Chapter 11:

And we have Consquences.

Sten

Even the karashok were looking over their shoulders at the window of her quarters from their corner of the yard—the kadan had not been seen all week. We were isolated from the rest of the antaam, for the good of all, quarantined until further notice. Standing around in the as the shadows stretched, even sparring did not help with their spirits, and the karashok retired for the evening, their steps trudging, but without complaint. Above all else, we obeyed the Qun.

But such listlessness did not become the qunari. Something was eating away at me, and purposelessness took its place.

I needed to see my kadan, my worry for her growing in the darkened surroundings. And yet— she wasn't in her quarters.

Kiera

I had been summoned to stand in front of the kithshoks, suspicions were nigh that I had led the qunari astray with my training— which included that pitstop with the Tevinter slavers while I was off gallivanting in the jungle.

I couldn't blame them—the karashoks had been perfectly honest in their accounts; the slavers had been attracted to the skills which I had taught them, and their difference meant that they could no longer blend with any other unit. I couldn't deny that my actions were a little thoughtless.

"Yes, I agree that it was partially my fault."

Yet, what amused me was that none of the kithshok could come right out and label my teaching as a bad influence—possibly because it had been a direct order from the arishok, and to challenge it meant that the Qun was fragmented within itself. It would simply not do to fall apart while a bas like me witnessed, and I knew that they would want nothing more than for me to leave.

"I will leave as soon as the repairs on my armor are done." I itched, feeling the weight of all those stern gazes, the three imposing males as well as the numerous guards they had just standing around made me nervous.

"There is but one more matter." A low voice spoke from behind me, and a chill sparked along my spine. The head tammasran was here—and she terrified me, her demeanor always disapproving, her eyes always grim and judging, the white of her horns (she was a kossith) glinting off the light from the torches that lit her way into the room.

"Your relationship with the Sten. That has to be discussed."

"And yet—I don't feel that all of this," I gestured around me at the surrounding men, careful to keep the betraying waver in my voice to a minimum, "resembles anything like a discussion?"

"Are you feeling—threatened—Warden?" She took her place next to the kithshoks, although on a lower platform than theirs, watching me evenly. I felt trapped—this was like Wynne's nagging all over again. I kept my tongue to myself, silence was best at times like this.

"Do not think that we haven't noticed—your unconventional… discourse with the Sten." Of course, the women were feeling territorial. I felt the side of my mouth twitch, and I struggled inwardly, trying to appear passive, although the urge to laugh was suddenly overwhelming.

"What's so unusual about caring for one another? We were comrades during the Blight."

I knew that Sten and I shared something that none would understand, and his recent…confession from last night still hung heavy in my mind, but there was no reason for the tammasrans to know this.

They had no right to do so.

"Comrades you say? Now that is new." The glint in her eye was astoundingly menacing.

I swallowed a rising anger, reminding myself that diplomacy was key. "Must we do this in front of the leaders of the antaam?"

"Your corruption of a single soldier will bear heavily upon the rest. It is important that they know the dangers of inserting themselves with one such as yourself. Is that all you wish to say?"

"I have nothing further to defend myself words from that do not mean a thing to me."

"Is that wise? Not clarifying your motivations?" The woman paced, her age and authority apparently held sway in this court. She was certainly trying to get me to admit to something.

"It is pointless to discuss this now." Another voice rumbled through the hall, and sparked all the other qunari to attention. The arishok had returned, and he did not look happy to return to such a welcome.

"Have you done what I have asked of you, Warden?"

"There has been a setback, but I'll get right on it as soon as my armor has been mended."

"And why is your armor…defective?"

Again, one could almost imagine a smile in the arishok's sardonic words. Almost. But there was no way he would display such frivolity with the tammasran here.

"Tevinter slavers. It's a long story, and I'm sure that the accounts the kithshoks have already heard will be accurate enough."

"And yet, I asked you." The arishok turned to the others (his presence was particularly commanding), and the two words that came next were quite dismissive.

"Leave us."

The kithshoks filed out and the guards followed.

Only the tammasran was left, and she too trailed the procession of those leaving, but not without uttering a final sentence, an ominous warning.

"The tamassrans will need speak to you again soon, Warden."

"And I will do my best to come back in one piece for that momentous event."

Now it was just me and the arishok left in behind that great stone hall.

"Begin, Warden."

xOxOx

Sten

The kadan's absence continually pricked at me, the feeling wrapping itself in my chest constricted further, becoming a stab of cold that would not ease itself. It was akin to when I awoke to find my blade gone, my soul, missing.

To lose that— my Asala, my fury had been great— it had been my one link to my people in a strange land.

But to lose the kadan, however, removed more than one could have thought possible, and a gaping void that was almost a wound, was left in its place. But there was nothing I could do, but wait. She could be returning soon.

xOxOx

She appeared, shortly before dawn, kneading her temples as she entered the room.

"Sten?" She seemed hesitant, her eyes narrowed and darting around the room, more than a little stunned at my being there.

"Where have you been?" I gripped her shoulders briefly, unable to help my concern.

The kadan merely sighed before pulling away. "Don't ask."

"At least you are back. You have been gone for some time." The whole night and more, it seemed.

Her words were almost a mutter. "Yes. At least I'm here now."

"Where is your armor?" It was something very dear to her, and would very unlikely be missed by the kadan.

"Sent for minor repairs. I was told to expect it by midday tomorrow—I mean, today."

She glanced back at me, before turning away, undoing the leather strip that held up her long shimmering hair, shaking the sheet loose with a small hiss of relief. She seemed to expect me gone.

"You're… just going to stay here? Don't the qunari have this thing about separation of the sexes?"

"We— have not seen you all week."

"We?" The kadan's voice was strangely constricted, her manner purposefully vague. "You and the karashoks have no reason to worry. I can take care of myself."

I turned and left. "As you wish." Women.

P.S.: Hope you liked it! Thanks for reading!