BioWare owns all except for what I made up. : )
Well, well, we have two unexpected guests showing up to ask for Kai's help, one problem. They hate each other. So, can Kai broker a truce and find out what is going on before they kill each other? More fun ensues. Hope you continue to enjoy Kai's wild ride. : )
And my thanks as always, you are all for the support and appreciation! : ) Couldn't happen without you all believe me!
Blessings!
Kai jumped in between the elven girl and Swiftrunner just as both of them went to strike at each other. Kai's Qun martial arts had her knocking both of their armed hands aside, feeling a little stitch in her wound as she did so, Maker, Wynne was going to kill her! Kai then threw open handed blows to their chests, knocking them both away from each other. Sten grabbed Swiftrunner and held him by both arms while the man growled at the young woman, his eyes glowing an intense yellow. Keiron had grabbed the elven girl the same way, his apple sticking out his mouth. The situation would have been comical but for the seriousness with which they were going after each other.
"Bloody hell, what is going on here?" Kai reached a hand to feel the bandage on her side, "And how did you two find me?" Zevran had come over and gently lifted her shirt to look at the wound his fingers making her skin tingle. When he shook his head, his look told her the cut had not opened up again. Kai felt herself flushing, but she let out a sigh of relief. She smiled in gratitude at him before turning her gaze back to her two visitors. They both started to talk at once. Kai held up a hand, "Swiftrunner?" Kai turned to him. He shifted his glowing golden eyes to her.
"My clan went to live in Gwaren after you freed us, lady..."
"Your clan, more a pack of filthy killers no matter what skin you wear" The elven woman glared at Swiftrunner.
"ENOUGH" Kai roared, and she was glad to see everyone flinch but Sten and Shale, "I have had enough of your sniping and trying to kill each other. If you want my help, you will either behave yourselves, or I will kill you myself." Kai glared at the girl and Swiftrunner in turn, "Your being here could put us all in danger."
Kai heard a thump as Keiron spit out his apple, "She is magnificent!" He stage whispered to Zev, while grinning that big goofy grin of his. Kai rolled her eyes.
"Continue, Swiftrunner, you and your clan moved to Gwaren?" Kai nodded at Sten to let the man go.
"Yes, my lady, your generosity allowed us to move back with our fellow humans. It has been difficult sometimes, there is so much we have had to relearn, but we have been accepted, we are doing well. However, Gwaren has been taken over by people from Tevinter and they are protected by Anora's men. They are moving great quantities of lumber onto ships." Swiftrunner's face frowned in concern.
"They move great amounts of lumber, lady, because they are chopping down parts of the Brecilian Forest and our home!" The elven girl, whom Keiron had released his hold on, glared at Swiftrunner before turning her worried gaze on Kai. Voices started to buzz in the courtyard amongst the native Ferelden Scath, some of them were obviously explaining what that meant to their Antivan counterparts.
Kai looked at Zev, "Grab Eamon, Wynne and Teagan, have them meet us in the Great Hall. He nodded and slipped back inside. Kai nodded to the elf and Swiftrunner, "Follow me, please." Kai motioned for the Scath and the rest to come as well. They made their way into the Hall. Kai had her guests both sit at the long dining table. The Scath and the rest of her friends all found places to sit or stand. Kai grabbed a servant and asked for refreshment for their guests to be brought. She waited until Eamon, Teagan and Wynne had seated themselves before making introductions.
It was Eamon who spoke first, "I want to know how you both found out Kai was alive and how you found us before we go any further. I need to know if we must leave here now." Eamon's face was deadly serious. Before they could both began talking again, Kai waved her hand at the elven girl.
The girl flushed and looked at Kai, "My name is Alariel, lady, and I give the word of myself and my clan's keeper, Lanaya, that no one else but she and I know you are alive and where you are. Well, and the mad mage who hides in the forest, but he is not going to be talking to anyone but Aneirin." Alariel gave a small smile, "As you know, the clans only meet once every few years, and in between we wander. Our clan happened to be in the area a few miles outside of Gwaren at the foothills leading to the Kocari Wilds. The Tevinter are cutting down the forest. When we saw what was happening, we didn't know what to do. We have been destroying their tools, their wagons, creating mayhem in any way we could, but the human queen sent more men to help guard the shem who are destroying our home. Some of ours have been killed. They hang the bodies from trees to rot as a message. They keep us from cutting them down to give them a proper burial and return them to the forest."
The elf continued after accepting the water the servant had brought. "We sent Aneirin to speak to the mad mage in the Eastern part of the forest. He was always friendly to Aneirin. We sought his magic to help us, unfortunately the shem is too deranged to be of any assistance. He is too paranoid about a them finding him. But he told us that there was one who could help, a dead woman who was not dead. The woman who gave him the silver ring he wore in trade for an acorn. He said she had been kind to him, she'd given him food and blankets to keep him warm and a book to read. He magicked the ring to tell him where she was. She told him she would come back some time and visit him. Apparently, lady, he thought of you and Aneirin as his only friends. You made a good impression on him, even in his addled mind." The girl grinned at Kai across the table, "We thought you dead, lady, that is what we heard from ours who trade with the shem. Imagine our surprise when the mad mage showed us the ring and how it worked. We had to trade for it, of course, and promise to return it to him. But it will be worth it if we can call upon you once again, lady." Kai smiled at her.
"Well, I had no idea he would even remember me once we left him, he really is quite mad, the poor bugger. I need to make sure he gets some supplies." Kai looked at Eamon, "Feel better, Eamon?"
"No, as the gentleman has not answered how he came to find you," Eamon looked at Swiftrunner.
"The village mayor is basically a prisoner, and Anora has not put another teyrn in charge of Gwaren since her father was executed. It remains leaderless and is under martial law. No one is allowed to leave. I take it if word got out to the other banns, arls and the Teyrn of Highever, there would be uproar?" Swiftrunner looked at Eamon who nodded.
"Well, the villagers all met in secret. Because I am most agile, I was chosen to sneak out of Gwaren and try to find the 'Silver Griffon.' We all heard stories before the village was locked down. We had even received aid in the winter from the Griffon. I was to take the Brecilian passage and go to Denerim to discreetly inquire at the Gnawed Noble Tavern. It was our only lead. So I went there. I asked the bartender, who acted as if he did not know what I was talking about. But he gave me a key to a room there and told me to spend the night. I did, but I must admit I was confused. I am still learning human facial expressions and body language. I went to the room and settled in. I got a visit from a person dressed all in black who put a dagger to my throat and demanded to know why I was asking after the Griffon. I explained, and he told me where to find you and gave me this." Swiftrunner pulled out a silver medallion with three crescent moons back to back with the third moon pointing downwards while a triple knot with the point upwards connected the moons in the middle.
It was the symbol of the Scath. Kai had it designed and all wore a ring, a pendant and carried the medallions secreted on their persons. The medallions were to be given to those who were in need of help from 'The Silver Griffon' or the Scath. As a means of alerting each other, they could even draw three arcs back to back with their feet in the dust if in a public place. As a test to see who might be part of the cause, they could draw one arc and see if the person in question knew to draw the rest.
Kai fingered the cold metal that Swiftrunner had carried. Well, it seemed they would need to travel to the Brecilian Forest. Kai motioned Naseel over, "Naseel, get on the procul globe, tell Zaeed to take his time packing up. Then, get all the Scath here ready to go." Naseel smiled, nodded, and saluted before turning on her heel to go upstairs.
Kai turned to Eamon, "We will need use the Brecilian passage. It will be our quickest route after leaving the West Road. Do we have any safe houses close to the forest for the twins?"
Alariel broke into their conversation. "I know that you may stay with my clan, lady. Your children will be safe there, I swear it. My clan owes you our very existence. We will protect them with our lives. Though the only threat we have is the Tevinter, and they do not know where we are camped, we have made sure of it."
Kai smiled at her. "I thank you and your clan, Alariel, we will be taking Swiftrunner with us. He can help fight, and he has as much at stake as you do. His home is invaded and his people threatened as well." Kai raised a hand before she could protest, "Alariel, Zathrian cursed Swiftrunner's ancestors, Swiftrunner himself and his people were not trying to kill your people. They wanted to be free from something they had nothing to do with, just as your people are free from shems. Can you honestly tell me you and yours wouldn't have done what they had to do to be free, that your people haven't? You are more alike than different, Alariel, iIt is time to forgive and move on, don't you think?" Kai could see the girl thinking on what she said. She hesitated a moment and nodded. Then she put out her hand to Swiftrunner, who looked at it for a moment before taking it in his.
"Good, now that's settled, well, now we know what Anora is doing to get all that money we found. We all need to pack and get moving, we have a village to rescue, a forest to save, and Tevinter bastards to drive out of Ferelden, no pressure." Kai laughed, "Let's go save the world."