40
They stood outside Velasco's room. From the grunts they could hear from within, he was busy with one of the girls, but they didn't have all day to stand around politely and wait.
"I'm starting to have doubts about this… You know what a terrible liar I am," Hawke whispered, turning to Isabela, doubt written on her features.
"Get it together, Hawke. Just think of every awful thing I've ever done to you. There should be more than enough material to draw from. Don't hold back, this needs to be convincing."
Hawke nodded. "I suppose that should be easy enough. Okay, let's get this over with and… I'm sorry."
The mage grabbed a handful of Isabela's hair and dragged her towards the room. She burst through the door, and the two women were confronted by the image of Velasco, standing at the end of the bed, pants down to his knees, with an elven prostitute bent over in front of him. He immediately stopped his thrusting.
"What is this? I've paid for the whole night!" he said angrily.
"My name is Hawke, and you were told to expect me. Put your manhood away, and let's talk payment." She threw Isabela to the ground roughly.
"Ah, the Champion. You are more beautiful than I was told. Perhaps you and my friend here would like to swap places, no?" he said, gesturing to the elf woman that was on all fours in front of him.
A look of utter disgust swept across Hawke's face. "You think that a woman like me would let herself be taken like a dog by you? Be serious, Velasco. Give me my money and I'll be on my way. I'll be happy to be rid of this burden" she said, throwing a dirty look in Isabela's direction.
"I can't believe you're doing this to me, Hawke! I trusted you!" Isabela yelled, trying to make the betrayal seem plausible.
Hawke shot her a withering look. "Why is it so hard to believe? You're a traitor, Isabela. You've done nothing but cause me pain. Why would I help you now? Once you're dead, I will finally be free of you."
A moment of panic overcame Isabela. That hit far too close to home. She tried to read Hawke's expression, deciding if this was a part of the act or not, but the mage's face was a perfect mask of hatred and bitterness.
The elven prostitute gathered her things together and scurried out of the room, as Velasco, now fully dressed, pulled a coin purse out of his coat pocket. "Your reward, Champion. And Castillion sends his regards. He hopes that you two will work together again in the future."
Hawke accepted the purse, and nodded. "I look forward to it. And tell him not to be gentle with the Rivaini whore." She spat on the ground at Isabela's feet, and the pirate felt the sudden realisation hit her.
She had stepped into a trap.
Hawke turned and left, as Velasco grabbed Isabela roughly by the arms. "Oh, Castillion is going to be so happy to see you. If you'd faced him years ago, you would've gotten a quick death. But now… He's had years to think of the ways he's going to hurt you first. What a shame, my pretty little pirate."
Isabela dropped the gems on the ground in earnest. She knew that Hawke had betrayed her, she felt it in her bones. She couldn't even be angry, not really, she was so impressed by the mage's newfound powers of cunning and deception. Isabela learned long ago to trust nobody, and only ever rely on herself. She had forgotten those lessons, and Hawke had outmanoeuvred her. Isabela could respect that.
Well played, Hawke, well played…
Velasco finally stopped at their destination, a warehouse at the Docks. He dragged Isabela through the door by the arm, and pushed her up against a support beam.
"Look at what I've got boys! Captain Isabela's mabari bitch has finally turned on her. There'll be no public duels for her life, this time!" Velasco announced to the pair of armed guards that were waiting at the waterside.
They leered at her as Velasco removed her knives, roughly running his hands all over her body to find any hidden blades. "You and your doglord interrupted me before. I think you need to help me finish, Isabela."
"That's not happening, Velasco. I do have some standards."
He pushed himself against her. His breath stank. The elven prostitute must have been relieved to have been taken from behind. Isabela would have no such luck. He threw her to the ground and stood above her, unbuckling his belt.
"What are you doing?!" she demanded.
"I am going to have some fun with you. I hear you do your best work on your back. The only thing you're any good for."
"You will have to kill me first, Velasco" she said, as he fiddled with the fasteners on his pants.
Velasco hit her across the face with a forceful backhand. Isabela felt her lip split immediately and blood spurted down her chin. Her cheek was hot and stinging, but she stared up at him defiantly.
He licked his lips as his eyes devoured her. "There's no need for such dramatic measures, Isabela. I like women that put up a fight."
Isabela got desperate. "Don't, Velasco, please" she begged.
He motioned to his guards, and they moved to either side of her, pinning her to the ground by her arms. He leaned over her, engulfing her with his putrid breath. "I always wondered what you were working with under these clothes…" He used one of her blades, and with a quick swipe, he cut the lacing at the front of her tunic, exposing her breasts. "Very nice, captain…" he whispered.
Isabela closed her eyes tightly, and waited for the inevitable.