BioWare owns all but what I made up. : )
Well, well, well. Kai has things up her sleeves that I don't think her mother will want to know about at all, poor Alistair. : ) Question, can you make the biggest, oldest, nastiest assassin group soil its drawers? I think Kai is going to see if she can. Kai is a chess player, let the games begin. : )
And thanks to all for your reviews and support. adako don't get in trouble at work now! But I have to admit it is a compliment that you are so compelled. You all are so wonderful! : )
And a shout out to Night Hunter, your review was so helpful. It was where I was going, so glad I wasn't off base. And I am using something from your review, so thanks so much! : ) You all rock my world!
Blessings!
Much to the annoyance of her compatriots, who had all finally straggled back to the safe house, Kai was right back in Denerim. Furthermore, she was back in the Gnawed Noble Tavern, this time in the room where Master Ignacio once assigned her jobs when she was making coin for the army she had been raising. At least this time there were no hard bar stools, smelly clothes, or onions and beer.
Kai found it delightfully ironic in a twisted-and-dangerous-game sort of way. She smiled behind the black cloth attached to the hood of her black cloak, it covered the lower half of her face when she pulled up the hood, which she done despite the roaring fire behind her. She was dressed in the black leathers of the Scath. Kai had every intention of keeping her identity hidden until the maximum moment of impact, since she and Ignacio were well acquainted. She felt it was just one more advantage to unbalance him and keep the tally in her favor.
Kai, Leliana and three Scath were in the room. Leli and two of the Scath were visible, one was not. Since Kai called this meeting, she figured it was her prerogative to show early. She had the chest with her 'gift' for Ignacio sitting beside the empty chair waiting for him, her booted foot resting on it. Kai heard a knock on the door, and the Scath named Jarren, one of Vimaro's former Crows, went to greet Ignacio and lead him in. Kai was amazed, not one of the Crows had wanted to leave. In fact, all became Scath and, Leli said, without hesitation too.
Ignacio looked much as Kai remembered him. His receding hairline was shaved close to a well-shaped head. His blue eyes were intense and observant. He was still dressed in a rich velvet outfit. In fact, he and his brother posed as rich merchants, as indeed they were. But mostly, they were Crows and assassins. So, Ignacio was a dangerous man, add to that, he was master of a cell of Crows working for the oldest noble house in Antiva, the House of Serracino. To become a master, Ignacio had to be the best, but at least he wasn't a walking abyss on two legs like Vimaro had been. Oh, he was cold and ruthless, he had to be. However, he wasn't a complete monster, which is why Kai was giving him the offer she had and not another master. How many were like Vimaro, and how many were like Ignacio? Better the enemy you know than the one you didn't, her father always used to say.
"And still does," Alistair's voice said into her ear.
Kai groaned. "You haven't been being interrogated by him, too?"
"No, your father takes what you get up to much better than your mother does. He is actually proud and calls you his 'fierce girl.' It drives your mother loop dee loo, I think he does it partially to take the heat off of me, bless him," Alistair's voice chuckled, "I really like him, you know."
"He really likes you too, apparently, if he is willing to draw Mother's ire for you." Kai gave a mental laugh.
Kai broke off her exchange with Alistair when Ignacio and his fellow Crows walked into the room. The Crows flanked their master and continued to do so as he sat down in the chair in front of Kai, facing the fire. Kai pitched her voice lower, "Greetings, Master Ignacio, I'm the Scathach, and I run the Scath here in Ferelden. As you have obviously heard, I have made most of Vimaro's Crows disappear while they were visiting our fair city." Kai allowed herself a smile that Ignacio could only see by the crinkling of her eyes.
"Yes, when I got the message from Zaeed, I had to admit I was..."Ignacio paused as if looking for the right word, "Intrigued. So here I sit, curious, which is usually a dangerous thing for those in our positions, no?" Ignacio shrugged slightly.
"Ah, yes it can be. But sometimes it can bring certain rewards?" Kai rose from her seat to walk to a table where a smaller chest sat, she opened it. The interior of the box had been fitted in velvet to cradle four, mouth-blown, full-bellied glasses and a beautifully decorated brown bottle. Kai removed the bottle and handed it to Ignacio. "Please inspect the bottle, Master Ignacio. I want you to be comfortable that I have not broken the seal, nor are there any puncture marks. I have no intention of poisoning you, but with our work… "Kai lifted an eyebrow.
Ignacio dutifully took the bottle and gave it a close examination. "I doubt you would have called for me to meet with you, dear lady, if you had only intended to poison me." He gave her a chuckle while handing it back. "Especially not if that is the Calvados apple cognac, I think it is. It comes from Orlais and is very expensive. I am honored." Kai smiled so he could see her eyes crinkle again above the black veil. Kai broke the wax seal on the bottle's cork and popped it open so the smell of smoked wood and apple wafted to her nose. She turned and pulled out two of the glasses from the chest. She poured the smoky, amber liquor and turned to hand Ignacio his glass.
He took his glass and Kai watched his eyes widen slightly. The glass was empty, save for a woman's well preserved finger wearing a ring with the heraldry of the noble House of Cresconio and the House of Crows. It was a daintier version of the ring Kai had in her pouch at present. "Oh my, I am so sorry Master Ignacio. How impolite of me and what a terrible hostess I am. I gave you a dirty glass. Please, take mine." Kai reached for his glass while holding out the other with the amber liquor in it. Ignacio removed the finger before handing the glass back to Kai and taking the proffered one. He calmly held the finger and inspected the ring closely, even removing it from the digit so he could turn it in the firelight.
Kai poured yet another glass of the cognac and got a burning taper from the fireplace. She held out the taper to Ignacio who smiled and swirled liquor in the belly of his glass while holding it over the flame to warm it. When he was done he sniffed the glass before taking a sip, "Ah, wonderful, truly a product of the Maker, no?" Kai smiled as she repeated his actions with her own glass before throwing the taper into the fire and removing the veil from her face, then turning around and sitting back down again.
Ignacio's eyes got wider this time when he saw her face lit by the fire before it was once again shadowed as she returned her chair. She casually propped her booted foot on the chest next to Ignacio once again, "Warden, so good to see you again." His voice sounded casual with an undercurrent of surprise, wariness and respect. Kai saluted him with her glass before sniffing the brandy and then taking a sip. It tasted of honey, apples and smoked wooden barrels. It also burned her mouth and all the way down her throat before creating a pleasant little explosion of warmth in her belly that spread throughout her body.
"We had always hoped to recruit you to our cell of Crows, but I see we should have guessed that one as talented as yourself would not serve, but lead." Ignacio gave a real smile this time and downed the rest of his cognac. He cocked an eyebrow and tilted his head towards the brandy on the table. Kai merely smiled and nodded. So, you have defeated the nasty, ophidian Concha. Brava!" Ignacio smiled and poured more of the liquor into his glass going behind her to get a new taper. "You do realize that this means Vimaro will hunt you down? He does not appreciate someone who interferes with his toys, and you made a good number of them disappear, a formidable job indeed. In addition, Concha was the favorite among his toys. They shared certain..."
"Certain interests," Kai interrupted with a smile. "Yes, I am aware of their extracurricular activities. But what if I were to tell you, Master Ignacio, that Master Vimaro will not be a problem for me?" Kai smiled at him.
"I would say you are very brave, which I know you are, but I would also tell you that Vimaro is unhinged," Ignacio gave a little chuckle. "Even more unhinged than most people have to be to do what we do, dear lady."
"And what if I told you that not only will Master Vimaro not be a problem, but that I am poised to take out one of the oldest noble houses in Antiva?" Kai sipped her brandy again letting the burn swirl in her mouth as the flavor of smoky apples and honey burst in the back of her throat. Kai twirled the glass casually holding it up so the firelight turned the amber liquid gold, tinged with orange flame.
Ignacio came back around her chair, blowing out the taper by shaking his hand rapidly while scrutinizing Kai's face to see if she was telling the truth. She met his gaze squarely while cocking an eyebrow at him and allowing a small smile to play over her lips. When he saw she was not lying, he looked disturbed.
"Our way of government has been in place for almost a thousand years. The vacuum of power such a fall would cause...its destructive power would be incalculable. If you destroy a cell of Crows and the noble house it serves, you could cause anarchy, chaos. There would be blood running down the streets in rivers turning the sea crimson." Ignacio's normally calm demeanor was the most alarmed she had ever seen. The man paced back and forth. Even his Crows gave each other wide-eyed looks.
Kai took out Vimaro's ring from her belt pouch and held it up to the firelight for Ignacio to see. "I assure you, Vimaro is no longer an issue." She kicked the chest next to the chair to draw his attention to it. Ignacio went to the chest and picked it up with effort at its weight. He sat it in his chair and opened it, pulling out a huge glass jar sealed with wax so its contents wouldn't leak. The liquid glowed golden amber, much like the brandy, but the liquid was decidedly more viscous. And in the thick golden liquid sat Vimaro's severed head with the one staring eye and one bloody hole where the other should have been, glaring out at Ignacio. He stared at it for a long moment before putting it back in the chest and setting the chest back on the floor. Kai just sipped her brandy and watched as Ignacio slumped back into the chair in front of her.
"I am afraid that is not all the bad news I have to share, Ignacio. You should steel yourself." Kai reached forwards and pressed Ignacio's brandy glass back into his hand. She then rose and grabbed the bottle from the little chest and poured a generous dollop into his glass, almost filling it. "Would you like me to get a taper?" she inquired sweetly. Ignacio shook his head and took a generous swallow.
Kai sat back down and drew out the velvet bag from her belt pouch. Setting her own glass on the arm of the chair, she reached in and pulled out the procul globe, or "far orb," as Naseel had told her it was called. She held it out for Ignacio to see. She tapped the pattern Naseel taught her onto its surface. She and Ignacio watched as it looked as if it filled with water and the iridescence coalesced into the face of Zaeed again. Kai smiled at the image and then held the globe out to Ignacio so Zaeed could bow to him. Kai then did a series of short and long hand motions; Zaeed's grin widened, and he bowed again. She finally tapped the orb, making the "water" recede and Zaeed's face go away. Kai started doing tricks with the orb, rolling it up her arms and back to her fingertips with dexterous rogue hands, up and back again, mesmerizing Ignacio who was looking positively pale now.
"As I understand it, these globes are not only handy, made for and used exclusively by the Crows, but each house also has its own code to use when communicating on them. It makes it difficult for one house to know what another house sent as a message. So, you have no idea what I just told Zaeed to do." She gave Ignacio one of her most winning smiles. "I could have told him to kill Lord Cresconio. Or I could have given him a grocery list." Ignacio just stared at her with a look of horror. "I also understand that I am now master of Vimaro's cell of Crows. They belong to me, all of them, that also means certain Crows throughout Thedas, ones with fingers in very big and very involved pies, all over the globe, some of them even working on projects with other houses? I could use this to call all of them to me, here. And they would have to come, no? Abandoning said projects." Kai made tsking noises.
Ignacio looked positively sick now. "Granted, you could try and kill me to stop me." Kai sipped her brandy again before slipping the globe back in its bag and into her belt pouch. "Please notice that I said try, not do. But should you even manage to succeed, you would have no idea what plans I have set in motion or what orders I have already given. You see, I didn't kill all of Vimaro's Crows. Hardly any, in fact, I have given proper burials to only seven. They were collateral damage when I raided Vimaro's hideout here in Denerim. Unfortunate, but necessary damage, alas." Kai set her glass down and steepled her fingertips in front of her chest. She gave him a moment to digest all she had told him.
"But, what if I told you I do not wish the destruction of Antiva? What if I told you I have a proposal to help cement both our bases of power, even broaden them?" Kai smiled at him over her hands before reaching for more of that magnificent cognac. Ignacio gulped his entire glass down and indicated that she should fill it again.
"I would say, dear lady, 'What do you propose?'" Ignacio took another big swallow of what she had poured into his glass.
"What I propose is this. Your cell and your noble's house will be the ones to negotiate a contract, a contract with a, say a four hundred year term with all the Crow cell and noble houses. Perhaps even a four-hundred year contract—she tried to pick a number that had a better chance of being agreed upon, four hundred for the Blight came into her head. This contract will cement an alliance between Antiva and Ferelden. It is a contract that will allow Crows to operate in Ferelden with certain quid pro quos. One of which would be that no Crow take a job which might put them in conflict with the Scath. It is a contract which also changes the way the Crows get recruits. No more slavery, Ignacio, none. There are plenty whose lives are hard enough who would be fine with joining your ranks of their own free will. There are even those who will join because they just enjoy what you do. They should be able to leave anytime they wish to do so." Kai shrugged and smiled again. "The way you all have been doing business has to change. I propose that your cell and your noble's house be the catalyst for that change."
"But my lady, the other houses will never agree to it!" Ignacio was sweating.
"Oh, but they will agree to it. Or I will bring all of Antiva crashing into the sea." Kai sipped delicately. "Your cell and its noble will just have to be extra convincing, no? And if any of the other houses even think about raiding the house of Cresconio to attempt a 'rescue,' I will have Adulpho's throat slit before they can get to him. Vimaro's cell has produced exceptional Crows. I will say that for his unbridled cruelty." Kai's mouth straightened into a grim line.
Ignacio gulped more cognac and asked for yet another refill. "I really hate to do this to you, Ignacio, but I must ask for more." Kai handed him the bottle, and he uncorked it and drank straight from the bottle. "I want all the papers for my Crows. They belong to me, and I am not going to Antiva to get them. You can understand why." She smiled again. "And the word is to go out. Zevran Arainai is to be left alone, as are all my Crows. They are Scath now, and with the new contracts I am anticipating from all the houses in Antiva, that will be part of and parcel of our agreement. Still, I thought I should expressly make this point so that there is no...confusion." Kai made her voice very cold and very hard.
Ignacio continued to take swigs from the bottle and was looking as if he were starting to sway a little. "Also, part of the contract will have House Cresconio absorbed by House Serracino. And when I say "absorbed," Ignacio, I mean that I want proof that it and Lord Cresconio have been brought firmly under Serracino's control, proof that I can hand to one Zevran Arainai. But think on this, old friend." Ignacio shuddered slightly at that word. "Your house will be the savior of Antiva. I expect that you can negotiate some bonuses and perks, no, subject to my approval, of course. Oh, take Concha's ring and Vimaro's head with you. Show them to the representatives of the other houses, they should help the negotiation process. I will keep Vimaro's ring as a trophy for Zevran."
"The head is in a jar of honey, in case you were wondering." Kai smiled and rose. She clapped her hand on Ignacio's shoulder. Ignacio looked startled. "Yes, I know it is an ostentatious display of wealth considering how expensive honey is. But it retards rotting, such that if Antiva lives another thousand years you could eat that honey then. Not that I would recommend it of course, considering what has been sitting in it, another small message. I will spend what it takes, do what it takes. Never forget that," Kai gave him another icy smile.
"It might also help the peace process if you tell them this. For what Virmaro did to Zevran, it took everything in me not to seek the ultimate revenge and watch all of Antiva burn. And one false move, one little thing that causes me to look at what he did to Zevran a little more closely – whether it be dragging their feet or trying any tricks – and I will set a firestorm into motion with a mere flick of my fingers across my procul globe." Kai grabbed Ignacio's chin and forced him to look her in the eyes as she let the abyss come to the surface. "I am so very tempted, Ignacio. I would love to have a reason. It won't take much of one. Tell them that, won't you?" Kai shuttered the abyss and shoved it back down again. She let his chin go and clapped him on the shoulder again.
"Cheer up. All may yet be very well. Oh, you may keep the cognac. I have more. Vimaro was absolutely addicted to the stuff apparently. Just leave word with the barkeep here at the Gnawed Noble and with Sanga at the Pearl when you have word back. I have Scath everywhere, they will let me know." Kai saluted him and started to walk to the door. The Scath hiding in the tub emerged to follow her with Leliana and the remaining two Scath falling in behind. Kai turned at the door, "Oh, and Ignacio?" Kai thought the man was going to have a heart attack, "Relax, I was just going to say I look forward to my discount at your brother's booth in the square here." Kai's laughter followed her out of the door into the tavern hallway.