[Continues the story of Talita da Motta, Templar, as she recounts her early days in the order: Lyrium enters the picture, and isn't pretty, but Juca thinks SHE is, anyway. :-)]

(to recap: on their way to Gwaren aboard the sturdy ship Seadance, Talita's creepy commanding officer has blown a fuse about something missing from his quarters. Blaming the mage, the two senior officers have dragged him belowdecks to ...interview him.)

Chapter 12 Tempting Fate part 2

It was none of my business.

I tried to tell myself that firmly.

Maker help me.

I stood outside the door to Everado's cabin. Deep breath. One, two…

"Captain! No! That's –" (Juca's voice!)

A crash!

I pushed open the door.

And blinked. One of Juca's healing potions was smashed onto the floor. There was an angry, red lump on the side of Juca's forehead.

Everado stood over the strewn contents of Juca's pack. He threw the empty satchel at the mage, who had been pushed back onto the bunk. "I will find what you've stolen, mage, and when I do…!"

There was a strained look around Everado's eyes I did not yet understand.

And where did Ivonetta go?

I grabbed Everado's arm. He whirled on me, his eyes wide with surprise and… rage?

He pushed me back with contemptible ease, but I regained my balance before I could crash into the small bureau. By Andraste, he was as strong as six men, easily. "Captain! If you're pressing charges, do it!" I shouted, "But this is wrong, and I WILL report it. Fully! So back off!"

He was in my face before I could finish. His skin was turning a shade of purple. "You would dare-?!"

I saw my death in his eyes.

I stared back. "I will do what is right! There are rules- You are charged with following them, Captain!"

At that moment, Ivonetta pushed into the cabin, which was not large enough to hold us all, and closed the door.

And saved my life.

"Everado, take this!"

She tried to tug him back away from me. Before he would be led, Everado leaned close and whispered hotly into my ear, spittle spraying against my skin, "Angelo will not always be there to shelter you, Talita da Motta, spoiled favorite of the Knight-Commander… And when that day comes, I will teach you proper respect. I promise you."

He allowed Ivonetta to pull him back. With a final growl of disgust, he yanked open the door and left with her, and whatever she had in her hand. It looked like a vial of some sort.

I somehow found my breath again. I was shaking. Closing the door carefully, I turned to Juca. He lifted an eyebrow as he stood up and dusted off his robes. "Well! That was…unpleasant."

"Juca, do you have any idea what he's talking about?"

He knelt and began to calmly gather his things that were strewn about the cabin. For a long moment, he did not answer.

"Juca..?"

"Do you really want to know, bonita?" he looked up, and for the first time, sadness touched his eyes. My heart lurched.

Once knowing, there was no unknowing, his gaze told me. And knowing would make my life oh so much more complicated. And dangerous.

"I'm not afraid of the truth, Juca."

He smiled then, a touch of his former sparkle in his eyes. "You are the bravest person I know, Talita da Motta."

He stood and slid his satchel back around his body. That done, he glanced meaningfully at the door and motioned me closer. I stepped over the broken glass of the healing potion (the room reeked of rotten weeds, but I had not noticed until that moment). He reached for my hand, and gently pulled me closer. He whispered, "And the most beautiful."

"Juca!" I tensed, blushing but annoyed too. Everado was on a murderous rampage! Could he not sense the danger?

He chuckled, "I am being truthful."

"What is behind all this?" I asked, meaning Everado's bizarre violence.

"He is a dust-head, Talita."

"Dust – what?"

"Lyrium dust. The red stuff. More potent, and dangerous. Addictive. He was sniffing from the vials off and on all day, when he thought I wasn't looking. During the night, too. And now his supply is missing from that locked chest down there-"

I frowned. Angelo discouraged reliance on Lyrium, but many Templars were trained in its use, usually the liquid potions, to be used in time of need to have the power to subdue a mage out of control. Even that much use took its toll, over the years. No one spoke about the older Templars who quietly retired to Val Royaux.

Angelo had given me the rare, blue bauble, however. I would learn to use a Templar's power without Lyrium. Or such was his wish.

But red dust? I frowned. "Juca, the Knight-Commander doesn't approve any of these addictions."

Juca looked thoughtful. "That doesn't seem to have discouraged his second in command."

"So…who stole the Lyrium?"

"I do not know his name."

I froze. "What …did you do?"

Juca smiled. "I did not steal his dust, Talita. I … _may_ have mentioned its existence, however, to one of the seedier looking members of the crew…although, my memory of the event is not quite so clear now that I have this knot on my head." He touched his forehead gingerly and winced.

"Juca, if he ever pieces this together, he will destroy you!"

He smiled, "I would like to hear him confess this case before the Grand Cleric, myself."

The thought struck me. I marveled at the crazy mage standing beside me. Short of killing Juca outright, there was really little Everado could do. Unless… "Does Ivonetta know? Does she also-?"

"I think she knows he uses it, but I don't think even she knows how much. At least, until now."

"But Juca, why? Why did you do it?"

He paused, seemingly gathering the truth we'd both agreed to. "For you, bonita. I have seen the look in his eyes as he watches you. He means you harm," Juca explained. He smiled, "Now he'll have other things to think about."

heh. do you think heading into the Blight will make things EASIER for these two? hmm ...

*insert image here of author begging for a comment* *ty!*