Chapter 73: Civil Murderers
"So Kiddo, you and Curly, huh?"
Ana looked down at Varric, the two of them were currently sitting at breakfast, the first two to arrive, the servants had not even brought the food out yet, but they were waiting none the less. She did not really appreciate the mischievous twinkle in his eye, or the smirk on his face. Still there was not much she could do about it, she was not a tyrant here after all, she never sought to control her friends and allies, not directly anyway.
She gave her friend an arched look.
"It is not like it was some big secret, Varric."
True, Kiddo," he chuckled, "Too true, but at the same time, no one had heard anything more than mere rumor…"
His smirk grew wider.
"Last night, I think everyone in the house heard more than…rumors."
Ana blushed.
"You…um…heard us…?"
"I think they likely heard you two from the Winter Palace."
Ana's blush darkened.
She had not been trying to draw attention to her and Cullen. Part of the reason she had decided to do this in Val Royeaux was the privacy it provided. Maker knew, in Skyhold, she and Cullen had almost none…
As for the…noise…well…
…That could not have been helped.
She had been…thinking about taking their relationship to the next level for some time, even before Mother's visit to Skyhold. Cullen had been sweet, and very discreet, but, to be honest, she had grown weary of discretion, and if Cullen's performance last night had been any indication, so had he…he…
Even now the memory sent a shiver down her spine, made gooseflesh appear on her arms.
It…it had taken a bit to get Cullen out of his armor, but once she had…whoa!
He had gone beyond anything that she had expected. What they had shared had…had…it made he feel. Made her feel…well…made her feel like the luckiest woman in the world. Cullen was not the most…emotional man she had ever met; he hid that side of him. When he did decide to show his passions…
The very thought made her shudder.
It was safe to say, that still waters ran deep, deep and…hot.
He had approved of the purchase that she and Vivienne had made earlier that day, the lingerie certainly had not hurt his motivation any, once her robe had been removed he had looked upon her almost with a sense of wonder and awe.
Of course, that had not stopped him from removing said items, shortly after he had seen it, but perhaps that was the whole point.
He had seen the wrapping, now he wanted to see the gift inside.
She reminded herself to thank the mage later.
They had made love twice that night, and then again when Cullen had first woke up. He had left shortly after, while she dozed in a happy stupor, he needed to get back to the men, make sure they were ready to march when she gave the order.
Of course, first he needed to tend to his own needs, their needs.
Ana smiled.
Cullen had not disappointed.
After their first time he had seemed a little distracted, kept looking at the door, like he was expecting it to burst open or something. It had taken a bit of…coaxing on her part, but she had managed to get him to relax. Shortly after that, the second round had begun. Cullen…he…he was.
She sighed happily.
He had been so sweet and attentive. Asking if she liked what he was doing? Asking if she wanted him to do more? It had been wonderful, and by the end she had been completely spellbound.
They had not been Inquisitor and Commander; they had not even been Ana and Cullen. Instead, they had simply been two loving animals both exploring and wallowing in all the physical love could grant you.
"Kiddo?"
Ana blinked, she had not realized that she had been simply staring off into space. Her mind had filled quickly with many honeyed daydreams. She found herself thinking about all the nice hard surfaces in the estate, and how it might feel to have Cullen…indulge himself with her on them.
She cleared her throat, trying to focus back on the now.
"I have no regrets, Varric," she said, not a single one."
He gave her a gentle smile.
"Good for you, Kiddo," he said, "Never let anyone convince you that loving someone means saying you're sorry for it."
Ana smiled then, grateful for her friend's understanding.
It was appreciated, especially considering how some might judge her choice to be with Cullen.
Varric was not like that, and she was extremely grateful for it.
"Of course," she continued, "That does not mean that I want to see any reference to me and Cullen in your next book."
Varric snorted at that.
"Would I do something like that, boss?" he smirked.
"Maybe," she smirked back, "Just see that you don't…okay?"
He grabbed his chest in an exaggerated fashion.
"Madame," he gasped, "You wound me!"
"I just might," she said grinning, "If you give me a reason to…"
Again Varric chuckled.
"Remind me to introduce you to my friend Aveline at some point, Kiddo. I think you two would get along, you seem to have the same opinions on relationships, and my desire to explore them in literature."
The Inquisitor smiled and shook her head.
She knew that she could not keep her relationship with Cullen secret for long, and in truth, she did not want to. She was not ashamed to call herself his, and would thrash anyone who criticized her decision to get involved with the handsome Commander.
What they did in the bedroom was their business. The Inquisition could have her sword and her courage, but what she had with Cullen…
That was something she would keep for herself.
"Speaking of romance," she said, "How is the latest chapter in Swords and Shields coming?"
The dwarf beamed.
"I had burst of…inspiration last night, thanks to two people who shall remain nameless unless I want to find myself a prisoner of the Inquisition."
She frowned slightly.
"I would never go that far."
"Maybe," he admitted, "But I won't be taking that chance."
She chuckled, and waited for him to continue.
"I'll have a rough draft ready by the time we get back to Skyhold. "
He gave her a sly look.
"Don't forget our deal."
"I won't," she promised.
I want to be there when you give the Seeker the book."
"You will be," she nodded, "Trust me."
"I always do, Kiddo," he said, as the first of the servants arrived with their morning meal.
"I always do."
IOI
Later, the group was making its way down the market street in Val Royeaux, several citizens stopped and bowed in their wake, others twittered curiously, not that Ana was surprised.
The Inquisitor in full battle armor walking down the street in Val Royeaux could likely be considered something to note.
Josephine led the way; the two of them were to meet with the Ambassador's contact, one Comte Boisvert. He supposedly had news regarding the murder of several of Josephine's couriers, men and women who had been delivering papers that would aid in family in reestablishing their trading status here in the Empire.
Ana had agreed to help her. Varric, Solas, and Josephine followed in her wake, acting as their guards. Cullen had insisted on that point. Boisvert insisted on meeting with the Inquisitor personally, the Commander preferred that she be cautious. He had no desire to see her or Josephine walk into a trap.
The Inquisitor smiled.
After last night, she would likely not be refusing the Commander anything, at least for a while.
Josephine gave her a concerned look, until now the Ambassador had been too lost in her preparation for their meeting to notice much else.
"Are you feeling all right, Inquisitor?"
"Quite fine, Ambassador," she replied with a smile, "more than fine actually."
"You seem to be…moving a little strangely," the Ambassador said, "Is your armor in good condition?"
Ana blushed slightly.
If she was moving a little slower it was because she was a little sore today…
And that…had nothing to do with her armor.
Vivienne chuckled but said nothing. Varric smirked, but also remained silent. Solas was…
Ana frowned.
Solas seemed a little distracted this morning, he had ate little, yet had several cups of tea, he seemed more than eager to start out for the Exalted Plains, for what reason she did not know.
Hopefully, her old friend would let her know, if he was in any trouble, she wanted to know about it.
She respected Solas; she had no desire to see him suffer in silence.
Ana decided to change the subject, before Vivienne put her two coppers in.
"What can we expect from this Comte?"
"He wishes to be seen with you," Josephine said, "The suggestion that one has powerful friends, is valuable here in the capital. No one has forgotten what you have done in the Winter Palace. Word of your meeting with the Comte will spread."
The Antivan shrugged.
"He tells us what happened to my couriers, and gets to tell others that he has the ear of Inquisitor Trevelyan. In short, we both win."
Ana nodded.
She supposed that all made sense. Leliana's people here had already checked out the Comte, he seemed like a good man, a reasonable man, and since he appeared to have no connection to the Venatori, the meeting would go on as agreed.
Still the Inquisitor was no fool, she was going to this meeting armed and armored just in case, after the Winter Palace, she was taking no chances with the nobility. If the Comte asked, she would say that she was just trying to appear strong to any of her nay-sayers.
It was as good an excuse as any.
A man servant met them just outside the markets, and took them to the Comte's apartment here in the city. Despite the man's fawning demeanor, Ana sensed something was amiss.
She had expected an elf to meet them, but this man was human, not that there weren't human servants in the capital, but…
She got the feeling that the man was smirking at them behind his mask that he knew something that they did not.
Varric seemed to sense it too; the dwarf kept rubbing his shoulder, the one he needed to reach over to grab Bianca. Vivienne seemed amused if anything else, a lifelong player of the game, perhaps she already knew something was going on and chose to say nothing because the man amused her; perhaps she was waiting for the right time to strike.
Solas still said nothing.
Ana let the man lead the way, he had not asked for their weapons so she decided to let this all play out. If this was a trap, they had the tools to fight their way out of it. They just needed to be careful…
She was now very eager to meet with this Comte Boisvert…
…very eager indeed.
IOI
This is a most…unusual situation, Inquisitor. I hope you can understand that."
Ana nodded, the man was right about one thing, she thought.
This was a very unusual situation.
They were currently sitting on the balcony of Comte Boisvert's apartment. No longer were they playing at being civil, Josephine was glaring at the man, considering what he had just told them. The Inquisitor herself was fighting the urge to see "The Comte" lose his head for luring them here.
To his credit, Comte Boisvert was a picture of calm; no doubt he had allies watching this meeting, just in case things got out of hand. He was not really Comte Boisvert of course, but an agent from Orlais' House of Riposte, the assassin's league.
It appeared that there was now an active contract on Josephine's life. A contract put out over a hundred years ago, by a rival family that was now long dead. It sounded ridiculous to Ana, but having grown up in noble circles herself, she could see how such a thing could come to pass.
The agent assured her that he was not here to spill blood; he had even spared the real Comte Boisvert, who was now slumbering in the cabinet behind them. This contract was…unusual, so the House of Riposte felt that it owed Lady Montilyet and explanation.
The fact that the family that put out the contract was dead was irrelevant, the Guild always fulfilled its obligations to its clients, no matter how long it took.
A contract was a contract; both the agent and Josephine informed her of that. The House of Riposte lived by its word, and was doing only what it considered fair and right. Even if that meant killing people over a matter now lost to time.
They would not break a contract for any reason, there word was their bond.
They felt they were being civil.
The thought made Ana sick.
Civil murderers, she thought.
How Quaint.
Ana looked to the Ambassador, she understood this mess better than anyone.
Hopefully she knew of a way out of it.
Josephine was daunted, but not out of ideas. She suggested to Ana that she might be able to get the contract annulled; it was a matter of dealing with the descendants of the family that had first hired the assassins. They were not nobles now, but with the right push, they could be once again.
Then the contract could be terminated.
The suggestion amused the agent, but only served to aggravate the Inquisitor further. She did not like being manipulated.
When he rose, she stood before him, her hand on her blade.
He gave her a cold look.
"I did not come here to shed blood today, Inquisitor. May I pass?"
She heard the sound of Bianca sliding down from Varric's shoulder. She could also here the crackle of magic from both Vivienne's and Solas' staves. One word from her…
She glared at the assassin. He said he was being fair, but at the same time he had no doubt hoped to spread fear. No doubt wanting Josephine to do something desperate, something that would make her easy prey.
Ana was tempted to send the man's head back to his masters in a box, a warning for wasting the Inquisitor's time, and threatening those she considered friends.
It was a look from Josephine that stopped her. The House of Riposte had already murdered her couriers. She wanted no more blood over this.
Ana acquiesced to her wishes, she stepped aside and let the man pass. Josephine remained at the table, staring blankly out over the city.
Ana frowned.
This was not how she had wanted this little meeting to end, not with her sortie into the Exalted Plains so close at hand.
She realized that she would need to get Josephine back to Skyhold, she would be safer there. Leliana's people could shield her far better than anything that the Inquisitor herself could do.
She touched the Ambassador's shoulder, the woman looked worried, but at the same time she had not frozen.
Seeing that made Ana feel a little better about all this.
Josephine was intimidated, but not daunted.
That was no doubt why she was heir to her family.
The group began to leave, when pounding from the large cabinet in the corner stopped them, Ana drew her sword expecting a trap.
Josephine ran up to it, remembering what the assassin had said.
"Goodness, Comte Boisvert? Is that you?"
Loud mumbles came from the cabinet, and it shook slightly.
Josephine tried the door.
"It is locked, your lordship," she shouted, "We will find a saw."
More loud mumbling.
Josephine blinked.
"Milord, I know the cabinet is valuable, but…"
More mumbling.
Josephine gave the cabinet a sheepish look.
"A…um…locksmith then," Josephine suggested.
A short grunt came from the cabinet, likely meaning agreement.
The Ambassador sighed.
"Very well, Comte, very well."
Ana rolled her eyes.
If she lived to be a hundred she would never understand the games of Orlais.
The pleasure she had found with Cullen seemed very distant at that point, and would likely not be happening again soon. First she needed to see to Josephine's safety, then…
She would need to deal with these assassins, and the Exalted Plains. It would be a dirty business, but it was what was expected of her.
She was the Inquisitor.
She would not let her friends down.