The Keening Blade
Chapter 26: Darkspawn Never Drink Wine
They needed to hunt down the Mother, and as soon as possible.
It was a thoughtful, preoccupied caravan that returned to Vigil's Keep in a driving, chilly rain. Keenan lay in the back of Bodahn's wagon, and Sigrun drove part of the way, chatting with their convalescent Warden in her cheerful manner. It seemed to do him good. He was still suffering from the horror of captivity, from torture and near-mortal wounds, from the anguish of seeing his comrades-in-arms put to death in various cruel ways. Anders felt that rest and the company of fellow Wardens were the best things for him at the moment.
"We should fetch his wife to him, too," Anders told Loghain quietly. "He's recovering physically pretty quickly—well, he's a Warden, after all. But everything else…his wife could make all the difference."
They clattered over a new wooden bridge, constructed over a deep ditch which now surrounded the Vigil. With the underground passage into the dungeons now sealed, any force would have to attack the Vigil on the surface. The castle guard was recruiting vigorously, and the new ditch, barbed with abbatis and filled with traps, would significantly hinder even an ogre. In the heavy rain, it was filling with water, which would serve to conceal the traps from an enemy.
"It might be an idea to find a way to keep it filled," Nathaniel remarked to Loghain. "A moat is an even better barrier than a mere ditch. The Prince of Markham has a moat around his citadel. It's pretty effective."
The ditch was not all the dwarven engineer Voldrik had conceived. New gates, reinforced with silverite, were ready to be hung at the outer wall and in the inner courtyard. Voldrik hoped to sheathe the entire curtain wall with granite, but that would be a tremendous undertaking.
Delilah greeted them, glad to see them all alive. She looked pale and harassed, after a visit the day before from some of her more obstreperous nobles. To Loghain's relief, they had all gone home early that morning.
"Bann Esmerelle does not seem to be able to get a handle on the smuggling situation in the city," she told them. "The arling is losing significant revenue. She was being very difficult, telling me she hasn't enough men to track down the smugglers and guard the city against the darkspawn. She said—" Delilah broke off, grimacing.
Loghain snorted, picturing it all too clearly. "She wondered why the Wardens weren't doing more, and said that she shouldn't be expected to patrol the entire Amaranthine coastline. Then she claimed that Banns Hocking and Egbert weren't doing their part, and that the smuggled goods were probably coming in through their lands."
Delilah laughed wryly. "I see you know our Fereldan banns too well!"
Nathaniel shifted restlessly. "I should go to Amaranthine myself and have a look about. I can't believe that someone as clever as Bann Esmerelle can't stop the smugglers. It's more likely that she's taking a percentage from them."
Maude was in cheerful agreement. "I daresay you're absolutely right. I wish we could go to Amaranthine, Loghain, and fetch Keenan's wife to him. And possibly poor Aura is there, too. They shouldn't have to try to make their way to Vigil's Keep on their own."
"Oh!" Delilah recalled the name. "Aura. She is Warden Kristoff's wife, is she not? He mentioned her to me. How terribly sad, to come all the way from Orlais, only to find that her husband is dead."
Loghain grunted and changed the subject. "Voldrik's improvements are coming along quite well. I was pleased to see so much progress."
Delilah smiled at him, eyes luminous. "Yes. I'm so grateful to you for your generosity. Who knows when we could have managed otherwise?"
Maude smiled tightly, as she always did when a woman paid Loghain what she considered too much particular attention. "Anyway, keep doing what you're doing. It's a good thing that you're going to Amaranthine, Nathaniel. While you're there, you should take a look at the defenses there, too. We have reason to believe that the darkspawn have been increasing in numbers, and we're not sure what they intend."
Nathaniel frowned, worried. "You destroyed those Broodmother creatures in Kal'Hirol."
Loghain gave them the bad news. "We have learned of another Broodmother—this one intelligent and far more dangerous. We believe her to be located at Drake's Fall."
"Right!" Nathaniel gave Maude a raking look. "I remember you yelling about it in the middle of the night, and waking the entire camp. I thought you were having a nightmare."
"That, too," Maude said flatly. "Unfortunately, based on our information, it really does appear that this creature is leading some of the darkspawn. The speaking ones refer to her as the Mother, and she is clever enough to plan ambushes, at the very least."
Delilah face was pinched with horror. "Nathaniel told me something of these pitiful creatures. This Mother you speak of must once have been a human woman. I thought that captives of the darkspawn soon lost their minds."
"Oh, I think the Mother is totally and completely crazy," Maude assured her. "However, this Architect is a meddler. He appears to have found a way to give the darkspawn—and their ghouls, too, some measure of intelligence, if not sanity. Whatever he did to this creature, it's turned her against him, and she's apparently leading the forces that oppose him. We've been caught in the middle."
"As soon as possible, we are moving against the Mother," Loghain told them. "We have no idea what kind of numbers she's built up in Drake's Fall. We'll need whatever forces you can spare."
He had considered sending a message to Denerim, asking for royal troops, but had discarded the idea. Royal troops were thin on the ground, and would be needed to protect the city itself. Besides, the last thing Alistair would want would be to protect Amaranthine…or to assist Loghain himself, if the truth were known. Maude had not brought it up, which showed how unlikely she thought help from that quarter. Highever had no troops to spare and were days away—and in the wrong direction, anyhow. They would have to deal with this on their own.
And they simply did not know what kind of forces the Mother commanded. The Architect's troops had been rather small in number. They had no idea how quickly a broodmother could produce offspring.
"After all," Maude considered. "She must be a fairly young Broodmother. I suspect she was captured and changed sometime after the Battle of Denerim. That means she can't have been a broodmother for much more than six months. We've seen broodmothers, and they're not popping out a darkspawn every minute, after all. Even if she produces a darkspawn or two a day, that would only mean a few hundred—say three hundred- at most."
Nathaniel and Delilah looked horrified. "Three hundred darkspawn marching on the Vigil!" Nathaniel exclaimed. "That would—would—"
"—Be a significant—perhaps overwhelming threat, if not for your improvements," Loghain said. "Though we must not forget those strange new darkspawn she's been producing. There may be more of those." He told the Howes, "they look like large grubs, for the most part. When they mature, they are like man-sized insects. They take quite a bit of killing, but they do not wear armor or use weapons. If anyone sees large eggs—" he gestured with his arms to give them an idea of the size "—they need to be destroyed with fire."
They discussed their plans for some time. Nathaniel would go to Amaranthine, access the defenses, and look into the smuggling problem.
"I can escort the ladies back to the Vigil, if they wish," he offered. "Though Kristoff's wife may wish to go home to Orlais."
"Keenan should go with you," Maude suggested. "He'll want to see his wife, and break the news to poor Aura himself. I found some keepsakes of Kristoff's that she'll want to have. Besides, it might be a good idea to have a Warden with you, in case darkspawn are sneaking about. The rest of us are off to Drake's Fall."
It seemed a perfectly good plan at the time. Unfortunately, the news they received just before dawn made it obsolete. A pounding on his door woke Loghain from a restless sleep. It was followed by Nathaniel's shouts.
"The darkspawn are marching on the city of Amaranthine!"
Loghain nearly laughed at the look on Sigrun's face.
"You're not going to make me ride a horse, are you?"
"Yes," Maude said firmly. "You are going to ride a horse. We have got to get to Amaranthine as quickly as possibly. The mages can cast Haste on the horses and dogs, and we can be there in an hour. Here, Oghren! Give Sigrun a boost. You'll ride behind me, Sigrun! Hold tight to me and grip the horse with your legs. It's going to be fine as long as you don't let go!"
Delilah kissed Nathaniel goodbye. He was reluctant to strip the Vigil of all its defenders, and so took his archers and three dozen footsoldiers. Loghain's own guardsmen would also join the battle. These reinforcements would follow the Wardens, and be at the city walls in four hours, or perhaps less. They were a formidable force, and if Amaranthine could hold out for half a day, they might well be enough to tip the balance.
Loghain looked over his Wardens, and wished he had recruited more. He wished he had not left Shale in Orzammar. He wished he had sent a message to Anora, telling her how bad the situation in the arling was. No time now for regrets now. The nine of them would have to do until Nathaniel arrived with his reinforcements. Keenan, at least, looked fit enough, though the scars on his legs seemed to be permanent. No matter.
They galloped through the outer gateway. The dwarves were up and busy, working double crews to finish the placement of the strong new gates. They might well be needed.
It was not long before they found themselves passing horses, wagons, carts, travelers on foot: all running the other way.
"Darkspawn!" one fellow wailed at them, wild-eyed. "The darkspawn have taken the city!"
More refugees, some in fine carriages. The curtains were closed in most of them, hiding the identity of the "nobles" who were running away like the cowardly rats most of them were. Loghain was reminded of all the reasons he had always despised most of the Fereldan nobility. If Esmerelle was in one of those carriages, she deserved to have her bannorn stripped from her.
The mages each drank a lyrium potion, and caste Haste again. The dogs seemed to enjoy it. Sigrun clung to Maude, a fish out of water; a dwarf out of Orzammar, riding a horse under the empty sky. Oghren did not look much happier, and sawed on his horse's mouth in a deplorable way. If they lived through this, he needed more riding lessons.
They passed the last ridge before the ground sloped down to the sea. In the distance, dark clouds of smoke hung over the city. Amaranthine was burning.
"The darkspawn are already in the city!" Maude cried, enraged. "How can that be? They have walls! They have gates! They have guards! Surely they demanded to search the darkspawns' packs before they let them in. Somebody has screwed up royally!"
They spurred their horses even faster. A bewildered little party of soldiery was outside the South Gate, holding off the darkspawn that rushed out at them in twos and threes.
"Look there!" Maude shouted. "That's Aidan, who leads the City Guard! What's he doing out here?"
They arrived in a storm of dust, and dismounted, while the mages hastily cast rejuvenation spells on them all, and healing spells on Oghren and Sigrun's legs. Loghain tried not to look at Keenan's anguished face. He had looked at every woman on the road, but had not seen his wife. Very likely she was still in the city.
"Wardens!" Aidan bleated, nearly in tears at the sight of them. "Thank the Maker you're here!"
"How did the darkspawn get into the city?" Loghain demanded, wanting to grab the terrified man and shake some courage into him. It never worked, so he did not bother.
"I don't know! I don't know!" the man protested frantically. "The lookouts saw them advancing. We shut the gates and barred them, and then the darkspawn just erupted inside the city. We had to flee for our lives! We had to!"
"Where is Bann Esmerelle?"
"I don't know! I don't know!"
Loghain sneered, and shoved the yammering fool aside.
The other guards however, were just as hysterical.
"The city is lost, my lord!" wailed one of them.
Aidan agreed. "We'll have to burn it to the ground! It's the only thing that will stop the darks—"
"Are you mad?" Keenan shouted. He stared at Loghain beseechingly. "My wife is in that city."
Maude's mailed fist connected with Aidan's jaw, and the Chief Constable went down in a heap.
Quietly, without even looking at Loghain, she said, "As you were not at the Battle of Denerim, it might have escaped your attention that we did not burn the city down! Amaranthine is not lost. It is right there in front of us. People are still in there. We are not burning it to the ground: not while one person might be alive. If you're too afraid to stand with us, go south the Vigil and make yourself useful. Otherwise, get out of my way."
"Keenan!" Loghain ordered. "Tie up the horses in that hovel over there. It will keep them out of sight."
Maude lent a hand, to make it go faster. Loghain tried to take in the situation. The South Gate was standing half-open, and screams and shouts came to them faintly. Someone was still putting up a fight. For all he knew the citadel was still holding. Esmerelle might be directing a defense.
Loghain shoved past the gormless fools. "Wardens!" he turned to lead them into through the open gates, when a scream caught his attention.
"Darkspawn!"
The creature approaching them from the shacks outside the gate put up its hands in a sign of peace.
"Do not be killing! Only talking! I come with a message for Grey Wardens."
Its harsh voice sounded more rational than any darkspawn they had yet met. Maude moved forward, looking eager to speak to the thing.
"Don't shoot!" Loghain ordered, reluctantly. To the creature, he called out, "If you have something to say, then say it!"
The talking darkspawn was a warrior, heavily armed and armored. Still, its weapon was sheathed, and its expression—for the thing definitely was capable of such—was entreating.
"I am the Messenger. The Architect has sent me with news for Grey Wardens. He would not see The Mother win. She has sent her troops against the city, but her secret place is almost unguarded. Grey Wardens must not fight here and be killed. They must come with me to fight The Mother!"
"Oh, we're going to fight The Mother," Maude assured him breezily. "First, though, we have to save this city and its people."
The creature was horrified. "But you will be killed, and the Mother will be victorious. The Mother's creatures are too many for you! They have found the secret way into the city! Come quickly, and destroy her while there is yet time!"
"What 'secret way' into the city? " Loghain demanded. Maude glanced at him reproachfully, and walked toward the darkspawn. Anders groaned.
"Not this again!"
"Be silent, Anders!" Morrigan hissed at him. "I find it very diverting!"
Keenan whispered, "What's going on? What is she doing?"
Oghren chucked. "My boy, watch and learn."
Maude lowered her voice, so that only the other Wardens could hear her.
"I think," she said to the Messenger, "that the Architect gave you some Warden blood, didn't he? Perhaps even mine? Yes, I thought so. That makes you practically a Grey Warden yourself. So you need to come with us and help defend these people."
The Messenger's jaw dropped. The whitened eyes stared at her, hopelessly confused. Maude went on, her lovely voice gentle but firm.
"The Grey Wardens do not exist to defend themselves. They exist to defend the people of Thedas, because they are strong, and the strong have a duty to defend the weak. So it has been since the beginning. Come with us now, and defend this city of Amaranthine."
She turned back to her fellow Wardens, giving Loghain a wink. After a brief moment of confusion, the darkspawn shambled docilely after her.
"Yes," it rumbled. "I shall come, and do as the Grey Warden bids."
"I knew it," Oghren grunted. "Completely whipped already." He and Sigrun grinned at each other and smacked their palms together.
Maude found a full helmet and handed it to their darkspawn recruit.
"Here," she said. "Put this on. That way no one will mistake you for one of the bad darkspawn. After all, you're a good darkspawn, and practically a Grey Warden!"
"I can't believe you did that!" Sigrun muttered, still grinning as they marched into the city. The dogs whined and cocked their heads at their new ally. Loghain felt fairly bewildered himself.
Maude leaned down and whispered. "It really wasn't that hard! I think this one is really…all right. Really, and not even for just a darkspawn. I think I've figured him out, but I'll tell you later."
The thing could certainly fight. They burst on the random groups of darkspawn like a storm.
"Target those bloody archers!" Loghain shouted. "You!" he shouted at the Messenger. "Tell me—now— about this 'secret way' into the city!
"There is a passage from below a building outside the walls," the Messenger told him. "It leads up through an ale-house—"
Keenan burst out, "The Crown and Lion? Is it the Crown and Lion? Nida's staying there!"
"I do not know the name. It is in the middle of the city, against the walls of the citadel..."
"The Crown and Lion!" Keenan shouted, dashing angry tears from his ears, furiously nocking an arrow.
Keenan proved to be a superb archer, even by Loghain's lofty standards, capable of dropping genlocks with a single shot. It was handy to have him in the party now, and Loghain told him to stay at the rear, picking off spellcasters and bowmen.
Fires had broken out throughout the city, and there were dead in the streets, but it was not yet destroyed. In one twisting alley they found a band of the city guard putting up a respectable fight. These guardsmen joined them, and they moved along, picking up more and more of the men as they searched the streets. By the time they had gone all the way down Market Street, they were over two dozen in number, and the archers could fire a small volley against the ogre they found near the Water Gate. They found yet more guardsmen, and an officer.
"Some of the people ran to the Chantry!" he told them, wiping his sweaty face. "At least that's where we told them to go!"
Doors were still locked and barred, including the gate of the massive citadel in the city's center. Locked, too, was the gate of the Bann's estate, which was part of the same huge structure. Other houses and shops and taverns were built into its outside. It was the oldest part of the city: the original fortress around which the rest of Amaranthine had sprung up. It was just possible that Bann Esmerelle was inside and safe, though there was no sign of her, nor of guardsmen wearing her personal livery. The accesses to the ramparts were secure as well. Loghain's gaze swept the upper catwalks. Yes! There were men there. Some of them were armed with bows, and were shooting down at the little knots of darkspawn. It was little enough, but better than nothing. An arrow thunked against the pavement near Loghain's boot and he glared up at the fool, who instantly ducked away behind a corner.
A crowd of darkspawn were coming out of the Crown and Lion tavern. Oghren laughed aloud.
"Didn't like the ale?"
"I think there's a joke hiding there somewhere," Anders remarked, "but that's just me."
"Nida!" Keenan gazed in horror at the inn.
Maude grabbed his elbow, murmuring assurances. "Surely she must already have made it to the Chantry! But we'll go in and look, anyhow."
Another handful of guardsmen cut their way through to them. They charged the darkspawn from both sides and cut them down. From the open space they could see the steps leading up the hill to the great Chantry of Our Lady Redeemer. The double doors were closed.
Maude whooped. "The Chantry's still intact, or the doors would be open!"
"You lot!" Loghain shouted at a dozen of the guards. "Stay here and kill any darkspawn that pops its head out in the street. The rest of you, with us!"
The door of the tavern hung crazily on one hinge. Maude checked for traps, and then darted in. It was a slaughterhouse. They were immediately attacked by another talking darkspawn and more of the insect-like Children of the Mother. Ravaged dead bodies of humans and elves littered the tavern common room. A dead servant girl lay crumpled in the kitchen. Keenan's face was grey with anguish.
Another mob of darkspawn exploded out at them as they went up the stairs. After they were finished off, Keenan broke away and rushed to one of the rooms.
"She's not here!" he shouted, ecstatic with relief. "She's not here! Her clothes are here, but she isn't!" He appeared in the door, clutching at a discarded shift, face radiant.
Sigrun patted his arm. "There! You see! She got away. She must be up in that Chantry place."
"I think someone was staying in Kristoff's room," Maude said, after a brief search. "Maybe his wife? No corpse here either, I'm glad to say."
They searched all the rooms, and worked their way to the storage room at the end of the hall. Bag and barrels were lying scattered, pushed aside. A huge trapdoor was gaping open, and Ranger nosed at the breeze coming up from below, growling. All the Wardens sensed the darkspawn milling below. Maude grimaced.
"Smugglers," she remarked. "This is how the smugglers have been getting into the city, and Bann Esmerelle couldn't be bothered to shut them down. So the darkspawn found it and used it."
"Yes," rumbled the Messenger. "This is the secret way. The Architect knew of it long ago. He knows of many such hidden passages. The Mother learned of it from one who betrayed the Architect."
The dogs had some difficulty with the steep first part of the passage, but it soon opened out to a broad and fairly shallow ramp. The tavern's ale was stored down here, in huge tuns. Loghain grabbed a lingering Oghren by the shoulder, and gave him a hard look.
"Later."
"Right. It'll taste better then, anyway."
A powerful speaking spellcaster was commanding the darkspawn. He appeared to know the Messenger, and there was a garbled, enraged exchange before the creature went down. Once the crowd of darkspawn lay dead, Loghain took a moment to look about him.
Yes. This was definitely where the smugglers had made their way into the city. Here was a cavern with access to the sea, and a little private dock. Untouched crates of contraband were piled up, and a few bodies sloshed in the lazy surf. They had been surprised by the darkspawn and had not run fast enough. Topaz sniffed at one crate, and became quite excited. Maude popped it open and found it full of smoked Llomerynn oysters: quite a luxury item. She tossed some to the dogs and passed more to the Wardens. Another crate contained old Antivan wine. She broke the neck off a bottle and took a long pull, and then passed it around. The Messenger eyed them with curiosity as they ate and drank.
"Don't you want some?' Maude asked, waving the bottle at him.
The darkspawn shook his head. "I never drink...wine."
"Ah."
Without much trouble, they found the other passage that led under the city walls and out to the ramshackle hovels that crowded too close. They stepped outside to the sound of pounding and screams.
"Another wave of darkspawn!" Maude shouted, running around the corner. She paused, briefly.
"Oh, shit!"
That fool Aidan and his cronies had lingered by the gates too long: too afraid to fight in the city, and too afraid to take the road to Vigil's Keep. Now they were being ground to paste by an armored ogre, not unlike the monster the Wardens had faced in Kal'Hirol. Supporting the brute was a powerful speaking spellcaster. The Messenger rushed at the darkspawn mage, while Morrigan and Anders tried to freeze the ogre.
Dead darkspawn sprawled before the gate, shot down from guards above. Their arrows had no effect on the ogre or the spellcaster.
More spells, more swordplay, more injuries. Loghain was struck by a glancing blow from one of the giant fists, and slammed to the ground, his head spinning.
They won, of course, and the guardsmen above whooped and cheered, their voice faint and distant. Loghain gritted his teeth while Anders healed him, and then bellowed, "I need some of you down here!"
The cheers faded into uncertainty. The men looked at each other, and a handful of them duly made their appearance. They were charged with closing and barring the gate, in case any other darkspawn would try to enter the city.
Oghren grunted at the mangled dead bodies. "Looks like this city needs a new Chief Constable! Don't imagine you can heal that, Sparklefingers!"
Anders grimaced. "Not likely. Morrigan, are you all right?"
"I am wonderfully well," Morrigan drawled. "The blood on my face is not mine."
Anders dampened a handkerchief and tenderly wiped her nose and chin. Loghain rolled his eyes, while Sigrun nudged Oghren.
"They are such a cute couple…" she whispered.
Maude called out to the guards. "Wait. Before the gate is closed…" She walked over to the Messenger, who was skulking some distance away, hideous head still concealed by the full helmet.
"Thank you for helping us," Maude said to the creature, sweetly and earnestly. "You fought very bravely, and many will now live who would have died without your good service. Your part in this war is over now. I think you should make your own way in the world, and never go back to the Architect."
"—in Orlais," added Loghain, ignoring Maude's exasperated glare. He explained to the darkspawn. "Over the mountains, far to the west, there is country called Orlais. They have great need of your services there. The land is rife with cruelty and injustice."
"Yes," the darkspawn agreed, slowly and thoughtfully, testing the words. "Orlais...The strong have a duty to the weak. I shall go, and save many."
He lumbered away, and Loghain blew out a deep, relieved breath.
"Orlais?" Maude raised her brows.
"It is rife with cruelty and injustice," Loghain maintained. Anders, and then Morrigan burst out laughing.
Oghren told Sigrun, "There's a long story there. A long, long, long, long, long... long story."
The dwarf girl was confused. "So you just let that darkspawn...go?"
"Of course," Maude said, looking after the creature as it grew small in the distance. "Was that a soulless creature? I think not. I wasn't going to kill a fellow Warden if I could avoid it."
"A Warden?" Keenan asked, horrified.
Maude turned to him, with a half-smile. "The Architect is clever, but not all that clever. While he hasn't been able to make Grey Wardens out of ghouls or darkspawn, I think he has succeeded in turning Grey Wardens into darkspawn. I believe that poor creature was a Warden once, who went to his Calling in good faith, expecting to die honorably in the Deep Roads. The Architect got his hands on him first. I think the Architect is very, very interested in Wardens, based on what he said to me when I was his prisoner. So this Warden became a ghoul and lost his memories, but the Architect succeeded in restoring his intelligence. In this case, it's clear to me that a bit of the man he used to be endured."
"Perhaps so," Morrigan mused.
"It's a lousy retirement plan, though," Anders muttered.
There was little else to say about it. Avernus had never experienced the Calling. Loghain fervently hoped that the improved Joining formula given to him by Avernus would have the same effect on Maude and himself. And Morrigan. And every other Fereldan Warden, as soon as they could get back to the Peak and Avernus' notes and laboratory.
The gates were closed behind them, and they stumped back through the blood-drenched streets.
"We're paying a call on the Bann next," Loghain said tersely.
"Fine," Maude agreed, with a faint, unpleasant smile.
He stood in front of the citadel gate and bellowed up a demand to open. A lone guardsmen poked his head out an upstairs window.
"We've got orders, my lord! We're not to open to anyone, not even the Revered Mother!"
Loghain was not having any of that. "Well, open to me, or we'll lay siege to you when Lord Nathaniel arrives, and the Bann won't care for that. Where is she, anyway? I want to have a word with her about her failure to close down the smugglers. The darkspawn found their tunnel, and that's how they got into the city!"
The man's head bobbed, and he vanished. For some time. Loghain was about to start shouting again when another man—this one obviously an upper servant—appeared.
"My lord!" the man said nervously. "Bann Esmerelle is… dead. She appears to…to have…"
The guardsman poked his head out again, and bawled, "She's killed herself! She's hanging in her bedchamber!"
Maude snorted a laugh. "Saves me the trouble!" Loghain elbowed her. She scowled and elbowed him back.
In some ways, Esmerelle's suicide made things easier. It saved them the trouble of arresting her, and a long a unpleasant appearance before the Landsmeet in order to strip her of her title. On the other hand, Nathaniel needed to come soon, so someone would be in charge of maintaining order in the city. Loghain shouted, "Well, open up and prepare the place for us and Lord Nathaniel. Leave all the Bann's papers and belongings just as they are. We'll need to examine them!"
"Yes, my lord."
Keenan pleaded, "Warden-Commander…could we go to the Chantry now? I just…"
"Yes, now," Loghain agreed. Of course the man was desperate to know what had become of his wife. He yelled up at the guards. "We're going to the Chantry, but we'll be back shortly! I expect everything to be ready for us!"
They picked their way over bodies. Sigrun asked Anders, "Is a Chantry like the Shaperate?"
Morrigan huffed with contempt. "They wish!"
Anders considered Sigrun's question. "They do keep books there, and it is a place where customs and beliefs are recorded and communicated. The priests are a lot more interested, though, in telling people what to think and how to behave than the Shaper of Memories seemed to be. A lot of it is preaching about the evils of magic and how people like Morrigan and me need to be locked up."
"So the surfacers hate mages like most of the dwarves hate dusters?"
"No. Most of the dwarves may despise the dusters, but they don't blame them for everything wrong with the world."
"Then why are we going there?" She looked ahead. Keenan had outdistanced them: a thin, harassed, anxious man. "Other than for that, of course."
Maude said, "Because it's a big strong building, and the Revered Mother was decent enough to offer people a refuge. You're not obligated to believe anything she says when she's giving a sermon or praying."
"What's a sermon…?" The dwarf asked. She whispered, "Can I go in, or do Oghren and I need to wait outside?"
"Of course you're coming in!" Maude said. "Morrigan's coming in and she's not an Andrastean! Or are you?" she asked her friend, and grinned. "Maybe you've become a secret convert!"
"Highly unlikely! Better to waste my time pretending reverence for the Lady of the Skies or Korth the Mountain Father! They are far more amusing."
Maude agreed, "There are a lot of fun stories about Korth. I guess I like Kiveal the best, though. He's full of tricks and clever schemes…"
Some of the rescued guardsmen had already alerted the Chantry to their salvation. The double doors were open, and people were peeking out, cheering and offering thanks to the Maker and blessings to the Wardens. Keenan pulled himself together, and waited for Loghain and Maude to enter the Chantry first. He hurried right behind them, searching the vast interior for that one beloved face…
"Nida!" He dashed from their ranks and rushed to a pale, distraught woman huddled in a corner. Maude beamed as he swept her up in his arms and kissed her.
"Well!" she said to Loghain as they waved to the crowd. "At least somebody has a happy ending. I'm glad. I hope she's nice, since we'll be bringing her back to live with us."
Loghain absently genuflected to the Revered Mother, his mind ticking over the complications of married housing for Wardens. Perhaps one of the unused wings at Soldier's Peak…or one of the outbuildings… Keenan and his wife did not appear to have children, so for now they could be given one of the bedchambers at the Denerim Compound.
The Revered Mother was speaking: a grey, strained-looking woman, her aged voice cracking a little from the pressure she had been under.
"My lord…Warden-Commander. Andraste's blessings on you and your Wardens. This is a day of deliverance and thanksgiving that will forever remembered in the City of Amaranthine!"
Cheers, more pious prosings from the Revered Mother, solemn thanks to the Dragonslayer Loghain for their salvation, and a long, long prayer. Loghain became aware that breakfast had been some time ago, and that a few smoked oysters were completely inadequate sustenance for this day's efforts. The woman finally was done. He had to say something, and told people to stay where they were for the moment and obey the city guard and their officer. The darkspawn must be collected without touching them, taken from the city and burned. Everything they had touched must be purified, preferably by fire or acid. They were to be wary of signs of Blight disease, and report it promptly. Their Arlessa was aware of their situation, so help would be forthcoming. He declared a curfew, warning them that guards would be posted in the streets.
That was all. Anders was fidgeting, eager to be at his healing. Before they could move two steps, an old acquaintance was upon them. Maude saw her first.
"Wynne! What are you doing in Amaranthine?"
Loghain did not have to groan at the sight of the elderly mage, since Morrigan and Anders were doing that for him. In fact, he was pleased that someone so competent was here to take care of the wounded, but her presence was a mystery to him. Maude introduced her to Sigrun, and Oghren joined the conversation, while Loghain gave orders to the guardsmen and anyone who would lend a hand.
"You have got to be kidding!" Oghren bellowed at Wynne. The mage was indignant, but Maude was gesturing soothingly, while she smiled and shook her head. Wynne appeared very put out, and went back to her patients, not without taking the opportunity to critique Anders' efforts.
Maude had moved on, and was now speaking to a very pretty blonde woman. Loghain had just time enough to see Maude take her by the arm and gently lead her away from the crowd.
There was a lot to do, and not a lot of people able to handle the authority Loghain needed to delegate. He gave a series of orders to the guard officer, and decided to set up a command post at the citadel forthwith.
"Wardens!" he called out. "To me!"
The wardogs immediately began barking, to the alarm of priests and refugees alike. They burst through the crowd and sat in front of Loghain, panting, tongues lolling. One tiny girl squealed with delight, and reached out chubby hands to pet Topaz.
"Puppy!"
Her mother grabbed her and glanced apologetically at Loghain, before retreating into the crowd.
Maude arrived fairly quickly, leading the pretty blonde. Sigrun was with her. Keenan had an arm around his wife. Oghren sauntered over, smirking at the hubbub. Morrigan was tugging on Anders arm, and then giving up and stamping off, her face like thunder. What was Anders doing? He seemed to be in conversation with an elf woman. Was Morrigan jealous?
"Loghain," Maude said softly, "this is Aura, Kristoff's wife."
Loghain bowed to the young woman, and forced himself to speak in his gentlest tones. "I am sorry for your loss, Madam."
Her lovely face was sad, but composed. "I knew in my heart that he was gone. Perhaps it was meant to be. Kristoff's father died a Warden as well." She had a very pleasant voice: her Orlesian accent was almost undetectable.
"Aura should be with us," Maude insisted. "We're going to the Bann's now, aren't we?"
"Yes, our next stop," Loghain agreed. He wanted a long and serious look at Esmerelle's papers. "Madam, come with us. You will safely lodged at the Bann's estate."
"I thank you," Aura whispered, lost in her own thoughts and memories.
Keenan murmured to Nida, "See? We have somewhere to stay. There's sure to be enough room at the Bann's place. I'll fetch your things from the inn later…" He whispered to Maude, "She's had a hard time, poor lass. Some fellow at the Crown and Lion held the darkspawn off long enough for her to get away. She's torn up about it."
"Of course," Maude said sympathetically.
They pushed their way out of the Chantry, waving off the well-wishers. One saucy wench had the impudence to wink at Loghain, and then bow low enough to show her wares beneath her low cut peasant's blouse. He glared at her. The girl laughed, undaunted.
Anders hurried up. "Loghain!" he whispered urgently. "My phylactery! It may be here in Amaranthine. This is the best chance I'll ever have."
"Oh?" Morrigan sneered, overhearing. "Was that what you were discussing with that elven tart? And you believe her every word?"
"Namaya is not a tart," Anders argued. "Well, she is, but she's very nice. Very understanding." They walked quickly, as Anders poured out his story. "There's a warehouse by the market. We can be in and out before the Chantry sends any guards there."
"Anders, you're a Warden," Loghain said impatiently. "The Chantry has no power over you."
The young man looked at him with skepticism and reproach. Loghain sighed. Perhaps Anders was right not to trust the Chantry's restraint.
Oghren raised his voice, "You know what that Wynne had to the stones to ask us? Some other old biddy is here in Amaranthine, and Wynne wanted us to look for her in the Wending Wood, because there's some big mage meeting in Cumberland she wants her to go to. Like we've got nothing else to do, and the darkspawn aren't knocking down the door!"
"Well, we certainly don't have time to go back to the Wending Wood for her," Maude said briskly. "We can pass on the message to Nathaniel when he arrives, and he can decide if he has a man to spare to look for a wandering mage."
Anders asked, "What kind of meeting in Cumberland?"
Oghren shrugged, "Don't rightly know. Some bunch of mages want to break with having the Chantry watch over them…"
"That's a recipe for disaster!" Anders yelped.
"Is it so indeed?" drawled Morrigan. "It seems to me past time such a thing was done."
Anders shook his head in despair. "Of course I agree, but the Templars won't stand for it. We can say we're free until the return of Andraste, and that won't make a bit of difference if the Chantry decides to keep locking us up!"
The citadel was open to them, and they were led to Bann's private estate: a tall house of five levels. Guards passed them through the entrance and crossed their pikes against the bold stragglers who had trailed after the Wardens. The older man who was indeed Esmerelle's seneschal greeted them, flurried, harried, and rather upset. He assured them of a meal and beds for the night. Loghain ordered some men to fetch their horses and bring them to the Bann's stable. The Wardens were then taken to a comfortable sitting room.
Maude murmured to the seneschal, "Warden Keenan's wife has had a traumatic experience and needs to be shown to a bedchamber right away. That lady there," she said, indicating Aura, "has just received news of her Warden husband's death, and requires the same." Those Wardens," she gestured at Morrigan and Anders, "will share a room, and I will share with my husband, the Warden-Commander. Our Wardens Oghren and Sigrun require a room apiece. We also need proper food for our dogs, who will stay with us."
This was all very well, and needed to be done, but Loghain had other things on his mind. "Take me to Bann Esmerelle."
The seneschal was not a fool. The dead noblewoman had been cut down, but was laid out, not on her bed in the great bedchamber, but in a nearby storeroom that could be locked. Loghain and Maude studied the swollen face in silence.
"I think I'd use a sleeping potion if I were going to off myself," Maude finally decided. "Or maybe cut my wrists. Hanged people look awful. It's the bulgy eyes."
"Maude…"
She was already examining the dead body carefully, removing the woman's jewelry.
"Nothing here from Highever," Maude declared, pocketing the items, "but I'll search her bedchamber and her study. She's probably got a secret hiding place or two."
Loghain studied her papers while Maude scoured the rooms. It did not take an expert thief long to find the false bottom in a drawer of the handsome writing table, or the cubbyhole behind a portrait of Rendon Howe. From a hidden set of account books, Loghain learned that Esmerelle had indeed been taking a portion of the smugglers' profits, and been doing very well from it. This had started some time after Rendon Howe's death. Clearly the woman did not feel the loyalty to the daughter that she had to the father. Loghain would put guards on the smuggler's hideout, so that Delilah could confiscate the goods there, or distribute them as she liked.
"Oh, look! What a nice little casket!" Maude exclaimed, picking the lock of a jeweled box on a pedestal. "I hope there's gold in it." She flipped open the lid and rummaged through it. "No. alas, I think—" She bit back a wry smile, and rummaged some more. "You know what's in here, Loghain? Every letter, message, or note Rendon Howe ever wrote to her. Who would have thought Esmerelle so sentimental? You never really know about people... especially people you hate," she added, in a low voice. "Anyway, I'm going down into the cellars for a look about. By the way—some of the late Arlessa's jewels were behind the portrait of Rendon. Delilah should have them, since they were her mother's."
"Don't take too long," Loghain ordered her. "We need a meal and some sleep. We must press on to the Mother's lair before she knows that her attack on the city failed."
"And we should go out and fetch Anders' phylactery," she reminded him. "We should do that now—or right after we have something to eat."
"If you must. I'll stay here. Someone needs to be available in case of emergency, and I want to finish looking at Esmerelle's second set of books, anyway."
They had dinner enough even for Wardens, and made ready for the last errands of the day. Keenan did not wish to leave his wife, so they decided he would remain at the Bann's estate, and watch over Nida as she rested. Aura, too, turned in for an early night.
Loghain agreed to help direct the efforts of the city guard, and decided to take Oghren and Sigrun with him. Maude would take Anders and Morrigan on the hunt for the phylactery.
Keenan came down and spoke softly to Maude. "Nida's things are still at the Crown and Lion. Could someone pack them up for her?"
"After we go visit Anders' warehouse, we'll check the inn. Aura told me she was staying in Kristoff's room, so we'll fetch her belongings as well." Maude saw a timid maidservant lurking nearby, and left instructions to change the sheets in the great bedchamber, since she and Warden-Commander would be sleeping there, and to place in that room a handsome chest she had found and fancied.
"Yes, there are some Highever things in it," she told Loghain. "And some not-Highever things. And there are some books in the library with my name in them. I'll do a thorough search there later on. Let's go get the phylactery, and then I can finish the job!"
Topaz pressed against Loghain's legs, happy to go out for another pleasant walk with him and enjoy the interesting smells. The sun was setting in sullen grandeur. Amaranthine's streets were mostly empty, and reeked of smoke and blood and Taint. Some guards were going along the stone of the wall with torches, searing surfaces clean. Bodies were being loaded into carts by men with heavy gauntlets and their mouths and noses wrapped in oiled linen to protect them from disease. Maude gave Loghain a quick kiss as they parted ways. She hurried around a corner and down the ancient stone steps to the Market, followed by Anders, Morrigan, and Ranger, his tail wagging.
By the time darkness fell, the crews had done all that could be done. Pyres were burning south of town, for the darkspawn and for the citizens of Amaranthine. Luckily, the night wind was coming from the north, and the city was spared the worst of the stink. There would be continuing cases of Blight disease for months to come, very likely, but the locals knew what to do, even though it was painful and horrible.
Topaz seemed well enough. Loghain watched her anxiously from time to time, expecting to see signs of the disease in her, but she was resistant so far. Some creatures—and people—were. Even in Denerim, only a small percentage of the population had died of the Blight disease. Once contracted, it was inevitably mortal, but not everyone did contract it.
He returned to the Keep, for another stab at Esmerelle's shady dealings, while Topaz enjoyed a meaty hambone, lolling at his feet. Sigrun, and then Oghren turned in. Fortunately, the latter was two floors above, and Loghain need not fear being kept awake by his snoring.
Where was Nathaniel Howe? He and the reinforcements should have been here hours ago. The Wardens needed to move on the Mother, not command Amaranthine in the absence of its Arlessa.
For that matter, where was Maude?
Ah! There she was: a clear and cheerful voice downstairs ordering the carrying of chests and trunks to various rooms. A hint of weariness, too. It was full dark now, and definitely time for Wardens to be in bed.
Anders and Morrigan paused by the door of the study, both looking rather weary. Anders' expression told him what he needed to know.
"No phylactery, I take it?"
"'Twas a trap," Morrigan declared. "Not a very cunning one, but a trap nonetheless."
Ranger pushed between the mages, and hurried over to Topaz, sniffing at her, and then showing interest in her treat. She was tired of it, anyway, so there was no dispute.
Maude hurried up at last, and gave Loghain a devilish smirk as she arrived, shutting the door behind her.
"You heard? A trap! I cannot believe those Templars! After cowering in the Chantry while the city burns around their ears, they can't think of anything better to do than plot against one of the Wardens who saved their worthless hides!"
"Are we going to have a problem with the Chantry, Maude?" Loghain asked, exasperated. "Did you pick a fight with them? That is not quite what we need right now."
"They picked a fight with us!" Anders muttered bitterly. "Rylock and her cronies were hiding in the warehouse waiting for us."
Maude lounged triumphantly in the chair opposite him. "I saw at once that it was a trap, since the door to the warehouse was unlocked. Ranger sniffed them out right away. So we had a little talk, and I explained that Anders was a Warden and that that was not subject to change; and then that crazy bitch Rylock had the gall to demand I turn Anders over to her, and I told her to hide in the Chantry and find a toddler to bully, since that's obviously all Templars were good for; and then swords were drawn, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera." She gave him a brilliant smile, unfazed. "We went back to the Chantry, and I found the Revered Mother and told her the melancholy tale of a trio of Templars crazed with Blight disease. Too bad, so sad. People need to be more careful. So we're fine."
"But no phylactery," Anders sulked. "Namaya set me up."
Morrigan was haughtily pleased to have been proved right. "'Tis only to be expected when dealing with such women. She was a harlot and a traitor, and had best not show even the tips of her ears until we are well gone."
"—Which might not be tomorrow," Loghain told them. "Obviously, Nathaniel is not here, nor is our guard, nor are any of the promised reinforcements. Pushing on now, with the city vulnerable and unsettled, might be a serious mistake."
"Maybe the Mother sent a sortie against Vigil's Keep as well." Maude thought about it, eyes narrowed. "She probably didn't know that the underground passage inside has been closed. Surprise, surprise."
"And," Morrigan said, "You should know that when we went to fetch those women's things from the inn, we discovered something that might cause some difficulties."
Loghain raised his brows, wondering what she meant.
Maude leaned forward and confided, "There were men's things in Nida's room, and I don't think they were Keenan's. I think Nida was carrying on with a lover!"
Anders was annoyed. "I thought we agreed that it would serve absolutely no useful purpose in the world for anyone to go blabbing about that."
"I am not blabbing," Maude objected. "I am reporting a situation to our commander that he should be aware of. That's all." She subsided into her seat, looking virtuous.
"Perhaps," Morrigan added maliciously, "That is the cause of the woman's distress—not some sort of delicate sensitivity to the sufferings of strangers."
Loghain knew he did not want to deal with this, and that attempting to deal with it would be a terrible mistake. "I hope," he said at last, "that you did not pack up and bring along any of this man's belongings for Keenan to find."
Maude rolled her eyes. "Of course not! We are the souls of discretion. Just thought you should know, in case the woman starts having hysterics and mourning her lost love at the top of her voice."
"I'm surprised you're so hot about it, Maude," Anders said. "I thought you were more open-minded."
"Not about cheating behind a Warden's back when we're risking our lives to keep the world safe. That's incredibly tacky and completely unacceptable. Nida had better watch her step with me!"
It was certainly time for some sleep—or something of the sort—and they headed up to the Bann's fine bedchambers, bidding Anders and Morrigan goodnight.
These bedchambers were, in fact, far more beautiful and luxurious than similar quarters at Vigil's Keep. Esmerelle's taste had been widely admired, and in her own home it had had free rein. She had been a very wealthy noblewoman, after all: one of the wealthiest in Ferelden, and her wealth had not depended on the weather or on crop yields. In the Bann's own great bedchamber, the servants had turned down the bed and drawn a bath in a large enameled tub. Maude shooed them away, laughing.
The bed was huge: wide enough for five people, if that was what you fancied. The sheets and coverlet were of violet-colored silk, as were the bed canopy and the voluminous draperies. The furniture itself was of rare woods from the north, and partly gilded. To Loghain's eye, it seemed shockingly excessive. His disapproval must have shown in his face.
"It's actually quite beautiful," Maude remarked. She frankly admired their surroundings, and tossed some of the huge silk cushions onto the floor for the dogs to enjoy. "Rather over-the-top, but beautiful nonetheless." She stroked the ornate carving of a bedpost, and began unbuckling.
"You do realize that Esmerelle entertained Rendon Howe in this very bed—and that she was cut down from that very canopy!"
That only made her laugh. "Living well is the best revenge, Loghain!" She attacked his own armor with a glint in her eye. "Come on! Did you see the size of that bathtub? I have an idea..."
Not until noon the following day did they find out what had happened to their reinforcements. Nathaniel Howe and his men marched into Amaranthine, hollow-eyed and exhausted. The lookouts alerted Loghain to his arrival, and the young nobleman was directed to the citadel, where Loghain was waiting for his report. Maude perched on a window sill, and gave Howe a pleased greeting. To Loghain's surprise, the man actually smiled at her.
"I'm relieved to see the city still standing," Nathaniel said. "I had just set out to follow you, when we learned that a darkspawn force was sighted, headed toward Vigil's Keep. I couldn't leave Delilah alone, and I turned the men around. We managed to get back to the Vigil ahead of the darkspawn—but only just. They had a talking darkspawn with them, and an immense ogre in armor. If it hadn't been for the new gates, the creature would have smashed its way past the curtain wall. As it was, we lost some men to darkspawn magic, but the dwarves had a stockpile of bombs, and between those and good archery, we managed to kill every one of them. They were completely fearless: they would keep attacking, and attacking, no matter how many of their fellows went down. They could have withdrawn out of bowshot and besieged us, but they kept coming on. It took forever to put that ogre down. Without Dworkin's explosives, it would have managed to breach the walls, I'm certain. It was the last thing standing, and when it finally slowed, I led out a sortie of axe-men and we smashed it to bits. Our smiths are interested in the substance it was encased in."
"No doubt," Loghain agreed. He gave young Howe, in his turn, a brief summary of yesterday's battle in the streets of Amaranthine. He apprised Nathaniel about the existence of the smugglers' secret passage, Esmerelle complicity with said smugglers, and how the darkspawn had used the passage to infiltrate the city. "It needs to be closely guarded in future, or completely destroyed."
"So things aren't so bad, after all," Maude said, considering the situation. "It's entirely possible—based on the numbers slain at the Vigil and in Amaranthine—that the Mother has expended the greater part of her forces on her dual attack."
"It's possible," Loghain granted, seeing the logic of it. It had been a bold move on the Mother's part, but not a particularly clever or subtle one. But why should it be? The Architect may have found a way to return a measure intelligence the darkspawn and their minions, but he could not impart a knowledge of military tactics or strategic genius, since he did not possess those abilities himself. Stealth and surprise were the only ploys the talking darkspawn seem to have mastered. Aside from these, it was all the usual straight-on attack, with no ability to rally or withdraw or create a diversion. The strength of the darkspawn lay nearly entirely in their overwhelming numbers and their physical resistance to damage. Once numbers failed them, most darkspawn were not particularly impressive opponents.
"At any rate, we can leave, now that you're here to manage the city, Nathaniel," Maude declared. "We were really only waiting for you. I've ordered a wonderful lunch—with Llomerynn smoked oysters!—and then we're off to the Mother's lair..."
Note—As some of you must know, ffdotnet is making it difficult to reply to reviews. If your messaging feature is disabled, it's now impossible. (Angurvddel, that's why I haven't replied to your review for VaO yet!) If I've missed someone, I apologize. I value everyone's feedback. Thanks to my reviewers: JackOfBladesX, callalili, Guile, Juliafied, Phygmalion, Judy, EmbertoInferno, Aoi24, Shakespira, Josie Lange, Eva Galana, Angurvddel, Jenna53, Tyanilth, mutive, mille libri, Kira Kyuuketsuki, Menamebephil, Enaid Aderyn, Lehni, Zute, Fastforwarmotion, Geral, Persephone Chiara, guantanamobyxx, and Iapetus.
To Geral: Glad you're enjoying the story. Yes, the Wardens have amassed quite a bit of wealth. Most of the gold at Soldier's Peak was left there. Maude left their own assets at the Denerim compound. The gold received from Ostwick and Orlais is at Vigil's Keep. They have many thousands in gold now, and are really more flush than the Crown. And more is on the way, but that's a future chapter, and there will be a bit of conflict involved there.