Chapter 2: Welcome to Antiva

For the first time, Mahanon sailed on a ship bound for the Antivan coast along with Josephine and a small crew of merchants. Much to his surprise, the sea was comparatively merciful, unlike the fiery waves of the Storm Coast he had anticipated; still, as his elven heritage suggests, he did not take fondly to the gentle swaying of the deck, and crew members became accustomed to hearing wretching sounds near the back cabin.

The winds favored their journey, and in but a day's time, they had arrived to see the gleaming, bustling docks of the famed fish chowder capital.

"Here we are at last," said Josephine, breathing a sigh of great relief. "Home, sweet home."

Mahanon staggered out of the cabin next to her, looking slightly pale.

"...ugh...whassat? Is this Antiva?" he stammered.

"It sure is. Come, I'll...guide you to the shore."

As they stepped down the walkway, a sharply dressed, dark-skinned courier arrived; he sported an extravagant hat adorned with a flamboyant peacock feather, carrying a small brown package in his arms.

"Messere Lavellan and Lady Montilyet," the man addressed them fashionably as he bowed low to the Inquisitor and kissed Josephine's hand, "My name is Jose Avici Sorcretiano De Giorno Ravian."

"...er...nice meeting you, Josey..." Mahanon mumbled, still stumbling in Josephine's arms.

"Really, now. I apologize for his behavior, he's simply had too much to drink." Josephine quickly intervened.

" I humbly welcome you to our beloved Antiva City, crown jewel of the North. I am also told to deliver this letter to you; please, let me know if we can accommodate you further."

With that, the courier bowed again and left.

Josephine examined the package in her hands carefully before opening it; a single, small paper fell into her hands, as the bulk of the package had been inflated with chicken feathers.

"Meet us by Breadfish Tavern, signed Lord Paraquette's representative," Josephine read a few minutes later.

"What's that?" Mahanon inquired with sudden interest.

"I don't trust this. There is something fishy going on," Josephine folded the paper in her pocket, looking about cautiously. "Lord Du Paraquette wouldn't send a representative to meet us by a commoner gathering place, let alone the brawly tavern."

"Who stuffs their packages with chicken feathers?" Mahanon commented derisively.

"I see you've come to your senses. Let us proceed to the estate."

An hour and a half later, with the sights and smells of the oceanfront market perfuming the air around them, Mahanon and Josephine found themselves standing beside a large mermaid fountain in the middle of a square.

"According to Antivan tradition, making a wish here before and after embarking on a special journey can grant you good luck," said Josephine.

"Well, now that you mention, we could have used this luck a while back," Mahanon remarked, wiping the remaining sweat from his brow.

"Oh, I remember when my father first took me to this market and told me about the fountain. Such naiveté, my youth, thinking to myself that I can one day travel Thedas and be the best ambassador in my family. But now I have that and so much more...I could not have wished for a better life, thanks to you."

As Mahanon turned to look at her briefly, he caught a glimpse of what appeared to be a cloaked figure running above the rooftop of a nearby building.

"Erm...yeah." he muttered.

"Are you sure you're alright?"

"Duck!"

Mahanon pulled her into his arms and threw his full weight behind him just as an arrow struck the ground where they were standing.

"Oof, what are you doing - ?!"

"Assassins!" Mahanon exclaimed, quickly helping her to her feet.

" - what - !"

The pair found themselves weaving in and out of the unsuspecting crowd around them, running in the direction of the estate. As they rounded a corner, three hooded rogues landed in front of them, carrying twin daggers on their backs. In a second's notice, the two of them made a detour through an open-door residence while its card-playing owners screamed in shock.

"I'm borrowing your closet, don't mention a word or I'll have you too!" Mahanon threatened before he and Josephine hid in a nearby cupboard.

"Brasca, I should have known better!" Josephine whispered exasperatingly as the two of them listened for their killers from inside.

"I'd say trespassing and stealing someone's closet is the least of our concerns right now..."

"No, no, I mean I should have known it would be the Crows! You remember the deal we struck with them ages ago, to fund our operations at Skyhold? Apparently there must have been some fine print I missed in those towering stacks of trade agreements...oh, the shame."

"You don't think it's the fact that the Inquisition makes a fine target?"

"Of course not. It's much more complex than that. The fade conflict is over, there would be no reason to send assassins after the fact; only when something goes wrong. And as far as I can tell, what's wrong now is sandwiched somewhere in the bundles of boxes that I had one of Leliana's assistants put back in the records room."

"Something you overlooked?" Mahanon said suspiciously.

"Did not sign, more like."

"You scoundrels can come out now!" the owner yelled. "And I expect a hefty pouch of coin for what you just put me through!"