"I can't believe you."

Garrett struggled not to roll his eyes as he walked onwards, behind him Carver and Bethany quietly trailed, not about to intervene in the ridiculous argument of the pirate practically stepping on Garrett's heels as he felt her glare bore into the back of his head. Sighing, he forced himself to reply. "Which part? The part where I agreed to take a job from one of your friends? Or the part where I denied him his illegal goods?"

"The second, of course!" Isabela fumed. "Look at me!"

Garrett gave in to the urge and finally rolled his eyes, well aware that Isabela's tone was causing quite a few of the people walking along the street to shoot the group curious looks. I suppose it's too much to ask of Isabela to be discreet... Coming to a stop, he turned, calmly looking at the pirate, not surprised at finding her glowering at him, which took away much of her usual 'charm'. "Isabela, I took that job on the expressed proviso-"

"I don't even know what a proviso is!" Isabela snapped, apparently set on being rude.

Garrett ignored it as he calmly continued "-that there would be no illegal parts in our job."

The pirate tossed her head back with a roll of her eyes. "You do illegal things all the time..."

"Please, say it a little louder..." Carver muttered with a shake of his head, causing Bethany to shoot him a grin.

"Only if the risk is minimal and the gain vital for the interests of my family." Garrett countered, eyes not budging as he met Isabela's gaze. "My time with the Footpads is over, my time as a criminal is over, I will not put my family at unnecessary risks for a few coppers."

"Family, family, family...you really are a one-stringed banjo, you know that, right?" Isabela angrily retorted as she shifted where she stood, crossing her arms over her chest and leaning on her heels.

"That's because I take my responsibilities seriously." Garrett snapped, ignoring how Bethany flinched at the words as he continued. "Now, if you're done with the personal attacks, I will tell you that not only did you lie to me about what we were supposed to get, but also about how many guards there were, just because they are barely armed thugs does not make them harmless, it was too risky, what if they had stayed and fought?"

"Risks is what makes life fun." Isabela managed a chuckle, though her eyes still flashed in anger. "Besides, it was just a little poison!"

"No, it makes it short." Garrett snorted, crossing his arms over his chest. "As to the poison...did you know that back in Lothering me and my brother worked for a man named Barlin?"

Isabela sighed, staring at the sky with an exceedingly bored look on her face. But Carver, knowing what Garrett was about to refer to, grimaced at the memory, making Bethany pat his shoulder with a reassuring smile.

"He had this tendency to put out poisoned traps, you see, he figured that he shouldn't just chase the animals off with painful traps, that if he killed enough of them they would eat less of his crops. Of course, traps are hard to spot by his workers, as such Carver here once got nicked by one of these traps." Garrett paused, letting the words sink in as he narrowed his eyes at the memory as much as at Isabela. "He was bedridden for two weeks, near death for one, and there was nothing any of us could do to help." For a moment, his stomach clenched up, the old terror he had felt resurfacing despite how long ago it had happened. "So if you think I'm about to help distribute more poisons out to people with even less respect for their fellow man than Barlin you are sorely mistaken about my morality."

Isabela just stared at him, right eyebrow arched...then shook her head, voice low. "B-but they wouldn't poison you or your family..."

"And how do you know that?" Garrett snarled. "Are you psychic? Or does the fact that making dangerous things like swords and poisons more easily available to unscrupulous characters make the city less safe for those living in it not register to you? That by protecting a group you're protecting the individual?"

Isabela stared at him for another moment, then her shoulders dropped as she shook her head. "You're impossible...fine, I get it."

"I'll have you know I'm quite reasonable." Garrett responded with a shrug as he turned and moved back to his path. "It's not my fault you lied to me, the consequences are yours to deal with."

Behind him there was a loud snort, a pause, then a sigh. "Where are we going?"

"I'm going to Varric to see a dwarven merchant about a job." Garrett responded, not breaking his stride as eagerness drove him on. This job struck him as dangerous, but with the risk came great rewards...and Garrett felt greed grip him, he wanted the money, he wanted to get to the deep roads, he wanted his family to finally be safe. "As to where you're going, I would guess the Hanged man." He tried not to shoot the pirate a glare.

"Ohhh...I sense good pay...and fun!" Instantly Isabela forgot all about her complaining, her voice tinged with excitement.

Garrett sighed. "And why would I bring you along?"

For a moment there was silence, hostile silence...then Isabela visibly perked as she spoke in a way suggesting she just came up with it. "Because I'm a good fighter, and you know it, so I'll follow your lead, do as I'm told like ah...ugh...good girl, and you get the lion share of the treasure." He glanced back, finding the woman shrugging. "I just need a silver or so and I can get a good week of drinking in if a few charming men add their coins..."

Oh brother...why not save the money for that bloody ship you daft... Garrett took a deep breath, as he turned back to see where he was going, it wasn't his job to tell Isabela to do with her money. One silver for her services on a big job is a good deal though... "Very well, on the proviso-"

"See, there's that word again!"

"-on the condition that you do obey my orders, and no arguing your price mid-job again." Garrett continued, not breaking stride, nor allowing Isabela to see what he thought of the deal. She's unbearable, but a silver for a good warrior for what might be a tough job? I'll take that with the headache of her company any day.

"Deal!" Isabela exclaimed, sounding decidedly pleased.

Idiot. Garrett struggled not to smirk.

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"I can't believe you're getting twenty gold for this..." Isabela muttered, she was pouting, much to Garrett's enjoyment, but he didn't allow it to show, nor take his attention away from his work.

Javaris was paying well for the removal of the Tal Vashoth, exceedingly well, then again, with a great product within reach, it was an investment the dwarf would get back in full, and quickly. As to Garrett, he could not help but jump at an opportunity to earn so much of what he would need for the journey into the Deep roads.

But the challenge was up, the gold wasn't free, it would be paid in pain, blood and even death if they weren't careful.

Garrett wasn't about to let that happen, he had called everyone in.

His siblings, it was a risk, but one he had to take.

Maric, not even the Mabari could be spared.

Aveline, reliable as always.

Varric, set on helping Garrett until he had the required amount of sovereigns.

Anders, who Garrett had Bethany convince to help.

Isabela, nursing her silver with a bitter frown.

And Fenris, hired in exchange for first pick of twenty percent of anything the Tal Vashoth had. Apparently the elf was a bit of a gambler, willing to risk getting nothing, and while Garrett could well risk losing a lot of whatever the Tal Vashoth had stored away, he wasn't about to complain, he had his eyes on the prize.

The Wounded Coast was one of great dunes of sand constantly lapped at by crystal clear water, with grey cliffs rising up at the sky a few hundred feet further inland. What little vegetation there was clung to the narrow space between the sand and the great cliffs, but they also thrived, the grass, bushes and trees growing tall and being a vibrant green under the blazing sun above.

It was beautiful.

Garrett wasn't about to let that distract him though, kneeling in the sand of one of the large sand dunes, under the shadow of a cliff and the tree growing against it, he was watching Fenris with avid interest.

They would be cautious, not charge in like madmen, as such Garrett intended to take out the sentries outside the cave the Tal Vashoth had made into a base, then quietly move in and kill the giants one by one. No heroics, no fancy moves, quietly and efficiently, minimising the risks. He had told the others this, and Aveline had of course backed him, sensible as she was, while Isabela had pouted a bit, which had been even more reassuring that Garrett was doing the right thing.

Fenris knew about this plan, as such Garrett was a bit confused as to what the elf was doing. Garrett had considered using Isabela and Varric to quietly remove the sentries, but Fenris had volunteered to do it. Which was why it was very strange to see the elf openly stroll towards the cave ahead, his weapon remaining with the rest of the group as he eyed the confused-looking Tal Vashoth.

Part of Garrett wanted to hiss a warning, or sigh at the face of his plan crumpling, but while he had a bad impression of Fenris as a person, he also had the distinct impression that the elf knew what he was doing.

As such, Garrett waited, ignoring the looks Aveline and Carver were shooting him.

Ahead, Fenris raised both hands, his words calm and clear...and in a language Garrett vaguely remembered from Lothering and the imprisoned giant there. "Shok ebasit hissra. Meraad astaarit, meraad itwasit, aban agun." He...speaks Qunari? Garrett exchanged a puzzled glance with Aveline, but then they both shrugged, they knew precious little about the elf, after all.

The Tal Vashot seemed equally surprised. The two giants exchanged a glance, then shrugged, making their massive muscles, muscles that made Fenris like a twig, ripple. The one to the left raised his spear though, thumping the end into the floor. "The Qun from an elf? What is this madness?"

The other followed his example, raising the spear until it was no longer aimed at Fenris' chest as the elf continued to advance. "The Qun is madness, and if you're looking for a quick death, I suggest you speak more of it, this is your only warning."

Fenris stopped before them, his hands still in the air, despite being tall for an elf, he was dwarfed by the massive Qunari. " Maraas shokra." His body came alight, reminding Garrett of Anders' Justice. "Anaan esaam Qun." And his hands shot forth.

Two grunts...and Garrett found himself gasping as the elf's hands effortlessly slid into the chests of the Qunari. The giants looked equally shocked, staring down at where the arms had pushed in, at the light surrounding the wounds that weren't wounds.

Then they groaned...and fell...and Fenris stepped back and ripped his hands free, holding two beating hearts in them.

What the...hell! Garrett came to his feet, already moving down as he saw the elf casually toss the hearts aside and turn to face the group hurrying down, his still bloody hands reaching towards Carver. "My hammer, please."

Carver hesitated, face pale and eyes on one of the hearts that seemed intent on still beating as it sunk into the sand.

Garrett pulled the weapon free from his brother and tossed it to the elf, eyes narrowed. "What was that? Are you a mage? An abomination? You speak ill of magic, but that looked like magic to me, dangerous magic."

"I'm no mage." The elf snarled, cocking his head to the side. "This...magic if you will call it...was not imbued in me by choice, but by a Tevinter Magister; it's useful, but painful, and the reason that bastard is hunting me." He shrugged at the rest of the group's stares. "What, you thought he was hunting me for sport or because the tattoos are pretty? He wants them because it's of lyrium, runes embedded in my flesh...a small fortune." He turned his head, spitting at the ground, his voice low. "Probably out of pride too..."

"No wonder you hate mages then-" Garrett muttered, eyeing the tattoos with a new-found respect.

"It's no excuse." Anders growled low, shooting Fenris a glare, apparently set on disliking the elf more than even Garrett did.

-but you should have told us." Garrett continued.

"I should have, I apologise, though I'm sure you'll come to appreciate having such abilities at your disposal." Fenris calmly replied, unfazed by Anders glare.

"And what's with the Qun speak...?" Carver spoke, finally remembering to stop staring at the Qunari heart.

"I have on occasion met Qunari." The elf shrugged. "You are from Ferelden, aren't you? Qunari are more common here."

Garrett arched an eyebrow, sensing there was more to it. "If you say so, by the way...what does Tal Vashoth mean?"

Fenris calmly looked back. "True grey, they have renounced the Qun, they are...lost, or so the Qunari sees it. In the Qun you are seen as having chosen your lot in life before you are even born, when a Qunari throws this away, chooses another path, he is Grey, an abnormality to be purged."

"So choosing to be anything but what you're told to be is wrong?" Carver grunted. "What a nice religion...these Qunari are weird beasts."

"They do not see it as a religion, but as facts." Fenris rebuked the human, shrugging. "And the Qunari is a society, not a species, though most see the Qunari as these Kossith that dominate the Qunari ranks."

"You seem to know a lot about these Qunari..." Garrett noted, pleased that his curiosity had been sated as well as having made Fenris reveal he knew more than he was letting on.

The elf calmly looked back though, not disturbed by Garrett's questioning tone, his own levelled. "Yes, I do."

"Well..." Garrett shrugged and looked away, realising he was entering dangerous territory and knowing there was no time nor need for it. "...we should move on, the Tal Vashot will change their guards in one hour, I want to be ready to ambush them before that."

With that, he descended into the cave, and the darkness within...

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Thanks to Abydos Jackson for taking so much time out of her schedule.