.7 An unfortunate escape
"Are you alright?" Alistair's voice called from across the room just after he had ridden himself from his last attacker.
Not used to the tone of voice he used on her Elissa regained her attention. She looked her dress over for tears and patted the bare skin of her cleavage and shoulders. Ceasing to find any sources of hurt, she found that the blood that had splattered her was not her own.
"Yes, yes," She called heatedly while she ducked to search the body of the woman in red, as if hoping to find any evidence of a physical contract to destroy. Besides a heavy purse filled with sovereigns she found nothing. She shook the body as to release it from further hidden possessions until Alistair stopped her.
"It's done now Elissa," His soothing voice spoke in her ear. "It's over. And we have to leave, immediately."
It seemed the relief of finding and slaying the culprit of her assassination attempts had made her lightheaded. When Elissa didn't immediately comply Alistair urged her forward, pulling her wrist all the way down the unlit hall. When they reached the door barring them from the other visitors his eyes regained a hard focus Elissa found surprisingly amusing, first determinedly pulling his twohander, only to lower it again just before he stormed ahead of her down the stairs.
Elissa followed him without hesitation but could not help but escape a giggle that soon turned into laughter. Alistair jumped up the steps to collect her, sporting an annoyed smirk while he supported her around the waist. "What has gotten into you?" He murmured decidedly, dragging her through the all but deserted corridor at the best speed he could muster.
Unsurprising enough, the partygoers they encountered were too infatuated with themselves or their company to notice anything off. When they had reached the entrance to the kitchen however, one of the servants called out in horror.
"Madame, your dress, it is…"
Instantly they caught the attention of bystanders, looking pleasant at first. Soon one woman dropped her goblet and started screaming. Elissa looked down guiltily, padding her blood splattered skin until Alistair caught her by the wrist and dragged her towards the servants entrance. Only the heavily mustached cook seemed brave enough to try to prevent their escape, but he ended the chase as soon as he decided his butcher knife would be no match to Alistair's knightly physique and weaponry.
When they reached the back alley Alistair threw the door shut behind him and leaned against it heavily. In front of him stood a carriage, more moderate looking than the ones they had noticed earlier that night, but roomy enough to fit two passengers in the enclosed coach. Zevran sat at the reins, smiling smugly.
"You are back I see, and judging by the sound of it, you have made a spectacular retreat."
He was referring to the increasing screaming inside. Alistair put all his focus on obscuring the door in case the cook or anyone else would prove brave enough to follow suit.
"I am afraid you still have a lot to learn my dear Elissa," The elf continued unconcerned while he jumped off the rider's seat and walked around the carriage to open the door for them, "The shady duo at the King's Head were indeed spies for the Crows. Of course I prevented them from bringing the message of our arrival to their master, but a more cautious approach in the future would prevent me from running additional errands."
"However their presence at the tavern only proves that the Crows have men stationed around town during their visit. Therefore I deem it best to leave as soon as possible. Your carriage is waiting, madame."
He swung the coach door open in a blasé manner, gesturing Elissa to make her entrance. Seemingly undisturbed by the still increasing panic inside of the manor that was now accompanied by a male voice calling out murder he repeated his flamboyant wave when she did not respond.
"What is the matter?"
Alistair was now leaning his full weight against the door, and with the screaming also the thumping against the wood had increased. Elissa was slumping against the wall, the stare in her eyes turning blank.
"Our little lady Cousland seemed to have taken a couple of sips of liquid courage at the party," He spoke with difficulty. "She's been impossible since the fight."
Zevran walked up to her, ignoring the crashing from the kitchen that started to shift Alistair's weight under the pressure. "Has she been hurt?"
"A scratch, maybe." Alistair huffed under the force he withstood. "She held her own, as usual. But what about getting the hell away from here?"
He looked over his shoulder and observed Zevran crudely grabbing Elissa's jaw. He turned her face from side to side, examining it with a severity that worried him. He felt his limbs go numb when Zevran had to pull her up and carry her into the carriage.
"We have to hurry," He exclaimed while he sprinted back to compensate the weight that Alistair refrained on the now cracking door. He took the templar's sword and shoved the massive blade between the crack near the hinges, providing them only seconds for their escape.
Alistair hesitantly walked towards the carriage, his eyes showing alarm and disbelief but not being able to fully grasp the situation.
"Of course we do."
Zevran ran back to the carriage and agilely grabbed the reins before putting it into movement in a sudden haste.
"She has been poisoned."