BioWare owns all but what I made up. : )
So we are moving into bronto poo territory again. I am glad you all liked the girl talk. Again, praises go to Night Hunter MGS. As foreshadowed we will be getting to Orzammar in the future, along with securing her first dwarven Scath. And Rajed gets to show off. So we are going back to the town near Lake Calenhad. And Kai gets important news in this chapter about people she thought were already safe. Oh and a little Ali lovin' for all you swoopers, and especially you Jeanny! *HUGS* I hope you all continue to enjoy. : )
A shout out to Night Hunter MGS, who pointed me to the movie "Ninja Assassins," so I could see an actual weapon like the one for Rajed in action. I did not know such a weapon existed, but I am glad does as it makes what Rajed does more believable. And it helped E write it, so hopefully you can see it too. Thank you, my friend!
Author shout out goes to Ladyamesindy for her another of her tales "Walking Wounded," a one shot based on the Cousland being so broken the others had to lead. A shout out to Doxx on FF for the story "Breathless" which is an Ali/Zev romance. Doxx has also done a wonderful fan art for my "Drench a Wench" scene with Zev. It is wonderful; if I can figure out how to post it somewhere so you all can see it, I will. Doxx is multi-talented! So thank you Doxx! Shout out to a SPOILER story by ProsePrincess for her first posted story on FF "Shades of Grey," which is a great telling of Fem Cousland after losing Ali in the Blight and her going to Amaranthine. It takes place two years after the Blight is over. Cadsuane on FF, LadyDamodred on the forum for "Broken Road," a really wonderful telling of the noble origin story with multiple points of view. And a shout out to another of my favorites that I have been following a for quite a while Azzandra's "The Long Way." It is a Sten adventure/romance for all you lovers of the big guy. It is a really well written story which captures Sten's personality so very well.
And a shout out to Hikari86, and Ataea for putting this story on favs and alert. And to crayonboxromance for putting it on alerts. Thanks so much! : D
My signature love and appreciation goes out as always to you all. I couldn't do it without you. Lurkers, reviewers, you make my motor run. I am humbled and in awe that such talent finds my tale telling good as well. That makes what you say to me even more poignant.
Blessings!
Putting on Zev's vallaslin had gone well, despite her own nerves. She had not fumbled as she had feared she would. Zevran had laughed at this, asking her how it could have gone any other way after she had spent hours practicing on the slab of pork she had stolen from the larder. When she had wanted to put it off again, he had pointed out that Olwyna would probably put Kai on a spit and roast her if she tried to take another side to practice on. So, now Zev sported his own blue crescents.
Kai had word from one of her Scath whom she had sent back to Lake Calenhad that Georig, Talan's son, was back in the town there. Kai had been packing for a short trip to the lake once again. She wanted to make her offer of joining the Scath to Georig in person. Plus, since she now knew how to do the vallaslin and had committed one to an actual living being's skin, she could give Georig his if he said yes. It was with that in mind that she packed inks and tools as well as clothes and sundries.
It was while she and Zev had been packing their saddlebags that they had word that Rajed was asking to see them in the training area before they left. Kai and Zev made their way down to the open air rotunda. She found her Scath, some of the off duty guards and Gnat all standing along the walls of the atrium. It had been cleared of training dummies and Rajed stood in the middle with a bowl of chalk at his feet. Kai approached the shy young man with a smile. "Scathach, I was hoping to show you what I can do with the weapon you gave me. I am ready now. I had hoped that you and, say, five of the others might spar with me?" He gave her a shy grin.
"Certainly, which one of us would you like to go first?" She gestured to the others standing around waiting.
"No, you misunderstand me, Scathach. I want you all to fight me at the same time." He flushed but his smile did not waver. She could see he was excited and eager. She cocked an eyebrow and grinned back at him nodding. She gestured for Leli with her bow, Zev, Naseel, Zaeed and Oghren to join them. "I am going to put the sheath in chalk, it should mark you like a cut. If you get a mortal wound I ask that you step out as in a real fight. Other wounds that you would be able to fight through, of course you stay. Is that okay?" He looked at all of them. Kai and the rest nodded and started to fan out pulling out their own weapons.
Rajed rubbed the chalk that the warriors used to keep their hands dry in practice all over the leather sheath before winding the thin chain around the stump of his arm and once around his full arm, and spinning the rest over his head in wide arcs. Oghren was the first to move in. With a berserker cry and his axe raised high in two hands, he ran towards Rajed. And then time sped up and it all happened fast. Rajed, without even looking back, slung the blade towards the dwarf while spinning in a side somersault, the chain flying out and wrapping around the handle right below the massive blade. Rajed came up and gave the chain a yank causing the axe blade to bury itself in the dirt. Another yank and he had it spinning out again in an arc that had all but Leli, who was nocking her bow with rubber tipped training arrows, to duck as the blade came whizzing around.
Kai found herself doing a forward leap over the chain which effectively stopped her forward progress to get to Rajed with her blades. She was up and on her feet in a moment only to have to duck again, backwards this time. Leliana had managed to fire off shots, but none even came close to Rajed as they were knocked from the air by the chain or the blade. Rajed was moving so fast that Kai couldn't keep up with his moves. He had apparently taken the ones she gave him, expanded on them and created his own to go with his stump of an arm.
Her inner musings were quickly put aside, as she found herself with various small chalk marks which she hadn't even felt hit. She needed her concentration in full on her Scath. As the "wounds" were not mortal, she continued to try and get to Rajed. Oghren was down for the count, as he had been struck across the back of his neck where his metal armor did not reach while trying to extricate his axe from the dirt, a cut that would have sliced his head off. Leliana too was out, as Rajed had used the sweeping arc to knock her bow from her hands and quickly strike the bard when she went for her blades. He continued to spin and kick and make the blade dance on its chain. Zaeed was out when he got close only to have Rajed wrap the chain around his stump, grab the blade and catch his brother across the throat, while kicking Zev who had been sneaking up and as quickly dispatching Naseel by swinging low and catching her across the abdomen, a move that would have spilled her guts around her feet.
Kai thought she had her moment then, but in a flash the blade had swung out again and Kai had to bend over backwards as it sailed past her nose, barely missing it. She watched as Zev's leg got "severed" and Rajed once again yanked the chain bringing the dagger to his hand only to "plunge" it into Zev's chest, bringing a "Braska!" from Zev's lips. Kai meant to move forward, but Rajed held up a hand and pointed to her chest. It had a long chalk line from her throat to her navel. She hadn't even realized she had been hit. She grinned at him while putting her hands on her knees trying to catch her breath. "That was very impressive and most deadly. Bravo, Rajed, bravo!" There was a thunderous applause from all who had been watching. Rajed blushed, his dark skin getting darker, but he grinned from ear to ear.
Kai watched Gnat who was clapping walk up to Rajed and speak quietly to him while gesturing. Kai could tell she was asking him to spar with her alone. She had no idea what Gnat hoped to do since he had just effectively "killed" six foes, but it should be interesting of that she had no doubt. Kai took herself to stand next to Oghren, Zev and Leli along the wall.
Again Rajed doused the blade and its sheath in chalk and stood looping it in long arcs. Gnat faced Rajed without drawing her daggers and stood waiting for him to make the first move. He looped the blade over his head and then in a blink let it fly towards the diminutive elf. Gnat simply watched it arc towards her and then sank into a split her legs stretched out on either side of her body which turned into a roll forward, followed by her raising up on her arms her legs in a split raised in the air as the blade sailed between them. As the blade was pulled back Gnat was on her feet and doing somersaults while rapidly closing the distance to Rajed. As the blade came arcing her way she leapt up and almost walked the chain as the blade went past. Kai watched as Rajed's quick moves were met with the quick agile moves of tumbles, rolls, and jumps. Rajed's blade would land where Gnat had been just a second before only to hit the dirt. It ended when Rajed found himself on the ground with the beautiful elven girl straddling his shoulders and her two drawn blades crossed at his neck. Both were staring at each other. Kai would have sworn they stopped breathing for a moment.
If Kai had thought that Gnat's playing with the chained weapon with the ball and the blades had been an erotic dance, this was more so. "Now I really need to go take a dunk in the lake, Warden." Oghren's gruff voice spoke to from her right.
"Oh my." Was all Leliana could say. Kai looked at the pretty bard who was wearing a flushed, slightly hungry look.
"Indeed, that had all the elements needed to be truly titillating. That little display would compete with some of the most sensual shows in Antiva." Zev grinned at her. "And I think on that note we need to get ourselves to Lake Calenhad, no? We have a dwarf to speak to and an inn room I am now looking forward to using even more than before." He gave Kai a saucy wink and a chuckle as he went to gather their saddlebags. Kai blew air out and followed him.
They traveled to Lake Calenhad. Wynne had insisted on coming this time, so no repeats of needing a mage to fly or run to get to her should healing be needed. Leliana and Jarren came along as well. Kai suspected that Arl Eamon, Teagan and even Naseel herself had insisted that Kai be accompanied and protected as much as possible. The thought made her roll her eyes, but what could she do? They would go whether she wanted them to or no, and on one level she was very grateful. The darkspawn doing what they were doing, which was not what they should be doing, made her appreciate the company. She gave a mental head shake.
They made it to the Spoiled Princess as night was falling. Kai got the Ceffyls tended to and her group all situated into their rooms. She found she was tired and sore and decided she would rather bathe and go to bed than eat. Zev went with the rest to the common room leaving her to soak. Kai felt all the tension leave her muscles and when the water had started to cool got herself into a night shift and crawled between clean cool sheets and duvet. She closed her eyes and found herself in the dream side of the Fade.
As always she felt him before she saw him. She found herself wrapped in strong arms as she buried her head in his muscular chest. His lips found hers, and she wrapped her arms around his neck. Her whole being just sighed and stretched like a cat in the sun.
She felt his lip grinning against hers. "You told Morrigan to talk to your mother! I should be mad at you, you know." His gray eyes looked into her deep blue ones. They sparkled with mirth. "And the witch and her hex has caused me to drop things, break things and trip over my own feet."
"You deserved it you know. You shouldn't pester Morrigan. You know she will come to the Fade where you are one day." Kai grinned at him. "And how do you know tripping over your own feet is the dream net's doing?"
"Hey-y!" He said in mock hurt. "On the other hand, good point." He smiled his lopsided smile at her, his hand brushing her hair back from her face.
"Besides, you were spending time with her in the dream Fade when you could have been spending it with me. Shouldn't I be jealous?" She gave him an impish smile and was pleased to see him blush.
"NO! I just wanted to...you know I don't. I mean Morrigan and I are barely friends, and that was only because of the twins." She laughed and kissed him, rubbing her lips against his. "You just like to do that to watch me blush and squirm don't you?"
"And if I told you 'yes?'" She gave him a sly smile.
"I would say you are a bad person." He grinned at her.
"Do you hate me?" Kai cocked an eyebrow at him. He leaned in.
"Very. Let me show you how much." His mouth devoured hers, making the room spin, and her heart filled with joy as it beat faster, so fast she thought it would burst. His hands roamed along her back pulling her into him, molding her body to his. They fit as if two pieces of a puzzle had been snapped together. "Always," echoed in her head. It was Alistair always, nothing else mattered. He was her sanctuary.
They tumbled backwards onto the bed in the forest clearing, her favorite spot to meet him. She arched under him as his big callused hands rubbed and enticed, setting every nerve alight. His mouth roamed down her neck across her chest and lower, only to return to nibble and bite her lips again. She clawed restlessly at his shoulders running her fingers up his spine causing him to shudder. She felt his breath hitch as she let her own mouth roamed across his broad muscular chest. "Hey, not fair!" He groaned as she laughed and continued.
In retaliation he let his tongue run along the edge of her ear and scraped teeth on the lobe, an erotic spot that had surprised them both when they discovered it. The world spun faster and faster like the chain in the sparring practice. Mouths feasted, hands tickled and enticed, breathing ended in gasps and moans. She opened for him only to close again surrounding him. She tightened and stretched, arching until she thought she might break. She grasped him tighter to her, breath ending in a cry of triumph as his body had its own spasms, his lips whispering her name in gasps into her hair.
She loved the heavenly weight of his body on hers. She was in the perfect position to nibble his neck. "My ears are ringing. How do you always do that to me?" His sentence came out in little bursts with his ragged breathing.
"Talent?" She laughed. Ah, she felt so used. Like a doll made of velvet sprinkled with gold dust. She was boneless. And she always felt such happiness that surely it emanated out of the pores of her skin. He raised up to look her in the face, cupping her cheek while grinning.
"Talent, yes. And that I am totally, absolutely in love with you might have something to do with it." He kissed the end of her nose before rolling over and tucking her in beside him.
"Well, I guess I have to admit to being totally in love with you as well. In case you hadn't figured that out by now. Just so you know." She grinned and kissed his chest, ending with a sigh of contentment. She was just dozing off when...
She was woken up by Zev's gentle hand on her shoulder. "Since you did not eat last night, my dear Kai, I thought you might like to get some breakfast, no?"
She smiled at him and nodded. At least she'd had a good night's sleep for once. She hadn't been sleeping particularly well since Alistair had broken the news about The Architect and Fiona had filled her in on more of the details. Those details had only served to send even more fingers of fear racing down her spine.
She brushed those thoughts aside and focused on getting dressed so she could grab a bite to eat and meet up with Georig. She also had some armor ideas for Rajed's shorter arm that she wanted to run by Hulda, since she had seen him in action now. She had a better idea of how the armor should fit the stump and a modification that might help him control the chain. And she wanted Talan to make backup weapons for both Rajed and Gnat.
Kai and Zev met up with Wynne, Leli and Jarren in the common room. The others were already enjoying some breakfast when they sat down at the table. Kai was surprised to see Felsi serving the morning meal, as she usually worked the evening shift. "Hi, Felsi, sorry I couldn't bring Oghren with me. We are planning on leaving tomorrow morning, so this was a short visit."
The pretty dwarf just frowned and made a scoffing noise. "I have a message for you for that pile of walking nug droppings." She put her hands on ample hips. "You tell that sodding nug humper that he knocked me up!" And with that Felsi turned on her heel and walked back to the kitchens, leaving a stunned group in various positions of getting food to their mouths.
"Well, who is going to tell our drunken friend the good news?" Zev asked with a grin. Zev's question started a whole argument back and forth, ending when Wynne found a deck of cards on a nearby table. Low card would be the one to tell Oghren of his new "daddy" status. Zev got the Jack of Hearts, which made Kai snort at the irony. He only gave her a sly grin and ran his fingers along her thigh under the table. She rolled her eyes at him. Leli drew the Ten of Diamonds. Jarren pulled the Five of Spades and started to sweat across his brow. Kai thought she might have a chance to beat this, when Wynne pulled out the Queen of Clubs. All Kai had to do was beat a five, and she drew the Two of Hearts. With a groan she slapped it on the table.
When Wynne swept up the cards in a fanning motion and shuffled the deck with one hand, Kai knew she had been had by a card shark. She grimaced at Wynne who wrinkled her nose and laughed. "What do you think we do in the Tower on our off time?" Kai rolled her eyes, grinning, and took herself out of the door to follow the path up the hill past the ruins to town.
She was pleased to see the town still bustling with activity. In fact it was almost as if they had just left five minutes ago, rather than weeks. Kai waved to several people as she went past. She did grab one of the townsfolk to inquire where Timothy was. As it turned out, he was visiting with Talan; apparently Nila had sent him to get a pot fixed.
Kai made her way to the blacksmith's shop and found Nila and Drysi sitting outside talking with Talan's wife Eue. Eue held a little baby wrapped in a blanket in her arms while Drysi and Nila drank tea. Nila saw her first and her face split in a huge grin as she heaved herself up; her own belly had gotten slightly larger than the last time Kai had seen her. Nila pulled Kai into a hug. "My Lady! It is so good to see you! You remember Drysi? And Eue you already know." Kai smiled at Drysi, who actually smiled back. Besides the lack of swelling in her belly and face, she looked like a different girl. The girl actually smiled, and it reached her eyes.
"Hello again." Drysi got up and gave Kai a shy hug. "I wanted to thank you, my lady, for what you did."
"I am not the one to thank, Knight Commander Greagoir is. I see you decided to keep the baby." Kai went to Eue and looked down at the sleeping infant.
"I struggled with that, but when I saw my son, I decided he was mine and the Tower couldn't take him. Why should I leave him? So he is mine. I named him Gawyn." Drysi picked up the babe from Eue and hugged him to her, smiling. Kai smiled back
"I am so glad, Drysi. If you need anything or I can do anything for you, don't hesitate to tell Nila or Timothy." Drysi nodded and beamed at her.
"You have done more than I could have hoped for, my lady. Thank you." She smiled and sat back down. Kai couldn't figure what they all thought she had done. As far as she was concerned, she just played messenger.
"Talan, I heard, is busy fixing a pot for you Nila."
"More likely he and Timothy are in there drinking a mug of ale with Georig and Aulber. Hulda too, come to that. She always was one of the boys." Eue nodded her head towards the workshop adjacent to the anvil and bellows. Kai grinned and saluted the women before walking past them to the workshop door.
It was just as Eue had suspected. Timothy's great height towered over the dwarves as he leaned against the wall with a mug in his hand. "Aha, Eue told me about the party you have going on in here." Kai managed to just get that out before she was swept into a bone cracking hug by Timothy and a mug of ale from the keg sitting on the workshop table was pressed into her hand. More mugs were passed out to her group who had all filed in behind her. Wynne drank hers with relish, she enjoyed a good ale. Kai remembered her shock at learning that when Oghren had given Wynne a sample of his homemade brew in the Deep Roads. The mage always seemed to surprise her.
Kai explained to Georig Timothy's suggestion about him joining the Scath. She explained the vallaslin and exactly what it meant to have one, that it could mean death. Georig agreed to join immediately. She was surprised when Talan, Aulber and Hulda all insisted they, too, have the tattoo put on. When she expressed her astonishment, Talan explained that since he and his family all worked as the armor and weapons smiths for the Scath, then they were in a sense already Scath too. And so it was that Kai found herself putting vallaslins on the entire Hennslin clan, Eue included who said she was just as much a part of it all.
Kai showed Georig how to use the procul globe and what taps to use to activate it, along with the short and long hand motions for communicating. She explained that if anyone else used it without the proper code, the globe would be rendered useless. She was about to put the globe back into its velvet sack when it started to glow and fill with iridescence which coalesced into the head of Zaeed. His normally happy go lucky expression was replaced by a stoic one, which only meant bad news. She watched him make the motions over the ball back and forth before nodding and signing off with him.
"What is it, dear lady?" Timothy caught her grim expression.
"I am afraid we have to leave tonight. The less you know, the better. I am sorry about the abrupt departure." Timothy just gave her hand a little shake as he shook his head at her. Kai turned and asked Hulda for the armor for Rajed to be made and gave Talan instructions for making back ups of the weapons he already made. She thanked them, snuck a bag of coins onto the workshop table and bid them farewell. Kai waited until they were all back at The Spoiled Princess and in Kai and Zev's room before she told them what Zaeed had to say.
"It seems that our Scath in the castle at Denerim overheard one of Anora's boot licking nobles bragging about how he had single handedly found some of the soldiers who deserted after the Alienage invasion." Kai clenched her hands into fists as she paced. Her stomach felt as if it had ice in it. "They found the ones relocated to West Hill. Arl Wulff, who has lost so much already, is under suspicion. They have taken West Hill. I understand Arl Wulff is under house arrest. It has been days, the Scath only now heard about it."
"Then we ride for Highever to pick up reinforcements and on to West Hill, no?" Zev reached out and grasped one of her hands.
"And pray to the Maker we aren't too late." Kai nodded grimly.