Update: I was sober the whole night and ended up having to babysit kids. They weren't trick or treating or anything, it was just, to quote a friend who dragged me there "A really swell party and I want to win that raffle"... I'm still mad at him :(

Anyway, best not to dwell on such lame matters. It's SCOUNDREL TIME! YEAH! YEAH! LET'S GET PUMPED! WOO! WE'RE GONNA FORGET THAT IT'S LATE YEAH!

Snowy: I love you :D

Heidedrache: Glad you're enjoying it on your side of the water, howdy from Scotland mate

So, here we go. Just to let you guys know I'm gonna try to get this arc out of the way before Inquisition comes out (I am so freaking excited) and then take a small break. That means I have two weeks to get everything out. I'm not gonna do the Friday updates anymore, just belt them out as soon as they're up to scratch. I'm expecting another five or so chapters. So be on the lookout!

Chapter 27: Spirits Abound

I was found a few hours later with a mild concussion and a sour mood. The Tranquil who found me - man do those guys give me the creeps - didn't have any interest to lose and quickly left after a few assurances I was operating at full capacity Dave.

I quickly swept into the library, the librarian (oh, same Tranquil) sending me a glare which I responded to in kind. I ignore my untouched mountain of research and instead head over to the table which the two lovers had claimed last night. I examine it closely but the only thing I can notice is that the table was shifted a few inches towards the wall, then pulled back later judging by the scuff marks on the floor. But that could've been from anything.

I take a few deep breathes, but can't smell even a hint of sweat, of lust. I growl in frustration. I raise a hand and close my eyes, sending out a seeking tendril of my Will. I send it arcing around me, darting quickly ahead and pulling back slowly, coming in from every single angle...

Nothing.

I open my eyes, frowning hard as I step away. Something does not add up here. I mean... What?

Last night, I came back to the library. And last night, something attacked me, maybe because I saw something I wasn't supposed to see.

It wasn't a man and a woman getting busy in the library. It was a man and a demon.

My first reaction was to report it to Greagoir or Irving, but I paused. I don't know who the man was. If I just start accusing people left right and centre, I'm gonna make life very uncomfortable for these mages.

I don't need to be involved. Hell, I'm gonna be out of this pit soon enough. Not really my problem. But... these guys have it rough enough. And a demon is a very dangerous threat. I don't need the tower heading into lockdown because some mage couldn't keep it in his pants.

I don't think whoever this guy is, he's gonna start summoning demons again during the day, which gives me time to prepare. I read the book on binding spirits of the Fade before lunchtime and when the librarian heads off, I steal some chalk. Carefully, I copy the symbols and writings from the page, before fading them in a bit so they aren't as noticeable and make sure to cover them with the rugs or tables nearby.

Apparently there's only one kind of binding activated by... well, blood. But it's the most powerful, yet versatile. It'll trap all sorts of spirits and demons of moderate strength. For stronger ones, you've got to cater to the specific demon. You get your symbols and some other ingredients - salt, iron, objects of purity yada yada - and you pour a bit of your mana, or Will in my case, and that sets the trap. To activate it, it needs my blood.

That sounds like a pretty crappy spell, but it's not like it's a lot of gore. Just a drop or so, the book says. And it'll trap most things, unless they got a helluva swing to them.

With my traps set, and the librarian returned, I take the opportunity to head to the kitchens. A hungry wizard is a grumpy wizard. I grab some soup, the same broth as the previous night, and head back.

I won't allow myself to get side tracked again. I'm here to take down the Crawler, not become the Cowled Crusader of the Magi Tower. Yeah, I'm taking care of a small problem of theirs, but it's just because I have time to spare.

It's strange when I have to justify being a good guy... to myself.

I can be quite slow at times. Yeah, I've got a quick wit, and I can do alright under pressure. But sometimes, I can be really really slow.

For example, I've just noticed that there's an elf girl sat across from me, eyeing the piles of books I've gathered around me. I don't remember noticing her sitting down...

She had hair the colour of sand that fell down to her shoulders in a tidy, yet ruffled look as though she'd just battled a light breeze. Her eyes were a hazel colour that were almost golden. They brimmed with concealed energy, and there was the beginnings of laughter lines, almost too soft to see. Her lips were full and vibrant, and I could look at that smirk all day. She wore the robes of an apprentice, but the way she held herself made me think that she was well beyond that level. Experienced. Damn, she was a fine creature.

I give her a polite nod and smile and shuffled in my seat before turning back to my book.

"Bit of light reading?" she asks coyly, and I look up to see her lovely smirk. Something I've always wondered... How does everyone have such white and perfect teeth without dentists or toothpaste? I mean, I certainly haven't seen any in my time here. What's with the spotless oral hygiene?

"Keeps me out of trouble," I say with a small smile before leaning over my book.

"Ancient Demons and Darkspawn?" she recites, going through one of the books I've already finished. She flicks through the pages before arching a brow at me. "Looks like you're looking for it," she says with an amused glimmer.

"Nunquam non paratus," I recite with a small smile. The elf looks at me confused and my smile widens. Latin seems to be even more of a dead language here. "Always ready."

She makes a worried humming noise and looks through the rest of the books. "Ready for what?" she asks, a tad apprehensive. I shrug nonchalantly.

"Whatever's waiting for me," I say, giving up on my book and leaning back. I haven't had a proper conversation in weeks, I'd forgotten how much I enjoyed social activity. "It's a big world out there, and I aim to be ready for anything it throws at me."

God, for a second I almost missed Facebook!

"You seem pretty confident for a captured apostate," she says hesitantly. I smile, but it's double edged.

"We must have different definitions of that," I say, a bite of anger to my voice, which the elf notes. She looks around before staring at me inquisitively.

"Apostate?" she guesses. I shake my head with a smirk.

"Captured. The last I heard, I came willingly," I say with a wiggle in my eyebrows. The elf looks at me in surprise.

"Willingly?" she echoes. "What... I don't understand." She leans back and gives me a disbelieving stare, obviously not buying my story.

"Look, out there..." I gesture towards the window off to my right. "There's something bad waiting for me. And I'm one of the only guys who can stop it apparently. So I need to SWOT and get ready to take it down. Make beastie climb back in his hole for another millenium or two."

"And what then? What happens when you take down this "beastie"?" she asks with a small smile, still not quite believing me.

Now that I think about it, it's almost like I'm chatting her up. I mean, I willingly came with the Templars, shucks it's not like they could make me. Oh yeah, and did I mention I'm kinda vital to saving... the world...

Oh god. My life story is a terrible chat up line. Oh wow. Ouch, that sucks. Yeah, little impressive I guess but still. Wow.

"I go home," I say with a small smile. She smiles as well, though it's a little unsure.

"You do realise that to do all of that, you need to get out of here first," she says, talking as if I was slow. I throw my head back and laugh, only forcing it a little.

"Listen Buttercup, when the time comes, I'll walk out of here and no-one's gonna stop me. Hell, I'll even have Greagoir and Irving get the door for me," I say, and she stifles her laughter behind a raised hand, looking around guiltily. She gets to her feet with a smile as I hear footsteps behind me.

A tall man with familiar features settles into place at the foot of the table. He sends a scowl at me, that only serves to showcase the swirling tattoo over his eye and opposite cheek. Christ, anyone who hit this guy must've been afraid to cut themselves on those cheekbones! His ochre hair was tied back into a ponytail, longer than Duncan's and braided carefully. His eyes seemed drawn into a permanent scowl, and with his thin lips and pale face, he looked like a vampire with garlic under it's nose. A malnourished vampire if the bagginess to his robes was any indicator.

"Well, best of luck with that... Sorry, no-one's quite sure what your name is," she says, a slight pink coating her face.

"Sparrow." I offer my hand, which she shakes firmly. Her hands aren't as soft as I would have thought, probably from handling that staff all the time. "They call me Sparrow, Miss..."

"Neria. My friends call me Neria," she says with a wink that adds some warmth to my belly. That sounds familiar. Heh, probably from Lord of the Rings. "And this is party animal Daylen," she says, gesturing at her male companion who nods to me before casting his gaze on Neria...

"Irving's waiting for us," he says, his words clipped and short. Very business like. Ahh, irony. I like that in a woman.

"Delightful," she says with a forced smile. "They joys of being a teachers pet," she whispers to me and I smirk. "I'll see you again Sparrow," she promises.

"And I you, Neria," I say with a smile as she glides from the room like a dancer. Her friend takes long strides to match his legs, but keeps his pace steady for the smaller elf. After a few moments, they leave the library.

Hm, nice kids. Probably got me for the gossip though. Still, that name was familiar. I cast it out of my head as I throw myself back into my research.

Dusk falls and an hour or two later I have a cat nap while the librarian packs up and leaves. Really shows how much they care. I'm a student, technically, and everyday he's just been leaving to sleep there. Thankfully he's had the decency to leave the doors unlocked. Mind you, Tranquil. I wouldn't really expect a lot of compassion there.

I keep track of the time from the moon outside the window. An hour goes past. And another. A third...

Three and a half hours is all I can manage before my grumbling stomach demands sustenance. Demon hunting be damned, daddy needs his tea!

I move through the cold halls of the Tower, blowing on my hands to warm them. Christ, what month is this? I've lost track of time these past few weeks. Doesn't help that the days are feeling like weeks and minutes at the same time, dragging on and passing in a flash.

I rub my weary eyes and take a left towards the kitchens before I pause. There's a low rustling, almost like dry leaves in a light breeze. Or... is that whispering. I think it might've been a voice.

I shake my head and continue on my way. Some more of the broth'll warm me up. I hear more whispers and ignore it. It's probably just the echo of someone from a floor away. There's hundreds of people in this tower, of course it whispers. Besides, these walls are old, I'm sure they've got a few stories to tell. Of course, you'd have to be mad to hear them.

I realise what I just thought and blink before hurrying up, humming under my breath to block out the voices I can't hear. I ain't mad.

I'm about to enter the kitchen area when I gasp, steadying myself against the door frame. Oh sweet Jesus Christ on a bike, I feel like I've just had ice water poured all over me. Oh man, the fuck was that?! It was like a wave of... what was that?

I look around and make out someone turning the corner I just passed. Frowning, because I can't recall seeing anyone else tonight, and with what just happened to me I find myself following them at a quickened pace. I turn the corner only a few seconds after them, but see them disappearing around the next corner. There's a red hem of a dress disappearing, unlike any I've seen in the tower before. Scowling now, I rush to get to them. Maybe this is my mystery man!

I swear, that sounded straighter in my head.

After a few minutes of cat and mouse I find myself on a balcony outside the tower. Looking around, I see no-one else with me. The hell? I saw them go through this door not even two seconds ago.

Shaking my head in frustration, I look out at the landscape. I'm near the top of the Circle, and the view is... spectacular. The near full moon is bouncing off the near still Lake Calenhad, and a stiff breeze is making the trees swing their arms to and fro like dancers at a rave. I smile at my analogy as I glance up again at the stars, just staring for a minute. Always enjoy the simple things in life.

After being sufficiently chilled, I move to re-enter the tower. Should I check the library first, or get my soup?

A hand grips my throat and lifts me off my feet, and I immediately ease the pressure on my throat by grabbing the offending arm and raising myself. But the grip is vice like, the arm unyielding and I can't take a breath. Remembering a trick Tamarel taught me, I swing my legs up and wrap them around the arm, pushing at my attackers neck and face with my feet. In theory my full body should be stronger and they'd have to release me, whereupon they'd be unsteady and I'd break their arm.

But who this guy is, he isn't human. He doesn't budge and inch as I exert my full strength which, as a Hero and all that, is not something to turn a nose up at. After a few moments, black spots begin to appear in my vision so I resort to plan B.

I click my fingers and shove a handful of flames into his face, burning his hood and flesh. He just stands there, and I notice the Templar symbols on his armour. At least I think they are. They have the same sword sigil, but it's surrounded by stars, and the moon instead of fire. The hell?

I cut off my magic and would grimace if I wasn't moments away from passing out. His clothes are ablaze, and his face is charred and half melted, one eye ruined and leaking... eye jelly.

Good on toast, I remember Shrek saying as I feel fear, bile and a scream burning in my oxygen deprived throat.

"Begone, apostate. Andraste shall judge ye for thy magic and thy sin," he says in a, surprisingly feminine voice before pushing me away.

I take a deep breath before something collides with my back. I've got too much momentum, and backflip over the stone railing, a scream building in my throat as the Templar seems to shimmer before I fall out of sight of the Templar.

About halfway down the tower I realise something. Daylen. Neria. Those are the names for the Mage Wardens. I met TWO Wardens. I asked for one, and they gave me two.

And that soon leaves my mind as I continue my plummet to the icy lake below.

Now I scream.

Read and Review, and I'll see you all soon.