*He really did a number this time, I don't think that eye is something I can fix without him noticing.* Resentment cooed to her, Asaaranda felt the rush of hate towards her master flare at his words.
*it has been two decades! How much longer must I wait?* She growled in her head.
*soon you will sail for the tome of Koslun, when it goes wrong you will be given the chance to set his fall I motion.* Resentment promised her, Asaaranda growled in frustration.
*I know, my Asaaranda, I know but you must be patient.* Resentment quieted after that, focusing on healing her wounds.
*all this pain will be worth it, I promise you this. If you give my treasures peace, then I will repay you when you need it most.* Resentment promised before it left her in the dark again.
The AriQun sat brooding in her study, her daughter had been in the hands of that beast for nearly two decades now. But everything was slowly moving into place, Shokrakar had left the Qun nearly fifteen years ago to found the Val-Kos. When the time came, she would be ready to help heal AriQun's daughter, Tallis was moving other pieces for her.
{It is done, the Bas will be in place.} Tallis purred slinking into the room, draping herself over her soulmate.
{Good, none aboard the Siren's Call knows about our involvement?} AriQun asked, Tallis ran her sharp claws along her lover's throat.
{none, the Bas Isabela has no idea that she is doomed to fail.} AriQun smiled, a single ship full of Bas was nothing to the freedom of her daughter.
{Good, now all that is left is to insure that she is aboard the ship.} AriQun rumbled as she reached for some reports. {Already taken care of, the Arvaarad is assigned to the personal guard as always.} Tallis soothed.
*Resentment, I know you are there.* AriQun called mentally, linking her mate into the talk.
*I am here, the monster did a number this time. she is blind in one eye, it can be fixed later if a skilled healer does it.* the demon rasped.
*I will be glad when that monster is dead! For now, make sure she does not lose herself.* AriQun ordered, feeling the demon smile.
*Of course, the daughter is far more of an interesting treasure than you ever were. Just remember our deal mortal.* with that the demon fade away.
AriQun scowled at the reminder of the deal she had made nearly thirty years ago, when her child had born Resentment had been there watching. The demon cut a deal, her child was destined for pain and suffering, but Resentment would help her for a price. The price was the right to remake her daughter's magic, and to fed on the memories of the fallen.
The price was steep, but between sending her daughter out into the world without anyway of protecting her was not something she would do. So the demon was given the deal, and AriQun could only do what she could to keep her daughter safe. AriQun frowned as she read 'The Iron Bull's' reports, tensions were rising around the world with the blight coming to a close. Kirkwall was a powder keg in the making, and her daughter would be heading there.
(Three months later off the coast of Kirkwall.)
Isabela griped the wheel in a death grip, as waves and winds kicked up by the storm slammed the ship. Her crew was desperately trying to keep the ship from wrecking on the banks, she twisted the wheel hard to avoid another outcropping of rock. Something about this storm was off, it was too large and powerful to be natural.
"Come on boys! Hard to port, we need to lose these horns." She yelled, as another cannon round smashed some railing to her right.
The men were tired and it showed, as another wave sent experienced men overboard. Isabela cursed, every second that dreadnaught was on her ass was more men lost. She was barely keeping ahead of the dreadnaught when the wind shifted, but this shift worked against both vessels and heralded the end of the chase.
Deep in the hold aboard the Dreadnaught, the Saarebas sat chained to the floor. Out of all the qunari only they seemed unaffected by the storm, sitting in a circle around a member of their own. Asaaranda knelt blinder pressed to the deck, as her stitched lips moved in a grumbling chant.
*Higher, the storm must be higher!* Resentment growled at her, Asaaranda's chant never broke but resentment felt the eye roll.
*… Now! Strike the waves between the ships!* Resentment ordered, snarling Asaaranda obeyed.
The ships lurched as the waves exploded, the Saarebas using a small amount of magic remained in place. Asaaranda built the waves up higher, slamming the ships together and against the rocks. Just as the Dreadnaught was about to recover and over take the raider, she threw them into the rocks just outside the city.
Even as they crashed Asaaranda sent the storm to chase the raider, insuring that the raiders would wreck far enough away to escape but still be stuck near the city. The circle stirred and she sat up, sliding the secret pendant back to its male user. The Arvaarad were fools to think they fully control their charges, shown by how much they were covering for her.
As the Arvaarad dragged the Saarebas up to the main deck to help move the ship to shore, no one noticed the storm lessening now that the chase was over. Resentment left to insure that the raiders did not get away with the tome, it was the first step to freedom and vengeance.
(One year later: Hanged man tavern)
Sydney 'Spinner' Hawke walked into the hanged man, the sound of the low lives drinking made her smirk, a shout drew her attention to a group surround a woman. The lead man was a rat she knew by the name 'lucky', her hand started straying to her bow.
A hand grabbed her wrist and Varric's voice reached her ears. "Don't spinner, just leave them be."
"And miss my chance to score with a lady like that?" Spinner smirked at the dwarf, the sounds of fighting made them turn.
One of the men reach behind the bar and snagged a bottle filled with a bright blue liquid, smashing it, and making it into a makeshift knife. Everyone in tavern watching winced as one, Varric removed his hand and stepped back. Spinner saw red as she watched blue alcohol drip on to the floor.
"I am killing them, any objections?" her companions shook their heads.
Isabela watched the tavern tense in the corner of her eye, before she could question it the fool who had smashed a bottle crumpled. Isabela stumbled as she watched a woman in rouge leathers twirl a staff like a top, the damn thing was a blur as it smashed into every head of her attackers.
When only lucky was left standing the woman stopped and glared at him. "I want to be repaid for my bottle, then I want you out of my tavern lucky." The woman winked at her before glaring at lucky some more.
Lucky all but threw his coin purse and ran, Isabela saw now that the staff was really a long bow. She smiled, she had just found her helper. Isabela sauntered up to the woman and smiled sweetly at her.
"Your really good with that bow staff, got any other tricks?" She purred trailing her hands down the leather armor.
"OH, my dear pirate, I have many tricks most of them though need two people." She shivered at the words.
"Ah Sydney?" a younger woman tried to say. "Ah, Ah Bethany no talking, sissy is trying to get laid." Isabela laughed at the exchange.
"Fine, I figured I would tell you that you are trying to get a one night stand with your soulmate." The woman sighed as she walked off with an elven woman.
Both women froze, and looked at each other. "It means nothing to me if it means nothing to you?" the woman suggested, Isabela sighed in relief and nodded before dragging her new friend to the bar.