Chapter 58: Battlefront
"I wish to speak with them."
Ana stood on the path a short distance from Caer Bronach, the old fortress that stood near Crestwood village. A force of about a hundred men and mages stood on the path behind her. They awaited her order to advance.
The Inquisitor sighed.
She would have preferred not to have this be bloody; she had spent the last few days striking down the undead shambling their way towards Crestwood village. She was wet, tired and she stank of fish and smoke.
Yet, she had no choice, the rift in the lake still blazed bright. Spirits still continued to flock into this world. There was no way to close that rift from the surface, it was underwater, the Mayor of Crestwood suspected it was in the caves beneath the ruins of old Crestwood, ruins that the darkspawn had flooded ten years ago during the Blight.
Caer Bronach was not just a fortress, it protected the controls of Crestwood dam, according to the mayor, those controls had been smashed by the darkspawn years ago, but Ana still hoped that they could be repaired. She had spoken to Gregory Dedrick, the Mayor of Crestwood, inquiring if such a thing was possible. He thought it a foolhardy endeavor, with little chance of success, but had no other ideas of his own.
So, Ana decided to proceed.
She had not been idle these last few days. She had come up with a plan, if they could open the floodgates, drain the water that had submerged old Crestwood, then she would be able to reach that rift and close it, they could end this nightmare.
She shook her head.
Unfortunately, the fortress had been taken over some time ago, bandits, highwaymen the villagers called them. They were quite organized for a pack of thieves, and had just enough supplies in the Caer to make things difficult.
So, she had waited, she had sent a raven to Corporal Vale in the Hinterlands to send reinforcements. They had only just arrived this morning, along with several mages and the Bull's Chargers. Their arrival gave her hope that they would soon be able to ease Crestwood's suffering.
She had tried to send a scout into the fortress under a flag of truth; the highwaymen had fired on the poor man. He only just escaped with his life. Now she had to find another way to speak with them.
The inquisitor snorted with irritation, every day these men resisted was another day wasted, and more lives were put at risk.
She had grown tired of it.
These men were scum, but they were also still fighting men, and they knew the terrain. If she could end this peacefully, perhaps they would get a few recruits out of this.
She glared at the distant fortress.
You don't want to be my enemy, you stupid bastards, she thought.
Do the smart thing and let us in.
"I may be able to help, Inquisitor."
She smiled at the arrival of Grand Enchanter Fiona. She had hoped the woman would come, she had heard that she had been in the Hinterlands trying to convince the few remaining rebel mage cells to join their fellows in the Inquisition.
During her recovery after the battle of Haven, she had spent a lot of time with the elf. The two of them often speaking over cups of tea, Ana was trying to build a rapport between the mages, most were pleased with the alliance, but a few still feared that the Inquisition would turn on them as soon as the war was over.
Ana did not want that.
Mages did need restrictions, she did not deny that, but she saw no reason why they could not govern themselves if they accepted advice from non-mages. She still liked the idea of a reborn College of Magi, or some new governing body. Perhaps a charter could be created mages and chantry officials sharing power equally, there would have to be some safeguards built in of course. Never would this body be allowed to be occupied by all mages or all mundanes, the balance would need to be held.
She had no desire to see the rise of a new imperium.
Fiona seemed open to these suggestions. The two had met several times with leaders of the former mage rebellion, some were more than distrustful, but with time, she thought she would be able to win their support, just as she had won Fiona.
The elven woman had come to accept that the Inquisitor was not her enemy.
"I would appreciate it, Grand Enchanter," she said with a slight nod.
Fiona smiled and murmured softly under her breath, her fingers began to glow. She gently reached out and touched Ana's throat.
The Inquisitor felt a slight tingle, she was about to say thanks but Fiona stopped her.
"Speak to these ruffians," she said, "they will be able to hear you now, just speak as if you were addressing me, and they will hear."
Ana nodded, she stepped away from the troops, and stood before the path to Caer Bronach.
She took a deep breath and began.
"HIGHWAYMEN OF CRESTWOOD!"
She was surprised at how her voice carried over the wind, like thunder, she glanced at the Grand Enchanter who smirked at her.
"A useful spell," she said, "Especially when you need to speak over a crowd of screaming enchanters."
Ana smiled at her and continued her address.
"THE INQUISITION HAS COME TO CRESTWOOD, AND ORDER HAS RETURNED WITH US! WE HAVE NO DESIRE TO HARM YOU, BUT WE WILL IF YOU CONTINUE TO BLOCK OUR ENTRANCE TO CAER BRONACH! OPEN THE GATES AND WE WILL SEE THAT YOU ARE TREATED FAIRLY AND WITH COMPASSION!"
Ana stepped forward so that the men and women in the fortress could see her better.
"YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES TO COMPLY! WE WILL…SHIT!"
Ana was yanked back by a powerful arm; a cloud of arrows fell right where she had been standing! The Inquisition soldiers raised their shields, but the bulk of the force was out of range.
Ana cursed, she had fallen in the mud when she had been pulled back. She rose and dusted herself off as best she could, which was not well.
It had been raining on and off for three days!
Was a little sunlight so much to ask for?
She looked up at her savior; Iron Bull was smirking down at her.
"I guess they say "no" to your offer, boss," he chuckled.
She shook her head.
"Thanks, Bull," she said glaring at the distant fortress.
She felt her temper starting to rise again.
"I wanted to do this clean," she growled, "Why do these bastards have to be such dumbasses."
The Qunari snorted with amusement.
"Too many easy victories," he said, "These assholes are used to being the biggest dogs in Crestwood."
His smile turned predatory as he drew his wax axe, Ana did not fail to notice that it was as big as she was tall.
How many people had Bull killed with that thing over the years?
She could not even hazard a wild guess.
"I think we need to show them that there is a new pack in town, don't you agree, boss?"
Ana returned his smile, and drew her blade, the fire runes blazed to life.
She glared at Caer Bronach, and the defiant men inside.
They have made their choice, she thought grimly, and now, I have made mine.
Maker have mercy upon their souls.
"We take this fortress," she ordered, "Quarter will be given to any who surrender, I'm not interested in a bloodbath, but make sure the men know that we aren't taking any chances either. Their lives come first, if they are in danger, the use of lethal force is authorized."
Bull nodded grimly.
"Shall I give the order, Boss?"
"The word is given," she answered.
He smirked and turned to the assembled soldiers.
"These bastards have made their choice," he called out, "So now we do what we must."
He raised his war axe high.
"FOR ORDER!" he roared, "FOR THE INQUISITOR!"
The soldiers behind them roared back, their own weapons held high.
Ana shouted over the din, her sword lowering towards the gates of Caer Bronach, they had tried to do this clean, but now they had no choice.
The men inside had made their choice, and now she had made hers.
She shouted her final order; it was what her men had expected…
She did not disappoint them.
"ATTACK," she shouted into the wind.
"ATTACK!"
IOI
The Inquisition surged forward, arrows and lightning rained down on the defenders of the fortress. Inside the Highwaymen rushed around, preparing to repel the attackers.
Ana led from the front, Iron Bull and his chargers at her side, they stayed close to her, acting as bodyguards of sorts, not that she needed one. The Inquisitor was a force to be reckoned with, and she was a red head.
The Qunari smiled.
He felt a little envious of Commander Cullen, having her favor. Oh well, if he could not have vice, he would have violence. He was good at violence.
It was an old friend, he thought
It was what he was meant for!
He had been picked for military service early on, but over the years he had come to like the pleasures of the world outside the Qun.
He would see those pleasures protected. Ana Trevelyan would keep the world spinning; she would not allow everything outside the Qun to fall apart.
He respected that.
Still, he could not say for certain what his superiors thought about his most recent reports. He had tried to portray the boss in the best possible light. He hoped to convince the Triumvirate that an accord with the Inquisition was wiser than seeking to oppose them militarily.
So far he had gotten no response to those reports.
That concerned him a bit.
What if his people decided that the Boss was becoming too powerful?
What if they came to see the Inquisition as a threat?
He did not like those questions.
He did not like them at all.
He roared as he reached the gate of Caer Bronach, he hit it hard with his ax, his swing digging deep into the hard Fereldan wood.
First blood is mine, he thought with a savage curl on his lips.
He smiled hungrily, for the moment all thought of the future was gone.
He was here, now.
He was in battle!
This was his purpose!
This…is what he was made for!
He stepped aside as the scouts hit the gates with pitch grenades, fire arrows and witch fire caused the ruddy substance now splattered on the gates to burst into hot flames.
Highwaymen above them tried to chuck rocks down on their heads. The distant mages and archers harried those, a few highwaymen fell, with an arrow in their throats or found themselves turned to stone by a spell.
He heard the boss, shouting orders. The few battle mages that had advanced with them sent large boulders crashing into the burning gate further weakening it, all the while a group of Inquisition soldiers brought up a small hand held battering ram.
Iron Bull smirked.
This place wasn't the most secure fortress he had seen, no moat, no real outside fortifications, not that the Highwaymen would have been able to man them if there were. Places like this held because of their high position and a large number of soldiers with plenty of supplies.
These bandits did not have the men to hold this place, not against a superior force. Had the Ferelden army really wanted to, they likely could have reclaimed this place quite easily, but it was clear from the reports he was receiving that the Fereldans had other problems, especially with the Venatori now moving through their lands.
He had heard a rumor a few years back that King Alistair of Ferelden had defeated the Arishok in single combat. Word was that the Arishok considered the King a friend, and declared him basalit-an.
That alone made the man worthy of Bull's respect. The boss had made some noise about travelling to Denerim to meet with him, when she did, he would request to accompany her as bodyguard.
He was curious to see the man who had bested the Arishok.
The battering ram hit the door hard. Charger archers who were used to close quarters fighting covered the crew manning it. Ana stayed close to the wall, too close to be targeted by arrows, she looked eager to be one of the first through those doors when they gave way.
Bull was pleased by that.
Say what you liked about Anastasia Trevelyan, but it was clear that she expected nothing more from her troops then she was prepared to do herself.
It was a philosophy he agreed with, it was one he shared himself.
"PUT YOU BACKS INTO IT MEN!" he shouted, "CRACK THIS BASTARD OPEN!"
The battering ram hit the door again, and again, and again!
The heavy door creaked loudly, it split along the center. They could hear voices on the other side, Highwaymen soldiers rushing to meet them when the door finally gave.
Bull gripped his ax eagerly.
He was eager to say hello, and goodbye.
"DOWN!" he heard the boss shout.
The crew of the ram kneeled.
Another boulder flew through the air, another shot from their loyal mages.
It caused the door to shatter; it even managed to take out several bandits waiting on the other side.
A battle cry rose up from the Inquisition ranks.
They had broken through!
The fortress was theirs!
The Inquisition charged like a flood.
First the courtyard, then the rest of this place, it would be fun!
Iron Bull cried lustily.
He put his head down and charged like his namesake. His horns caught a swordsman and an archer; he brought up his ax striking low.
He cut one of his opponents in half, the blade cleaving him from left thigh to right shoulder.
The blood just made him hungry for more!
He spotted reinforcements coming down the stairs from the wall. They hesitated when they saw him; he was likely the first Qunari they had ever seen in these parts.
He gave them a cheery smile.
"So," he said holding up his bloody ax.
"Who dies first?"
They all charged him at once.
Bull chuckled.
Damn, he thought.
I love this job!