A/N: I'm really not sure where this is going, not to mention that I'm working on some arishok smut (don't judge me!) That said, I hope everyone who's still reading likes it!

Chapter 5:

Tevinter Mages and their Slaves.

Sten

The battle had been unrelenting, but it seemed that we had indeed won back the land that had been taken over by the mages in the recent months. The aad trained by the kadan were the only ones left standing when the Tevinter mages retreated—having exhausted their supply of lyrium and blood; and so it appeared that her methods had improved their chances of survival. Their behavior in battle was… unconventional, far too spread out to be of much use in defense. But they excelled in their attacks.

Even in the depths of the night I found vestiges of her presence everywhere I looked, my eyes mistakenly sought out her form on the battlefield. It was most distracting. Yet, the frontlines had to be held, these basra cannot be allowed to pass. We had not anticipated the following attacks, the traps that had been planted just beyond the trees that had marked the safety of the forest, where our camps had lain. We were surrounded.

Kiera

The tamassrans had provided maps, behaving even more coolly than before, their demeanor was obvious, more exasperated than I had ever seen the qunari. Apparently I was deemed an unchangeable force, the stubbornest of persons that they had ever tolerated within the confines of the camp. My role was contradictory, my very gender an insult to theirs, my actions a stain on the Qun. I hurried, the hostility that was now so obvious, speeding my steps.

I tried to sense my way once I entered the forest, map useless now that there were few landmarks around other than the occasional rock face. The taint was definitely here somewhere, not very close, but something else was in the way, something that contained a lot of magic and lyrium.

It also didn't take long for the Tevinter mages to find me; my stealth wasn't remarkable due to the heavy Warden armor I wore.

I narrowly dodged the path of a large fireball, the magic pricking my senses before any other indicator. I knew where they were, but they had no clue what I was, their surprise most evident in the angry swearing from the thick bushes. The wardings I had put up around me when I'd discovered their presence caught an eerie blue, the flames engulfing the inscribed robes they had insisted on wearing even on a dense, grassy battlefield.

These they had not expected, so their initial panic was understandable, but they were able to put these out with the slightest of gestures. I was going to have to fake ignorance, or at the very least, throw these people off the trail I had used to get past the border patrols. Their first questions to me were no doubt going to concern the location of the qunari compounds. I held up the map in one hand, smiling sweetly before burning that too.

The ashes fell to the ground as the mages grew all the more furious. And yet one of them addressed me, pulling back his hood as he approached, holding out his hands. He had dark hair and a well-groomed goatee, but could not hide those deadened eyes— there was nothing good in them.

"You are not a qunari. They would not carry maps."

I pointed to the emblem on my chestplate, smile hidden under the heavy helm. "I figured that the griffins made it rather obvious, anyhow."

"A Grey Warden? How… odd in a place like this."

"Thing about Wardens, we always pop out near an entrance that leads underground. Some might call us gophers. I like to think that we're professional spelunkers."

"You're here to investigate this… entrance?"

"Yes."

"My name is Romulus, and I extend my services to be your guide."

"Oh no, it's fine, I shall find my way on my own."

"But we insist." The mages had closed ranks around me, and there was no way to do this without conflict. The trees soon gave way to a most barren patch of land, the stumps of the vegetation torn and burned, destruction indicated in the natural landscape.

"Are you not going to offer your name—Grey Warden?"

"Oh… right. Just Warden will do fine." There was silence as he pondered this slight I had made to his pride.

"You are being very… uncooperative."

"Really." I wanted to be free of these… keepers. Something was not right.

"But you are not qunari. It stands that you must share a… very special relationship with them then."

"Does it matter? I am only here for the entrance that leads underground. Wardens cannot interfere in political conflicts."

"So you say, but your presence on the island must have been housed by these barbarians."

"But I do not render undue assistance to either side."

"So it makes you a free agent then." I didn't like that upward inflexion of those last words, the man's thoughts were quick and suspicious. "You know, we came across some qunari who didn't fight like any we've met."

"Oh?" I hoped my voice didn't give anything away.

"Each of them possessed an independent mind in battle, most… interesting to say the least."

I remained mute; these mages were too clever for their own good.

"So we caught the whole lot of them, and they will be experimented upon before we try to… ah reeducate them as slaves. We've never had the opportunity to come across such unique specimens as these. Their versatility shows that they can be retrained, perhaps as valuable assistants to the Imperium. It will be an exciting endeavor."

"Fascinating." I sincerely hoped that I hadn't doomed the karashoks with my training.

"You might even be given your pick of them, once we're done. As our gift to you."

"Oh it's… fine. What am I going to do with them anyway?"

"Anything you want. It'll be most thrilling to tame one of these beasts to your liking, you'll enjoy it, trust me."

I tried not to shudder, but the urge to kill something was itching something bad. Tevinters and their slaves.

"So silent, dear Warden?"

"I've never been one for idle conversation."

"Well perhaps you'll be attracted to the idea of owning a strapping giant who will cater to your every desire?"

"Are you trying to convert me? Let me save you the time. Not interested."

"But you do know that Tevinter mages do have more… options. If you get my meaning."

"Blood magic?"

"Just so. Nothing like the bastardized versons you see in the rest of Thedas; you'll be able to control power that you've never had before. Just think, whole legions of darkspawn will fall before your Order— with you at their lead."

I was getting tired of this pointless rambling. We were definitely getting closer to the source of this taint that I sensed, but not much; it was further east.

"Are we reaching this place soon?"

"Wouldn't you be able to sense it, Warden?" He had placed some emphasis on that word, almost sarcastically. It was going wrong.

I felt the tug of lyrium, a most dangerous aura of magic emanating from the camp that lay ahead. I also heard some sick thuds, loud wet sounds that created some disturbing images. The large gates were massive structures, solid rock constructs that would withstand numerous sieges. Leaving this place would be tough.

I tried to gather as much strength as I could muster, before my nice escorts could notice. I definitely did not expect a most powerful smite to come crushing down on my skull, draining me unconscious, my helm clattering to the floor.

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