Hey guys sorry for the long wait.
Life's been crazy and I all do is either school or work.
A lot of events take place in this chapter and there's a lot of dialogue so a heads up.
Night
Planasene Forest
Between Kirkwall and Cumberland
"Where the hell is the Dwarf?" a Hitman asked another.
These two were camped atop a tree lying in wait for their target to arrive.
Another five Hitmen were also hidden around the forest waiting for their target. They had chosen to hide and surround the road path that cut through the forest knowing their target would take this route.
The Hitmen had been waiting for hours but there was still no sign of their target and the night was growing cold.
The coin had better be worth this! Half now and half later bah I want more. I'm freezing here a Hitman thought as he put down his bow to rub his hands together for warmth.
"Wait… did you hear that?" the other Hitman said drawing his bow and looking around at the forest from his vantage spot up in the trees.
"What?"
"Movement… I think some of the guys down below are gonna check it out" one Hitman told the other as they waited in their tree.
The night sky left them covered in a blanket of darkness and as one of the Hitmen down below wandered around his spear raised a bolt exploded through his eye.
The Hitman below crumpled to the floor dead as the two in the trees both drew their bows looking frantically for something… anything.
Back down below the other four Hitmen emerged from their hiding places Shields raised as they began to patrol the area. Another bolt flew through the air impaling itself into the throat of one of the Hitmen as he turning his Shield covering his front but not his back.
"Where are they!" one of the Hitmen below shouted frantically as he kept his Shield raised and turned again and again in fear.
"I can't see anything" one of the Hitmen in the trees whispered to his partner.
Two of the Hitmen below were standing back to back their Shields raised as they slowly patrolled the area but a bolt stuck the ground between them.
"Huh?" one of the Hitmen said confused looking down just as the bolt exploded killing him and the other Hitman whom was covering his back.
"He's on the move. He has to be" one of the Hitmen up in the trees whispered cursing himself for taking this job.
The last of the Hitmen down below panicked and tried to run for it but a bolt burst through his heel and the man fell with a yell of pain. Before the man could get up another bolt arched through the air landing in his leg and pinning him to the ground.
Where! the two Hitmen in the trees thought as they frantically searched the area below for their target all while their pinned comrade lay screaming in pain.
Is that… movement one of the Hitmen in the trees thought as he notched an arrow and finally saw it… a short shadowy figure hiding beside a tree.
The Hitman aimed but was too slow as a bolt tore through the air and collided with his bow breaking through it as it hit its mark.
The Hitman stumbled as the bolt impaled itself inside of his chest… his partner tried to jump for it but the bolt exploded taking both of them out.
"Never shot a bolt through a bow before. Gonna make a good Tale" Varric said as he moved from his hiding spot and knelt beside the last Hitman still living.
The last Hitman looked up at Varric from where he lay still pinned by Varric's bolt in his leg.
"You… you can have the coin. Take it all just let me go" the Hitman pleaded as Varric hovered over the man looking bored.
"Not even a round of applause?" Varric asked.
"What?" the pinned Hitman stammered.
"You know how long it took to spot all of you and set up my attack? I was crawling through the bushes for an hour before I started. Had to keep moving but I still got all of you. Got mud all over my boots" Varric said smugly as he sheathed his crossbow Bianca.
"Please just let me go" the pinned Hitman pleaded.
"Hmm first you need to talk. So who set you after me? Any other targets? Tell me everything you know and I might let you go" Varric said shrugging.
Kirkwall
The Viscount's Keep
"This is an unusual situation Mr. Hawke" Viscount Dumar said.
Garrett and the Viscount were sitting in the office that once would have held the Guard Captain and outside several Guardsmen were waiting anxiously.
"Not all of the smugglers sided with Tolan" Garrett said.
"Be that as it may they were part of his group. The two of you ran the smugglers after the previous leader was killed" Viscount Dumar said.
"You convinced half of the smugglers to stand down and I respect that. Even the City Guards could not have done that" Viscount Dumar said.
"But?" Garrett asked eyebrows arched.
"But that doesn't change with they are and what they may or may not have done when they were working with this… Tolan" Viscount Dumar said after a short pause.
"The smugglers helped you against the Coterie" Garrett pointed out.
"True. We do live in strange times." Dumar said speaking more to himself than Garrett.
"I may not like it but I'll let them go after they have been questioned." Viscount Dumar said.
After everything that's happened. I can't blame him for that… but the smugglers won't like it. They'll be profiled Garrett thought.
"I don't think that's a good idea. Let Hermes and me question them" Garrett said thinking things over.
"And why should I do that?" Viscount Dumar asked crossly.
"The smugglers don't like being here. If the City Guard try to question them they'll resist. I persuaded them to stand down but they'll riot if they think they're going to be questioned and or detained" Garrett said making his case.
The Viscount looked at Garrett crossly.
"You allowed me to work as an intermediary between the smugglers and the City Guard once why not again?" Garrett said calmly.
Remain calm and never lose your cool. Thank you for the lesson mother and I pray to the Maker to keep you safe Garrett thought.
"Very well we've had enough problems we don't need to add more" Viscount Dumar said somewhat reluctantly.
"However I will be holding you responsible for them. If they take arms against the City Guard you will face the consequences with them" Viscount Dumar said sternly.
"I understand. They'll stay out of this. Tolan is the real threat" Garrett said at last.
Viscount Dumar stood up saying "it seems more and more that you've built yourself quite the place in my city, Hawke."
Garrett stayed silent at that.
"You have work to do and we need to speak with Qerth" Viscount Dumar said as they left the Guard Captain's office finding a crowd of Guardsmen listening outside.
Garrett blinked seeing just how many Guardsmen nodded respectfully at him, they had not forgotten how he had saved Aveline and Donnic.
"We need to speak with Qerth. Where is he?" Viscount Dumar asked looking towards his City Guards gathered around.
"He's been placed in a cell inside the Barracks prison" Arys said appearing in his blue uniform as he pushed through the crowd of Guardsmen.
"He's a disgrace just like Ewald. Execute him." a Guardsmen said angrily.
Before more Guardsmen could chime in cursing the man who had betrayed them Viscount Dumar held up a hand.
"I will decide his fate AFTER I have spoken to him" Viscount Dumar said calmly as he met the eyes of the Guardsmen whom had spoken.
"I… yes sir" the Guardsmen said.
Garret stood awed as the Guardsmen stayed quiet and moved out of their way for Arys to escort them out.
"Hawke you may wait in the-" Arys began after just as they had entered the Barracks prison but Viscount Dumar stopped him.
"Hawke comes too" Viscount Dumar interrupted.
Garrett raised an eyebrow as Arys grimaced but none the less brought them to the former Senior Officer Qerth before taking his leave.
Together Garrett and Viscount Dumar stood looking into Qerth's cell.
Qerth had been given a bigger cell than was usual. It was bigger than the cell that Ignacio had been placed in. Large enough for Qerth to stretch out his arms but not by much and he could sit down with relative easy.
The former Senior Officer was slumped against the wall when they found him and he was a broken man. His face was that of a man who had accepted his death long before his 'visitors' had arrived.
"Have you come to execute me?" Qerth asked getting to his feet.
"No" Viscount Dumar answered.
Showing neither relief nor surprise Qerth shrugged saying "then what I can do for you Viscount?"
"Mr. Hawke here tells me that you conspired against the City Guard" Viscount Dumar said gesturing to Garrett beside him.
"You already know that. Why did you come down here" Qerth said in a hollow empty voice.
"I wanted to see if you would deny it. I wanted to know if I could trust any information you'd give us and I believe I can" Viscount Dumar said taking the measure of Qerth.
"He was blackmailed" Garrett said.
Viscount Dumar nodded before saying "and just how long have you been under this Tolan's influence?"
"It started a few days after the Coterie fell." Qerth said somberly.
Tolan had this all planned out from the start. The Coterie take down and its aftermath. All he needed was me and I played right into his hands Garrett thought in disbelief.
"A few days" Viscount Dumar echoed in a low voice.
"Why didn't you ask for help?" Garrett said frowning.
"That man, Tolan you said his name was. He isn't like the other criminals. He was prepared and he made his move when he had everything in place" Qerth began.
"Tolan knew where I lived but more importantly he knew where my daughter lived" Qerth said not meeting their eyes.
Garrett crossed his arms not liking the sound of this.
"The two of you didn't live together?" Garrett asked.
Qerth shook his head saying "no. She lived with her mother and her mother hates me but that's a long story that doesn't matter anymore."
"When my daughter disappeared he found me. He explained that if I tried anything I would never see her again" Qerth said.
At first I tried to work against him quietly. I asked one of my contacts to look around and see if he could find some answers. Maybe a location." Qerth said.
"But?" Garrett asked slowly.
"My contact turned up dead the next day. Then a letter was waiting for me at my home. It said if I tried anything again he'd send me one of her fingers in a box" Qerth said letting the words flow out as if he was another person.
Maker Garrett thought darkly.
"Is there anything else you can tell us?" Viscount Dumar said finally.
"About this man Tolan? No. Hawke knows more about him than anyone else" Qerth said almost bitterly.
"I've faced him before" Garrett said.
Qerth turned to face the Viscount and slowly asked "have you news of my daughter?"
Garrett turned to watch the Viscount as the man subtly changed becoming stony without a hint of emotion betraying his face.
"I'm sorry to say her body was found outside a hut in Lowtown. Her throat had been cut open" Viscount Dumar said finally.
Qerth didn't say a word but slowly shrank away into the dark corner of his cell and slumped back onto the wall a broken man.
"Don't execute him" Garrett pleaded as the Viscount bowed his head and made to leave.
"I won't. But he must still to be punished." Viscount Dumar said with his back to both Garrett and Qerth in his cell.
"Do what you need to do Sir" Qerth called suddenly.
Viscount Dumar turned his head to glace at Qerth through the bars of his cell.
"You'll be sent to prison but under I lighter sentence. That's all I can do" Viscount Dumar said.
Qerth nodded.
"And Hawke. Make him pay" Qerth said finally.
"I will" Garrett said after a moment.
There was nothing more to be said and so the Viscount and Garrett left.
Later
Many City Guards didn't like it but Hermes and the other smugglers were protected so long as they did not help Tolan or take arms against the City Guard. Garrett and his side of the smugglers had kept to the agreement.
Hermes and Garrett had questioned the smugglers away from the others as being so close to City Guards made them uneasy.
Overall it was a wise decision.
Now Garrett was standing in the courtyard with Hermes watching as the other smugglers left.
The smugglers knew to lay low and not do anything rash. They had listened to Garrett and though the City Guard reluctantly let them go they were free.
"Tolan will be after us" Hermes said once it was just the two of them.
"Right now Tolan has bigger things to worry about. The entire City Guard is after him and I'll bet he's fled to Darktown" Garrett said.
This all started the day Bethany was taken. If only I had been able to protect her. I should've seen it coming. But could the City Guard have taken down the Coterie without Tolan's plan? Garrett thought.
Somehow he didn't think so.
Tolan took the Coterie down for himself he doesn't care about the city Garrett mussed.
"See you around Hawke. For what it's worth thanks for saving us… when this is over and Tolan's dead or taken in we're going to need a leader" Hermes said.
Garrett gave Hermes a curious stare.
"It's all yours. I just want to protect my family" Garrett said finally.
Hermes laughed saying "the smugglers wouldn't follow me Hawke. They'd follow you. Whatever our reasons half of us already have."
Garrett took that in as Hermes left.
… No that's never been my path. I walked away from that life once and I only came back for Bethany Garrett thought.
Bethany… I hope you're okay Garrett thought remembering the letter that Sir Thrask had tried to bribe him with.
That doesn't matter right now. I need to move but first there's someone I gotta see Garrett thought determinately.
The Healer's Room
Normally a wounded City Guard would be taken to the city hospital just like a normal citizen of Kirkwall but these days were anything but normal.
Aveline had been taken to a private apartment away from the public eye and in secret. Three Guardsmen had been assigned to protect her and when Garrett first appeared they had been reluctantly to let him in.
"She's my friend" Garrett said firmly.
"Fine. Five minutes but no more" one of the Guardsmen said moving aside.
"Thank you" Garrett said as he opened the door and stepped inside the room finding it to be fairly basic but comfortable enough.
Anders had done his best to save Aveline and then dropped her off at the Viscount's Keep before taking off for fear that someone would call for the Templars.
All the City Guards knew was that a mysterious Healer had dropped off a severely wounded Senior Officer and that once Aveline was safe in their custody that the mysterious Healer had vanished without anyone getting a good look at his face.
Looking at Aveline now Garrett could see she was pale but that she was looking much better.
Aveline had been speaking to the City Healer that had been arranged for her when Garrett had come to visit.
"You'll be bedridden for at least a few days. Whoever helped you knew what they were doing but it was still a close call" the Healer was saying as he sat beside Aveline's bed before hearing Garrett open the door.
"I didn't realize you were allowed visitors. Sir please do not do anything to upset my patient or I'll ask the Guardsmen to escort you out" the Healer said getting to his feet.
"I understand" Garrett said as the Healer made to leave and give them some privacy.
Not knowing what to do Garrett simply stood there before Aveline as she lay in her bed with the sheets covering the bandages underneath.
"How are you?" Garrett asked worriedly.
"I'm fine. Things considered I'm lucky to be alive" Aveline said finally.
"I'm glad" Garrett said taking a seat beside her as the City Healer had done.
Aveline tried to sit up but cringed in pain and found Garrett's hand on her shoulder gently pushing her back into bed.
"You shouldn't strain yourself" Garrett said.
Aveline chuckled at that saying "you're one to talk."
"Remember all those times you gave Bethany a day off?" Aveline said laughing lightly.
"That's different" Garrett lightly.
"The other Guardsmen asked about my mysterious Healer. I told them I blacked out. Wherever Anders is he's safe" Aveline said.
Garrett breathed a sigh of relief.
"It all happened so fast… and I felt… I felt myself dying" Aveline said darkly.
Garrett didn't meet her eyes.
My fault. All my fault if only I had been faster Garrett thought.
"I've been hurt before. I was in a few early battles with the army at Ostagar but I'd never come that close to the end before" Aveline said somberly.
"Hey you can't go dying me yet" Garrett said.
Aveline raised an eyebrow at that.
"Roger that Hawke. I won't die unless under your permission" Aveline said showing a sense of humor that people rarely say.
It was her way of coping.
Garrett chuckled.
"You're the only one left who understands" Garrett said suddenly.
Aveline grew quiet and looked at Garrett curiously.
"Bethany's still in the Circle and my family is away. You're the only one left who knows what it's like to build a life for themselves. The only one left who stood with me in the wilds when we were escaping the Blight" Garrett said quietly.
"You know what's it like to lose people" Garrett said finally.
Aveline shifted uncomfortably as she said "Bethany's not gone… not really."
"I look at the Gallows every day. All my life I've tried to protect her but it didn't matter in the end. And now after all this and I'm no closer to helping her" Garrett said laughing even though it wasn't funny at all.
"Hawke you're horrible at cheering people up" Aveline said.
Garrett didn't take the joke bait.
"It's my fault you were attacked" Garrett said suddenly.
"That man, his name's Tolan. It's a long story but he betrayed me. He left me for dead a few days ago. He wants to run his own empire like the Coterie before him" Garrett said one of his hands clenching into a fist.
"Tolan needed me to take down the Coterie. If I hadn't been so desperate to free Bethany he wouldn't have come this far… none of this would have happened" Garrett said somberly.
"Hawke has anyone ever told you you're too hard on yourself?" Aveline said with such honesty.
You're not Andraste you can't save the whole world Bethany's words echoed in Garrett's mind.
"As a matter of fact yeah I've been told that" Garrett chuckled.
"I knew that something had gone wrong" Aveline said suddenly.
"Kane found me. He showed up out of the blue whimpering and scared" Aveline said.
Garrett looked up at Aveline smiling as he said "I was afraid I'd lost him. I hadn't seen Kane since I was betrayed."
"He's in my apartment" Aveline said.
Knock Knock
Glancing towards the door Garrett heard the Healer call out "wrap it up. One minute."
They really don't like visitors Garrett thought slightly annoyed.
"I'm gonna make things right Aveline. I'm going after Tolan but I gotta protect my family first" Garrett said.
Aveline gaze at him not needing to say what she was thinking.
You still plan on breaking Bethany out don't you?
Garrett nodded.
"Never a dull a moment for you" Aveline said finally.
Garrett got to his feet getting ready to leave.
Reaching over Garrett planted a kiss on her forehead saying "take care Aveline."
Having said his goodbye Garrett made to leave and just as he reached the door Aveline called out to him.
"Hawke."
Garrett glanced back at her only to find her at a lost for words.
"If Kane pees on anything you're paying for it" Aveline said at last.
"You got it" Garrett laughed before stepping outside and moving on.
Elsewhere
Somewhere deep into Darktown
Tolan and his half of the smugglers had taken up residence in the halls and tunnels that he himself had once used to hide from slavers.
Down here no one could find them without them hearing but regardless Tolan had had his people spread out.
The City Guard never sent patrols down here however due to recent events they would no doubt would start. Even still Darktown and the Undercity was a lot of ground to cover and the place was a maze there was no way the Guardsmen could cover all the exits.
Tolan had even managed to still move about Lowtown wearing a different disguise than he usually did.
"How much of our coin did you grab" Tolan asked Aidith and the four smugglers that stood before him in his makeshift office in Darktown.
"We grabbed as much as we could carry. But some City Guards beat us to three of the storage huts." Aidith answered.
Hawke. Maker damn him Tolan thought.
It was only natural that Garrett would know some of the locations the smugglers stored their coin as he had worked for Athenril for a year.
To add to that Garrett's half of the smugglers had most likely been questioned and informed the City Guard of the storage huts.
Originally a good idea. The coin spread out in different parts of the city instead of piled up in one location Tolan thought.
"Did you get the coin we stole from Marcus?" Tolan asked sternly.
"Most of it. He had the money to fund the Coterie and now he's funding us" one of the smugglers said chuckling.
"Good. Your four leave us" Tolan told the other smugglers.
With a nod the other four smugglers left leaving only Tolan and his apparent right hand man Aidith.
"Something you need boss?" Aidith asked.
"We can't survive down here forever. Not as smugglers anyway. We're gonna need to change to become more like the Coterie was and some of the others aren't gonna like it" Tolan said eerily cool.
Aidith didn't even bat an eye saying "wasn't that always the plan."
"Not this quickly. It was supposed to be slow, gradual, but Hawke has changed things" Tolan said bitterly.
Reaching to his belt Tolan unsheathed a knife and held it up for Aidith to see.
Held in Tolan's hand was Garrett's Ostagar knife, the knife he had taken when he had left Garrett for dead.
"Garrett's half of the smugglers. They need to be taught a lesson about loyalty and I want you to teach them" Tolan said coldly.
"I'll gather the men the I need" Aidith answered getting ready to leave.
"What about you?" Aidith asked just as he reached the door.
"The City Guard will start sending patrols down here. I have plan for that" was all that Tolan said.
Nodding Aidith left.
Two Hours later
Five City Guards walked the slums of Darktown.
They stayed together walking in close formation. All of them knew it was dangerous to walk around these parts of the city if you could call Darktown a part of a city.
"Just put the wanted posters up" their leader said calmly.
Crowds of people moved out of their way or else looked at them amusingly as the Guardsmen walked.
"We shouldn't stay here long" a nervous Guardsmen muttered as he nailed a scrap of paper to an empty wall.
The wanted poster displayed a drawing of a man wearing ragged clothing and most notably a scar running across his lips and past his cheeks.
The wanted poster read
A reward will be given to anyone with information leading to this man. He is known to be extremely dangerous.
The Guardsmen placed a total of ten wanted posters around Darktown and everywhere they went they felt the eyes of every thug and pickpocket watching them.
"Orders were to question the 'locals' but screw that. There's a reason we put the wanted posters up let them come to us. Come on men we're heading back to base" their leader said as the five Guardsmen regrouped quickly.
"Roger Sir. There's a reason we don't send patrols down here" a Guardsmen said as they started to make their way out of Darktown…
Only to find their way blocked.
Standing atop the stairs that eventually lead to Lowtown was a group of eight men dressed in rags and light armor.
Each of the men was armed but they stood vigil only blocking the City Guard's path.
"Stand aside in the name of the City Guard" the leader of the Guardsmen said.
The men blocking their path didn't budge.
What the City Guard didn't know was that the men were all smugglers, Tolan's smugglers.
"Sir" a nervous Guardsmen whispered to his leader as all around them from the various huts, corridors, and slums of Darktown people started poking their heads out.
"Form up" the Guardsmen leader called as he unsheathed his Shield. All five of the City Guards followed suit and huddled together.
One of the smugglers blocking the stairs spoke up saying "you shouldn't have come down here."
"Up there, Hightown, Lowtown, and the Docks, you run things. But down here with us you're just a walking target" a smuggler blocking the stairs said coldly.
"There has to be another way back to Lowtown" the leader of the Guardsmen muttered to his men.
The City Guards rarely descended down into Darktown let alone the Undercity and so they only knew one way back into Lowtown… the way that was blocked.
"Slavers, Thugs, and all you other 'lovely' citizens of Darktown if there was ever a free pay day this'd be it" one of the smugglers said.
Just as the smuggler finished speaking a few common thugs appeared carrying weapons.
Those scraping a living in Darktown, the ones with nowhere else to go, wisely stayed out of it and backed away leaving the City Guards to their fate.
Hightown
Tolan walked through the Hightown marketplace wearing finer silk robes and a scarf that covered his scar. It wasn't flamboyant and many people wore scarfs these days due to the changing weather.
Tolan easily blended in becoming just another irrelevant figure in the crowd.
However pushing his way through a crowd of citizens was a City Guard just doing his patrols and minding his own business.
Without breaking stride Tolan stepped into the crowd of people walking past and lingered towards the edge pretending to look around the marketplace.
The City Guard had just passed the last of the crowd and walked by where Tolan was casually strolling.
It happened so fast that no one saw it through the crowd.
The City Guard had walked right past Tolan when Tolan's hand had darted forth at the back of the man's neck.
Tolan continued walking along like nothing had happened.
In the background the City Guard stumbled forward before slowly coughing up blood and sinking to the floor.
It took a while but a few people noticed and rushed to the City Guard only to scream and gasp at the blood seeping from the back of the man's neck.
The City Guard had died… stabbed in the back of the neck ever so slightly.
A crowd of the wealthier citizens in Hightown began forming around the dead Guardsman hands over their mouth and becoming increasingly frantic.
Spoiled nobles and merchants. So easy to scare Tolan thought.
Tolan having walked out of the marketplace and around a secluded alley pulled out his knife and wiped the blood off with a napkin he'd nicked from a passing merchant.
Originally belonging to Athenril the knife had been forged to be thin and sharp almost like a needle, and with enough skill could be used to assassinate people quietly.
Elsewhere anonymously hired thugs were starting trouble around Hightown and the precious upper classes. City Guards were being attacked and killed.
Not enough to raze a storm like the Coterie had done but enough to rattle a few chains.
Enough to spread fear and confusion but more importantly to redirect the City Guards.
Lowtown
Factory District
"Whatever he paid you I'll double it" Garrett said calmly.
He was sitting in a warehouse with a particularly shady fellow whom refused to give his name to anyone but was known to make people 'disappear'.
"It's not about the money. I have a reputation and since the Red Iron's disappearance business is booming" the boss of the Hitmen said.
"Hump you'd sell your own mother for the right price" Garrett scoffed.
"You've never met my mother. I'd give her up for free" the boss said coolly.
"I know Tolan hired your men. You're the only mercenaries left now that the Red Iron is gone" Garrett said irritably.
Now that Meeran was dead and the Red Iron with him this 'boss' had no other real competition and his 'Hitmen' were little more than thugs.
"I don't make a habit of selling out people who may or may not have been customers" the boss said.
"All you care about his money. I'll buy your men off and I want information. How much?" Garrett said as he pulled his coin pouch free and placed a generous amount in front of the boss.
The boss, suddenly more interested in Garrett's plight, counted the coin saying "and you truly believe you can double 'his' payment."
"Let me worry about that" Garrett said coldly.
"The thing is if I had been hired by a certain man I seem to have forgotten all about it" the boss said staring at the coin in Garrett's pouch.
Garrett calmly placed another Sovereign in front of the boss.
"Now I remember. Some man covering his face found me awhile back. He hired some of my Hitmen in advance to go after targets outside of Kirkwall" the boss said smugly.
"How did he know where the targets would be?" Garrett asked.
The boss remained silent.
Garrett glared but placed another Sovereign down.
"I don't know. The man, Tolan you said he was, just told us to be ready and that he would tell my men were to go when it was time" the boss said.
Seeing Garrett's look the boss continued "my guess is that he bought the information off of someone."
The Sellswords I hired to protect my family… Tolan bought one of them off Garrett thought remembering how Tolan had done the same thing with the Coterie.
"There's another thing. Did Tolan send your men after a dwarf? It would've been somewhere between Kirkwall and Cumerland" Garrett asked.
The boss waited for Garrett to give him more coin before answering "yeah but you're too late. The dwarf's dead by now."
You don't know Varric like I do Garrett thought.
"Don't count him out yet" Garrett said angrily.
"Call you're men off. The dwarf and my family go free" Garrett said slamming the rest of his coin in front of the boss.
The boss looked at Garrett like he was an idiot.
"I can't. What's been done is already set in motion" the boss said.
"I don't care call them off" Garrett said sternly.
The boss scoffed saying "even if I sent an order their way by the time it got to them the job would already be done."
"Do it anyway" Garrett said fiercely.
Gamlen is street smart. He'd keep mother safe Garrett thought.
"No" the boss said coldly.
Standing up and taking the coin Garrett had given him the boss signaled for his thugs to enter and escort Garrett out.
"You have your information. That's all you'll get from me" the boss said coolly.
Garrett glared and the moment one of the boss's thugs put a hand on him he acted.
"Time to leave" the boss's thug had said as his hand made to grab Garrett by the arm.
But instead the thug yelled in pain as Garrett seized the man's wrist and twisted. The man's wrist broke in a sickening snap as Garrett pushed forward grabbing the man by the throat and slamming him headfirst into the wall knocking him out.
The only way the boss had met with Garrett in the first place was if he handed over his weapons but Garrett had planned for that.
Standing his ground Garrett whistled loudly, the signal.
Bursting through the back door Donnic emerged followed by two City Guards, all of them wearing plain leather armor instead of their Guardsmen armor.
Donnic had personally volunteered to help Garrett despite his wounds saying that "the Smuggler Lord almost killed Aveline. If you're going after him I'm going with you."
Waiting for Garrett's signal in case things went bad Donnic and the two City Guards had taken out the boss's thugs guarding the back entrance.
"Here" Donnic called tossing his longsword over to Garrett whom caught it and charged forward.
Garrett sidestepped dodging a hurried slash from one of the boss's thugs before stabbing the man through the chest.
Donnic slammed his Shield into a thug saying "the boss is running get him."
Nodding Garrett fought his way past three of the boss's thugs, he slashed the first one's throat open, parried the second thug's slashed and stabbed him, and finally slashed the third thug twice across the chest.
Knowing the Donnic and the City Guards would handle the rest Garrett rushed after the 'boss' chasing him just outside the warehouse.
The 'boss' had been trying to make his getaway from one of the many narrow alleys outside the warehouse when Garrett had caught up with him.
Grabbing the 'boss' by the caller Garrett pulled him hurling back onto the floor.
"Ugh" the 'boss' grunted as he pulled a knife free.
The 'boss' had barely raised his knife when Garrett had cut him sharply across the hand. The 'boss' yelped in pain as his knife fell from his hand while he collapsed on the floor holding his blood covered hand.
Garrett raised his longsword but instead of cutting the boss's hand again he merely held the blade at the man's throat.
"Call your men off friend and my family" Garrett said looming over the boss his blade at the man's throat.
"You can't save them. It's already been set in motion" the boss said through pained panting as he held his disfigured hand.
"Let me worry about that" Garrett said reaching down and punching the 'boss' across the face with a loud smack.
"Okay. Okay I'll send an order telling them the hit is off" the boss said as Garrett lightly trailed the blade of his longsword across his head.
Garrett nodded reaching down and punching the boss again for no reason other than he felt the need to relieve some of his anger.
The boss spat blood on the floor yelling "I said I'd do it. Stop already."
Not even bothering to reply Garrett seized the 'boss' by the arm pulling him up and dragging him back to Donnic and the other City Guards.
Back at the warehouse Donnic and the City Guards had killed or captured the last of the boss's thugs.
Garrett could see that Donnic was having trouble though the way he limped from time to time, he'd seen a Healer but his wounds needed more time to heal.
"You okay?" Garrett asked shoving the 'boss' forward and seeing that Donnic had taken a bad hit to the face that would leave a bruise.
"I'm fine. One of them got lucky" Donnic answered.
"No you're not. You're wounds need to heal properly. If this had been Tolan's smugglers you wouldn't be standing here" Garrett said bluntly.
"Sir, Mr. Hawke has a point" one of the City Guards said speaking up.
"I'll not sit around doing nothing." Donnic retorted glancing back to the City Guard that had spoken up.
He's not going to quit Garrett realized.
"Don't push yourself to hard. Be careful" Garrett told Donnic.
From there Donnic and the City Guards took the 'boss' and his Hitmen that were little more than thugs.
Though he had had a knife at his throat the entire time the 'boss' had written the order to call off the hit from Varric and Garrett's family and sent it out.
"There" the boss spat once Garrett was done with him.
He had a point. By the time it takes the order to reach them it could be too late but I can't think like that Garrett thought watching as Donnic and the City Guards escorted the 'boss' and the remaining thugs to the Barracks.
The 'boss' glared back at Garrett as Donnic shoved him forward. Before letting the City Guards take the 'boss' away Garrett had taken all of his coin back.
Hump. Tolan was going to kill you and your men to cover his tracks. You should be thanking me idiot Garrett thought.
Knowing what he needed to do Garrett headed for the Kirkwall post to send a very important letter.
Garrett didn't know which Sellsword had sold his family out but he could write to Gamlen telling him to not trust them and to move somewhere safer in Tantervale without the Sellswords.
A day later
The Hanged Man
The crowded tavern that had been a place of relaxation for Garrett had become anything but.
Garrett sat at the bar with Isabela but the both of them knew they were being watched.
"Any sigh of Anders?" Garrett asked forcing himself not to look at the two men off in the corner that were watching him and Isabela.
"Haven't seen him since the ambush" Isabela answered.
"Good. The City Guard didn't ask too many questions but that doesn't mean they won't investigate the fact the Aveline was healed by magic" Garrett said.
"Hawke you being safe?" Isabela asked.
"I've been staying in an apartment" Garrett said knowing that Tolan knew where he lived.
"I've been asking around and from what I can tell you were right Hawke. Tolan's somewhere in Darktown or the Undercity, too much ground for even the Templars to cover" Isabela said.
"But his half of the Smugglers is there too. They must keep moving there's more than enough places to hide down there. Never staying in one place it's smart" Garrett mussed aloud.
"If I could smoke him out somehow or else get to him then we could finish this" Garrett said grasping his ale harder than he meant to.
"Hawke you're breaking your mug" Isabela said glancing at Garrett's mug of ale as it cracked from the pressure of his grip.
Garrett awkward let his mug go and set it aside.
"I've never seen you like this" Isabela said curiously.
"The day my father passed away I promised him that I'd take care of the family. I became the man of the family and I failed. Now that changes" Garrett said sternly.
Isabela stayed unusually quiet at that.
I want to head to Tantervale and find my family but I need to deal with Tolan. There's nothing else I can do for them but I wish there was. I know how Tolan works. Here I can do good. I can take him down Garrett thought.
"The City Guard is having extra patrols in Hightown. A few Guardsmen were assassinated in broad daylight and the Nobles are scared" Isabela said.
"Tolan and his smugglers aren't in Hightown… misdirection and chaos. He did the same thing when we were going up against the Coterie" Garrett said.
"That's all I was able to find out. Hawke what are we going to do about those two" Isabela said not needing to explain.
If the Hanged Man wasn't crowded and full of people who could get in the way Garrett was sure those two smugglers in the corner would have jumped him already.
"I'm sorry Isabela but I could use your help" Garrett said turning to face his friend.
"Hawke I'd be my pleasure" Isabela smirking.
Garrett chuckled in spite of himself. No matter what happened nothing ever seemed to dampen Isabela's mood… not even two smugglers eyeing them up.
"I'll lure them to the back. They'll try and jump me and when they do-" Garrett began before Isabela interrupted.
"I surprise them" Isabela said still with that smirk on her face.
Calmly standing up Garrett paid for his mug of ale and headed towards the exit while Isabela stayed at the bar.
Moving carefully Garrett left the Hanged Man with the two smugglers trailing behind him, he couldn't tell how close they were but he knew they were there.
Pretending to take a shortcut to the marketplace Garrett slipped into the back of the Hanged Man, the same spot where he and Sir Thrask had brawled.
They're good Garrett thought not even hearing the two smugglers that had followed him but as he spun around Longsword and Shield drawn he saw them.
Both of them had Longswords drawn and as they broke into a run Garrett knew he'd seen them before back when he'd been under Athenril's employ.
Garrett stood his ground however.
No longer trying to be quiet the smugglers charged.
Garrett raised his Longsword blocking a slash from one smuggler while sidestepping to avoid the slash of the other smuggler.
For a moment Garrett stood on his own, Shield and Longsword against two smugglers but it passed as Isabela appeared.
Not wasting any time Isabela threw one of her daggers and it flew through the air before impaling in the throat of one of the smugglers.
Garrett shoved the other smugger aside as the man died from Isabela's dagger.
Continuing his fight with the last smuggler Garrett knew the man was panicking as his slashes grew more frantic and the man tried to find a way out.
You started this Garrett thought darkly.
The smuggler was good but Garrett was better.
Parrying a stab Garrett slammed his Shield into the smuggler pushing him back and throwing off balance. As the smuggler stumbled back Garrett charged.
The smuggler raised his Longsword blocking Garrett's slash but taking another hit from Garrett's Shield.
Now dazed the Smuggler lazily raised his Longsword trying to slash but Garrett easily kicked him back where Isabela was waiting patiently.
Isabela back-stabbed the smuggler as Garrett sent the man her way.
"They've done this before" Isabela said pulling her dagger free from the smuggler and letting the body fall to the floor.
"We never spoke but I knew them. They used to be some of Athenril's enforcers and they were good at taking down the competition" Garrett said.
"I was too late but it looks like you're tough to kill Hawke" a voice called as someone else entered the back of the Hanged Man.
"Hermes… what happened?" Garrett asked seeing that Hermes had been in a fight.
Hermes stood wearing a set of leather armor but his face was black with a fresh bruise and a bandaged was wrapped around his arm where he'd been slashed.
Moving to stand before them Hermes answered "the same thing that happened to you."
"Tolan's sent people after those of us who sided with you. Three of my friends have been killed and they nearly got me" Hermes said.
"I thought the smugglers who sided with Hawke were laying low" Isabela said.
"They are but Tolan found them anyway. I don't know how many have been killed but we have to take the fight to him or else he'll pick us off" Hermes said.
"We don't have enough information. Either way we'll need the City Guard to help and Hermes sooner or later the other smugglers are gonna have to get involved" Garrett said firmly.
"They're not gonna like that. They wanted out of this and now you're pulling them back in but it has to be done" Hermes said.
"How are the others? You said three had died but are the others safe" Garrett asked.
"The others know what's happening. I was in a group when I was attacked and their spreading the word" Hermes said.
"Nice of you to warn Hawke but you're a little late" Isabela said.
"I know. Hawke has a habit of surviving" Hermes said lightly.
"This is bad" Garrett stroking the stubble on his chin that was very nearly a beard.
"First we need to talk to the Viscount. The City Guard's being misdirected from the real threat and that needs to change" Garrett said as he took point heading for the Viscount's Keep with Hermes and Isabela following.
I've done all I can to call the hit off my family… all that's left now is to take out Tolan Garrett thought.
Darktown
The Undercity
Tolan stood in the shadows watching as some of his smugglers argued in the dark corridors where they had set up a temporary base.
The smugglers that were arguing had gathered a small crowd whom watched as one of them was threatening to leave.
"Come on. We killed some of our own" the smuggler on the verge of desertion said.
"They were traitors. You know as well as I do they chose to follow Hawke and the City Guard" Aidth said coldly.
"We took care of our own. Athenril would have never let this happen!" the smuggler on the verge of deserting said.
"You really think those traitors wouldn't have done the same to you. Tolan has kept us safe from the Coterie and now the City Guard" Aidth said.
Some smuggler in the crowd that had gathered murmured their agreement while others stayed silent not sure of all this.
"I had friends that were killed. They didn't do anything they just walked away. I can't do this anymore I want out" the deserted called.
"You think you can just walk away and go the City Guard" Aidth said coldly.
"I don't care about the City Guard. I won't be part of this at least with Athenril we never turned on each other. Anyone else want to join me their welcome too" the smugglers called turning around to leave.
No other smuggler made to join the deserter.
That was when Tolan stepped out of the shadows letting himself be seen to the surprise of his smugglers.
"Boss… I won't rat on anyone. I swear to the Maker I just want out of this" the deserted said growing pale at the sight of Tolan suddenly standing before him.
"You want out? Then leave" Tolan said simply moving to stand aside.
Raising a hand Tolan gestured towards the old corridor that served as the exit.
"I… thank you sir" the deserter said nervously as he made to leave.
Aidth and the crowd of gathered smugglers watched in silence as the deserter was actually leaving them.
Suddenly Tolan reached out grabbing the deserter by the arm and yanking him back before with a swish Tolan slit the man's throat.
The deserter fell to the floor dead.
"That's what happens to the traitors" Tolan said wiping the blood off his Ostagar knife.
"He would have sold us out to the City Guard. He was seen speaking to a Guardsmen and when I ordered to him explain himself he started this riot" Tolan said calmly.
The stunned crowded listened silently.
"Aidth I believe you're were wrong. He could not be trusted and as we all saw he would have lured as many as he could away before handing them over to the City Guard" Tolan said the lies flowing easily.
"Yes sir. I tried to convince him it wasn't worth it but he wouldn't listen" Aidith said playing along with Tolan's lies.
"I will lead us through this and we will own this city. I will forge an empire that likes of which not even the Coterie could achieve" Tolan said at last.
Looking at the crowd of smugglers Tolan moved on knowing that word would spread through his smugglers of this incident.
Let them talk. Let them know what happens to deserters Tolan thought.
Again sorry for the wait.
I've written Garrett quite a bit more frustrated than I normally do.
It's the combination of everything he's dealt with in these past months.
For Tolan's last scene, it's ironic isn't it?
Anyway we'll be seeing Varric again pretty soon.