lobby was empty, aside from the usual workers not on shift milling about for breakfast. Grabbing some bread off the counter - Lady growling at Marco as Durga waved to her trainers, Briley and Bato - they ventured outside. The weather seemed to be in their favor since it was cooler outside, giving Durga much relief as she climbed toward Hightown with Lady in tow. The crisp air was nicer than the subtle change of the social environment, nobles and merchants alike still gawked and stared at another Lowtown resident venturing out to sully their view. If she was on the docks the sailors would bother her by asking 'where's she from?' due to her dark skin or other assumptions that included alley work.
At least here in Hightown, they only hated her because she was not rich or a noble.
Walking around the corner led her to the food court filled with the usual riff-raff eating breakfast, not because they could not have an extravagant meal in their mansions, but mostly for the early morning gossips. The news over the young Amell's death was a hot subject, but Durge paid the gossipers no mind, going on about her lifestyle. The smells of their various coffees filled the air making a parade of succulent meals. Sizzling eggs benedict cooked to perfection from the Nestled Rooster were being served to the usual crowd who prefered its Orleasian origins. However Durga thought all that fancy preparation was wasted on a meal that shouldn't have the air of a pretentious social outing.
She turned to Lady with a smirk. "It's a good thing one particular person eats like a sane woman with us, even if she could bench press an ogre."
Suddenly, red hair and strained exasperation all wrapped into a neat armor appeared.
"You'd think with something as tragic as this, they'd talk about it in their parlors over dinner, not at first light." Aveline thankfully wasn't within earshot of that comment.
"Morning to you too, Aveline. I take it you ordered already?" Durge nodded towards a line of people leading to a large window of cooks making breakfast.
"Yes I have…Hawke." Durga still could not get used to that name, but it was better coming from Aveline who shifted her sword around. "It's going to be a little bit of a wait since they just baked the bread and started on the sausages. Well, that and being part of the guard can only make them work faster."
"At least the cook acknowledges you this time. Last time I spoke to him he purposely gave away our orders to the people behind us. I almost felt sorry that Lady made him respect me."
The wafting smell of eggs and meat filled the air as customers started lining up to the window. Aveline and Durga sat on some benches, in full view from the café kitchen as Lady slept between them. Aveline has been a great ear for Durga, knowing that neither had a family to give them solace in their new home. So it became a daily ritual: to keep the other company with news, they bought breakfast when they could afford it. The chef brought out two wax-wrapped sandwiches on the counter, signaling Aveline they were ready and paid. Grabbing the sandwiches, they ventured towards a secluded corner on the stairwell to the keep. Aveline ate her meal chewing to make the flavor last, while Durga picked at hers, feeding bits of the meat to Lady.
"Did you know your next fight was attracting a lot of attention lately?" Aveline looked at Durga out the corner of her eye.
"This based on the fact that big money is being placed for either side, or are you worried I'm getting anxious over it?" Lady scarfs down half the sandwich earning a tut from Durga.
"Mostly the money portion for the bets, on bothsides, for the outcome has me worried. Hawke, do you know what your chances are should you win?"
"Currently last I checked its 5:1 since they're all racist bigots on Fereldans. Why?" She eyed Aveline with curiosity.
"Well, I checked some of my sources and they are saying its being risen to 20:1 on both sides."
Durga was glad that Lady ate her meal because she could swear she choked on empty air. "Andraste's tits, someone is bound to make a lot of money off this fight."
"Athenril being that 'someone', since she is half in charge of the publicity workings and holding the fight. But it isn't just the giant pot that has me worried." Aveline scooted over closer to Durga in hushed tones. "It seems she's planning a big surprise for certain betting parties involved. I couldn't get more but it all lies heavily on the fact should you win or lose the match."
"So you think it could be a forced retirement of sorts and she'll sell me to the highest bidder?"
Aveline scowled at the awful remark. "Hawke, you shouldn't joke about that. She's in some shady business that goes under the radar, but I fear she has some big backers who want their piece of the pie."
"Aveline, I'm not dumb. I know there are some things she's doesn't tell me, but it comes with the territory of her job. I mean, just because she's working in smuggling."
"It's that smuggling business that has me so worried. As someone who was trained to be a solid commander, there are certain things that come across a battlefield that I have to spot out to ensure my men are not in danger. You are my concern, as my only friend in this city, and I plan to make sure you are safe." Aveline rubbed her neck from a cramp. "It's a gut feeling that has bad news written all over it."
Durga looked at Aveline, noting the concern in her eyes. It reminded her of a certain someone who begged her mother to reconsider a meeting that went wrong. Suddenly, she felt somber at the reverie knowing it was best to do this now.
"Aveline, you are going above and beyond as a true friend, helping me. There's something I should tell you before you go any further." Reaching over to her hand, Durga quickly healed the cramp as she finally let someone else know about her.
They sat on the stairs, Aveline listening intently, as Lady laid her head in her lap. It would be a lot to take in, but Durga felt at ease unloading her burden retelling her home, her family, the death of her mother, the disaster wedding, the separation at Ostagar and the flight from Lothering. It felt good to get it off her chest.
"So, that's all there is to me." Durga sat hunched over her knees.
Aveline stayed quiet through the ordeal looking out into the crowd that doubled as shops were hauling their wares. Standing up she dusted off her hands before setting her gloves back on.
"Frankly, Hawke, your secret is better safe with me. If anything, I could have written you off as a loon and spent a night in the brig. However, you and I are the only ones who look out for each other."
"Aveline. You big, old softy." Durga shot up gripping Aveline into a bear hug, ignoring the guard woman's hidden smile. "I'll see you tomorrow with the usual?"
"No need, we can choose something else since I'm sure the chef will spit in it next time. Take care now Hawke."
"You too, Avy." Aveline chuckled at the nickname before taking off for her shift.
This left Durga and Lady to rest abit before heading back to train for the day. With a spring in her step, nothing felt out of place to bring her down. Passing by a pillar, a nonchalant man was watching her with a vicious smile appearing on his face. Walking away from the two, he went the opposite way to Lowtown whistling a tune.
"Alright, so that leaves the Coterie taking care of security, with one of ours in charge and Marco prepping the Blue Lagoon for the festivities." Athenril looked around her table as her men nodded. "Play this right, boys, and we'll be swimming in gold to last a year for each of us."
They dispersed on command, going about their jobs setting up the event. They all had a month to make this fight look and feel good so that no one would tip off the guard. These unsanctioned fights were illegal in Kirkwall according to the Viscount, but a few major players wanted this to go down as an excuse to relax for once, something that had a certain elf just as antsy over the thought should this event go without a hitch in plans. A event this big would be used under the protection of the Coterie where nothing bad would happen to the 'merchandise' even should a major war break out.
Athenril did not like it one way or the other, but she knew her gut was right about hiring that Hawke woman. Granted she could have her work off the debt working some jobs around Kirkwall, but there was not much in the girl's skills outside of being extra muscle and an easy profit that required stealth. Judging by the way she fought, Hawke had some easy footing in her step to dodge a blow. Moreover, all the hero worship from the regulars and refugees made a niggling idea pop into her head that made this party possible.
She sat down at her desk feeling very happy for all this progress. Now it was just making sure everything ran smoothly until the big fight.
A knock on her office door was followed with a rough looking Elven man holding a letter. "Hey Boss, parcel for ya."
"Who was the runner?" Athenril did not get her job just opening random mail.
"Rigby. Seems he's got something tasty to share." He showed her the seal Rgiby used whenever he contacted her.
Grabbing the letter and peeling off the seal, Athenril read over the contents with a passive gaze. Rereading it again made a sinister smile creep onto her face as the contents of the message were like a personal wish come true. Setting the letter down, she pulled out some blank parchment and wrote on it hastily, yet eligible to anyone who can read it.
"Take this," She trusted it into the lackey's hand. "To Tomwise in Darktown. He will know what to do and wont ask questions. Then you are to head to the apartment and only show Marco, Briley and Bato. Afterwards, burn the letter and report back."
The man nodded his head before setting out to run on his orders. Athenril sat back in her chair, mulling over her head the content of the paper and the news on it. If anything, this made a contingency plan four years down the line all the more appetizing to happen in a month.
A/N: And hello again! First off I will apologize for the long update, but classes really took a lot out of me, so it will be weird to get back into a writing schedule. Other than that prepare for a loooong WIP for this story...*shudders* Still I am sure glad(bowing in praise) to my beta Arista for cracking the whip on me.