The night air was especially rancid in Darktown due to the summer heat wave earlier that day. The tunnels were filled to the brim with refugees and the poor getting out of the sun just to rest underground. Sadly, the sewer systems made that impossible since not only would the poor masses get sick from whatever was flushed down hourly, but they were also clumped together in one spot which made the situation far worse. Furthermore, the slavers were also out for extra profit.
Meeran held his scarf closer around his nose to stifle the smell, trying to keep his face covered. He was already on edge waiting by one of the smuggler entrances for his men. The sight of him waiting on his men was one that none in the company would ever like to see on a mission. This was mostly due to the fact that no one was supposed to fuck up when Meeran was around, since he kept a strict disciplinary reprimand.
The sound of boots bounced off the stonewalls as they walked closer. The shadowy figures of the questioning group came into view as Meeran spotted out two of his most trusted men. Being carried between them was the important "parcel", whose feet dangled along as they walked. Varric was up front with a tired look on his face as he walked into the light. He seemed haggard for a man who was more jovial in his natural state.
Then again, with the absence of Bianca at his back Varric was left more out of his element than he cared to admit. "We're here on time and not fashionably late per your requests. Can I have my pay now?"
Meeran walked over to a crate that held a ochre case, lined with brass clasps. He flicked them open with care and he pulled out a large item wrapped in lavender silk. "I took care of it." Varric coughed in disagreement. "Her, per your requests in this job. How's the girl? Is she unharmed?"
One of the men rewrapped the sheets around the feet, making sure she was covered as Varric looked over his Bianca. "Aside from the few bruises from the most fantastic fight I happen to have missed and the details of all the illegal actions on the scene? Yes, she's the perfect picture of health. Unless you're talking about sleeping beauty here and not the other lady with us."
Meeran raised an eyebrow at the implication of Varric's words until the shadows moved behind them. Moving his sword out from instinct, he laid his eyes on the biggest dog he had ever seen inside Kirkwall. He almost swore the dog was more wolf from the dried blood on its muzzle.
"Have no worries my friend, she's on our side after ripping out a few throats as we ran." Meeran looked from Varric to the monstrous dog as it sniffed and nuzzled at the clothed woman. "Plus, I get the feeling she won't turn on us since we just saved her owner. Mabari dogs tend to be like that."
"Good then." Meeran lowered his weapon. "Since we could use the extra muscle, it will be a short trip to the camp. After that I'll contact you and our employer on the outcome."
The men picked up their feet, walking down the corridor running deeper into Darktown and out of Kirkwall. Their prize was safe and out of danger from prying eyes and scoundrels, but time would be a major factor for how long this would take to go wrong.
One thing that settled badly about this particular job and its qualities was how this nameless girl would be of any use to the Red Irons. His employer seemed to think she was pretty important, since information had been leaked about her mage status. This, Meeran thought as he stabbed a spider, was only a redeeming quality about their hostage, as she would come in handy should they ever need to heal a decent wound. Unless they were an abomination. Then he had full permission to let heads roll.
That alone would ease the thoughts of adding Athenril to his list of enemies who wanted to shove a spiky phallic up his arse. It wasn't like Meeran to care what the knife eared bitch did with her business, but he did vastly respect how she held her own with competition coming from the Coterie and Carta. No, this little mission of his was sure to crumble rising hopes she had at being a big contender and send her back to small fry status. That fact alone would piss anyone off to swear vengeance and kill even the Divine.
The tiled floors gave way to rocky pebbles with the sound of the ocean hitting the sand. Meeran rolled down his scarf to smell that salty, yet albeit cleaner air, as the sky was still littered with stars. The smell of campfire drifted upwind with a soft glow off towards the cliff as his camp was set up. The group was preparing for a merchant's job traveling near the border of Wildervale after a increase of bandits from the blight. Again, the pay would be well and the time spent on it would be enough to get their newest parcel acquainted with their place.
Varric was following the men who carried the sleeping beauty into a tent where a scarred bear of a swordsman was taking up guard. From inside stepped out weary-looking man with messy hair, the group's healer, who hurried them inside. Varric knew it was best to not leave an unconscious woman alone with a camp filled with men who hadn't seen a woman in who knew how long, but he wasn't so callous as to leave her to this fate when he had just saved her from whatever Athenril was planning. Then again, the sight of the giant wolf like dog following put him at ease.
"If you're worried about her purity I can assure you my men won't stoop as low as that for fear of losing more than a few whiskers." Meeran had appeared next to Varric, rolling his shoulders from a few kinks.
"From what I heard, they had a few fun moments with a couple of Fereldan refugees who pay them in other services for protecting them out of Kirkwall." Varric said, noticing out the corner of his eye the cold uncaring stare in Meeran's eyes. "I mean, a man has his needs when a mother or a couple of sisters are thankful that they can earn their way out to the nearest town that will take them."
"That's because they knew what was between their legs would be of more value than some wood carving of a dog they kept in the family. 'Side, this one has proper protection from any sort of harm with us."
"Are you sure? I mean, not that I don't trust your men to back me up over the Carta, I'm just saying this is a big sausage party you're working with."
Meeran snorted up some phlegm in his throat before spitting it out to the side, walking off to his tent. "I know how to keep my men in line and they know not to cross a line when it's been drawn. I run my men with good reason and they know who to take orders from. I know when certain disciplinary action is to be given. That's the reason why I was put in charge of this, and now I am handing the reins over to someone else I trust for the training."
Varric swore his ears perked up like a Dalish elf's. "I'm sorry, I swore I heard something unbelievable stupid in my ears. Would you mind repeating that?"
"You know damn well what I said Dwarf, or is that shortness making you deaf?" Meeran stopped in front of his tent, glaring at Varric who was stomping over to him.
"Now listen here, Mayor Mcbaldspot. I told Leandra we would do this in a more subtler way that help Athenril's boys from catching wind of this and the tin cans across the lake from sniffing here. You may be able to fight them with the sword in your hand, but there is a reason me and Bianca do the talking and planning - it's to ensure no one gets screwed." Varric was playing it cool with all this back talk but he was keeping his peripherals in check for any lingering hands shifting towards weapons and the nearest escape route.
Meeran, on the other hand, was containing his anger and putting up the front that commanded his men to not piss out of line. "Well, we aren't playing with some dainty merchants who want to chatter over a proper trade route for profit or those Merchant guild meetings you run away from. We are doing things my way to ensure this goes down well." The air was getting thick with tension as both men stared down at each other. "Go report back while I attend to our little matter. Before I lost patience Varric."
Varric shook his head as he patted Bianca's holster out of necessity as he muttered. "Well if it was someone as precious as Bianca, I make sure to hire 10 of those damn dogs to watch her."
Varric ventured out of camp, planning to put his anger to use on any suspecting spiders or idiots who plan to take him on. Meeran, on the other hand, was building up a monster headache that not even a flask of the Antivan brandy he carried could ease away. Shit like this was bound to happen sooner or later, but he never did like squabble with Varric over little matters.
Shaking his head of the throbbing and settling back to the task at hand, Meeran strolled over to the tent that contained the sleeping beauty, who was being tended for her wounds. The grizzled swordsman nodded at Meeran out of respect before letting him past to take up guard again. Inside the messy-haired man had his hands glowing over her, tending to the bruises that were slowly vanishing.
Meeran walked over to a corner, sitting down to observe and get any reports on her health. With any luck, he would be able to sleep for five hours today.
The life of an Apostate was one that some people wouldn't want to be, unless they had a few key characteristics. One, they looked at the idea of a sheltered life that was for their own safety as demeaning choice. Two, they wanted a family and were willing to risk the lifestyle of venturing outside like a wandering Dalish clan, whenever the random Templar came mucking about doing his or her job. And finally, they had to give up a thorough education with access to unlimited spells in the exchange at being a Templar's plaything, whether they passed their Harrowing or not.
For one fleeting moment it almost made sense if you were the type of person inclined to spit on normality.
Owen, sadly, wasn't one for such ideals since the idea of freedom was still new to him. As new as a vintage twenty year wine in fact, but it wasn't without its perks. He leaned in his cot, overlooking the girl with apt curiosity, gauging her magic. He noticed she was quite nice-looking wrapped in the sheets, not questioning the bruises, but was a little put off by the muscles.
He could tell the woman had no proper training in her magic as she was keeping her magic barely held in her sleep. Thankfully she was only emitting the small blue and green sparks of healing magic so there was no worry over a sudden fire erupting. Still, Owen was skeptical about this whole ordeal about helping her when her mabari was doing a better job staying at her side.
A rustle of leather caught his attention as the swordsman on guard entered the tent. He stared at Owen with questions brewing in his eyes before settling them on the woman. He seemed almost stone-faced before sitting next to her.
"I take it you are going to train her as a helping hand?" His voice was rather mellow sounding for such a big man. "I ask since she hasn't turned into an abomination from all that magebane in her system. You think she would have vomited it up by now instead of healing off the effects."
"Oh, don't worry about her Douglas. I'm sure you would have used a Smite and beheaded her in thirty seconds flat, like that one fellow awhile back." Owen chuckled darkly at the memory. "Besides, she seems to be a natural at the healing part, despite the look of her attire."
Douglas ignored his companion and his musings. It wasn't that he didn't like the fellow, but since this was his job he took it seriously and wanted to make sure the man didn't toe the line about their work. Looking back at the woman, Douglas took note of her sleeping face and how peaceful it looked.
"Will you ask her then?" He looked at her chest rising with each breath.
"Tomorrow, since Meeran gave us full control to work with her and protect her." Owen walked up over to Douglas, sitting down and settling himself between his legs. "She'll be given a year's contract so we best train her hard."
Douglas' staring became slowly hard as his gaze wandered up from her chest and to her lips. "A year of learning, practicing and protection from us? I bet you're going to ask our little protégé for a raise then?"
"Douglas, if you hadn't destroyed my phylactery, I would say you know me so well."
A/N: I will ry my best to update this twice a week since Im getting back into the swing of things. The usual reuqests for reviews, nothing is too harsh, and thanks to my lovely beta Arista who deserves praise for helping me edit this.