27
Isabela's exhausted body collapsed on the sand. It had taken her hours to row her stolen lifeboat back to the shore. Dawn had broken and the sun was moving higher in the sky as she took in her surroundings. She was somewhere on the Wounded Coast, she remembered it well from all her moonlit strolls with Hawke.
The movement of a ship had always had a relaxing effect on her, and she'd been so busy dozing on and off that she'd almost missed the vision of Kirkwall ablaze against the horizon. But the second she'd seen it, her heart had stopped beating in her chest, and she'd known that she needed to come back.
She stood up in the wet sand, picking up the enormous tome. If she left immediately, she could make it to the city within half an hour. She started her journey on foot.
By the time she made it within the city walls, there were bodies strewn everywhere, both human and Qunari. She saw nothing alive as she made her way through the Docks, and on to Hightown.
As she made her way through the silent market, a panicked City Guard ran up and grabbed her by the shoulders.
"Run the other way, serah! The Qunari are taking everyone to the Keep. Get out of here!"
"Is the Arishok there?" Isabela demanded.
"I don't know, I think so. I've seen them dragging people, screaming. You need to leave the city, now!"
Isabela swiped his hands off her. "No. I'm not running away this time." She turned her back on the guard, and headed for the Viscount's Keep.
There were Qunari bodies splayed all over the steps, all fresh kills. Some of the corpses were charred to the bone - a mage had killed them with fire. Hawke, Isabela thought hopefully.
At the top of the stairs, she was confronted by a group of templars, led by a formidable looking older woman. She was wiping the blood off her greatsword as Isabela approached. "I am Knight-Commander Meredith, of the Templar Order," she announced in a stern, crisp voice, "State your business, messere."
Isabela locked eyes with the woman. She had greying blonde hair, and icy blue eyes. She was adorned in the shiny, silver armour of a templar, with a head piece that set her apart as their leader. Before Isabela could speak, Carver Hawke stepped forward.
"Isabela?" he asked, his tone surprised.
"Carver? Is Hawke alive?" Isabela asked, trying to keep the desperation from her voice.
He frowned deeply. "Yes. My fool of a sister has just gone into the Keep. She believes that she alone can talk the Qunari down. Typical."
Isabela gestured with the tome. "I might be able to help her with that. I think this is what they're after…"
Carver's scowl deepened. "I knew there was more to your story. You may have tricked my sister, but not me."
"Enough talking! Ser Carver, we'll discuss your colourful associates at a later time. For now, it's gone past the point of negotiation. These creatures will pay for this outrage. If that apostate wishes to throw her life away, so be it. It will save me having to decide her fate later." Meredith's voice was a knife slicing through the air.
Carver grimaced at the statement. The relationship between the Hawke siblings had never been good, but if Hawke was forced to submit to the Circle, or worse, then everything the family had sacrificed was for nothing.
"Come with me, serah. We will present your book to the Arishok, and put an end to this" Meredith said, opening the door and motioning for Isabela to step through.
The stairway to the throne room was littered with dead Qunari, their corpses still smoking from the flames that had taken their lives.
Meredith eyed off the destruction. "The apostate saved my life out there. I was cornered, and with the flick of her hands, she set an entire squad of Qunari ablaze. I've never seen anything like it. She is powerful, I will say that much"
"Yes, she is" Isabela said, a note of pride ringing in the words.
Meredith did not strike Isabela as a woman that missed much, and she did not miss that. "Having power is like flipping a coin. It can be a blessing, or a curse. We will see which side your mage lands on, and, saviour or no, I will act accordingly."
There was a guard standing at the door. His huge grey biceps bulged as he crossed his arms in front of his chest. He had a spear strapped to his back, and an axe on his hip. "Are you here to submit to Qun?" he asked.
"Certainly not! We are here to parlay with the Arishok. Let us pass, beast" Meredith commanded, the contempt dripping from her lips.
The Qunari shook his head. "The one that goes by the name of 'Hawke', already speaks for your people. All others must stay outside to await execution, unless they are willing to submit."
They didn't have time for this, and Isabela knew it. In a flash, she unsheathed one of her knives, and slid in into the soldier's belly. She moved it up quickly, slicing through his flesh and organs, until she stopped at his ribcage. He grunted in pain, and sank to the floor as she withdrew her blade. Meredith gave her an approving nod, and Isabela sheathed the knife. Together, they walked through the, now, unguarded door.