Hard as they rode, they would have still been too late if there had not already been Inquisition forces at Haven. No many, and fewer still by the time Killeen's squad thundered up the path, scattering hurlocks and gemlocks, across the melted rock of the plane and through the ruined gates.
Without her needing to order it, First Company dismounted and went to form a shield wall across the gap, giving Leliana's scouts a much needed respite. Second tended to the horses.
Killeen flung herself down from Firefly and tossed the reins to the soldier waiting for them. She looked around, spotted a familiar face. "Report," she ordered crisply.
"Maker, we're glad to see you," Scout Harding said. Her usually amiable face was set, drawn with lines of pain, and Killeen could see the stump of an arrow in her arm, hastily bound. "The Inquisitor got through. She's up there." Killeen turned to see what remained of the Temple of Sacred Ashes somehow far above them, a narrow winding path leading upwards. "So is Corypheus. We've been trying to hold here. I sent a scout to see if there's a better choke point further up, but this seems to be our best chance."
"Then this is where we'll stand," Killeen said.
"I've never seen so many darkspawn," Harding said. "It's like a Blight. Maybe that dragon really is an archdemon."
Killeen peered out through the gate, careful not to expose herself to any archers. "No. I've seen a Blight. Darkspawn act different when there's an archdemon directing them — more like us. These are … they could have broken through before we came, but they didn't."
"Any that tried got arrows in the face," Harding said.
Killeen looked down at her. "I'm not doubting it," she said. "Or that you've been hard pressed. But well-trained soldiers would have kept coming, won by numbers. Darkspawn during a blight would do the same."
Harding nodded. "So, no archdemon. Maybe we've got a chance."
Killeen glanced out at the mass of darkspawn, growing in numbers, and made no comment. "Take a break," she said. "Get that arm seen to properly. We don't know how long it will be before the Inquisitor returns."
If she returns.
She shut down that thought as useless speculation. She has her objective, I have mine.
The odds for the Inquisition forces were better with the addition of Killeen and her squad, but they were far from what she would have considered good. The gate was defensible, and the soldiers gave a good account of themselves to any darkspawn who made it through the hail of arrows, but there were archers on the other side as well, and every now and then their shots struck true. Eventually, there would not be another soldier to step forward into the shield wall; eventually, there would be gaps, and then …
A fighting retreat up the stairs would slow the darkspawn's advance, buy the Inquisitor more time for whatever the mage was going to do up in the cloud-wreathed upper levels of the impossibly distorted Temple.
But the horses could never manage those crooked, twisting stairs.
Killeen stopped one of Harding's people, an elf whose broken left arm was keeping him out of combat and who was bringing water to the front line instead. "Are you right or left handed?"
"Right, ser," he said.
"Do you have a knife?"
He nodded.
"If they break through," Killeen said, "kill the horses. They don't deserve what those things will do to them. Fast and painless, do you know how?"
"Yes, ser," he said, face pale.
"Good." Killeen released his arm. "If it comes to that — start with mine."
Firefly would never know the poisoned touch of the blight, would not end her days maddened by fear and pain.
Would run free, would run forever.
"What the fuck is that?" Harding said, and Killeen went to look.
A massive shape, looming over the other darkspawn, bellowing orders through sharpened teeth, directing their movements with sweeping gestures of its arms. Killeen had never seen an Alpha Hurlock, but she'd heard stories, seen pictures sketched by some of those few to survive meeting one.
"Their general," she said, realising it was true. "That's why there's so many, why they aren't fighting each other or looking for easier prey."
"They're loyal to it?" Harding asked.
"They're afraid of it," Killeen said, seeing the smaller darkspawn cringe away from the Alpha even as they obeyed its commands. "Can you shoot it?"
Harding raised her bow, squinted, and then lowered it, shaking her head. "Too far. I've one heavy shaft left, but with that armour, anything over ten yards would glance off."
"They're smart," Killeen said, remembering the stories. "As well as strong, and fast. It won't expose itself to us if it can help it."
"Maybe a sortie?" Harding suggested, but Killeen shook her head.
"It'd hang back and let us be cut to ribbons on the way. And even if we did make it, I read once that one of those things killed an Arl and all his personal guard — with its bare hands, while chained up."
"Well, shit," Harding said.
Killeen looked at the Alpha Hurlock, looked at the way it had to threaten and chivvy and cuff to force its troops forward. "Harding," she said. "Are you absolutely sure you could kill it if it was close enough to get through the armour?"
"Oh, sure," Harding said. "At ten yards I can punch through plate like paper."
No human soldier could face that thing on foot. But … "Find me an Inquisition flag," Killeen said, and went to get her horse.
They found her a flag, a little tattered, a few blood stains. Killeen led Firefly to the gate, talking softly to her as the mare's ear's flicked at the scent of darkspawn and blood. "I know this isn't what you're used to, my darling. I know it's scary. But trust me, my sweetheart. Just like with Michel, remember? Turn and weave, dodge and spin. You know how to do it. Don't be afraid."
She mounted, raised the flag high. "Cover me as well as you can," she ordered. "Encourage the smaller ones to stay away from the gate. And Harding — don't miss."
The shield wall parted for her, closed again as she walked Firefly through, flag held high. The mare shivered slightly, skin twitching, as Killeen paraded her before the massed Darkspawn, but her head stayed high, her steps were steady.
"Good girl," Killeen whispered. "Good, brave, beautiful girl."
She hoisted the flag, and with her other hand took the horn from her belt and raised it to her lips. The long, taunting note of her challenge rang out across the space between her and the enemy.
The Alpha Hurlock bellowed, and urged his troops forward. A few obeyed and fell, pierced by Inquisition arrows.
Killeen blew the horn again, then let it fall. She stood in the stirrups. "Where is your champion?" she shouted. "Afraid, it seems!" An uneasy shifting in the force across the melted plain. "Afraid to face me?"
The Alpha growled, swiped at the darkspawn near him. They cowered back out of reach, but did not move toward Killeen.
She urged Firefly one step away from the gate, another, and tossed the banner aside. Drawing her sword, she raised it above her head. "Face me, if you dare!" Another step, one more, moving out of the bow-shot range the Alpha would know to avoid. "Do you dare?"
It snarled, and charged.
Killeen urged Firefly into movement, knowing they had no chance if that massive shape caught them flat footed. If I fall back now, is it smart enough to sense my plan? Possibly.
Can't take the risk.
She met it between the two forces, ducking low in the saddle as a blow whistled past her head and cutting backhanded into the weak point where cuirass met cuisse. Firefly responded to the pressure of her knee, turned on a coin and was back behind the Alpha before it could spin. Killeen thrust, wheeled the mare away, had to slide half out of the saddle to avoid a return blow which would have broken her arm.
Firefly shifted underneath her again, pivoted, gamely charged. They spun and dodged, Killeen slashing and cutting, her blows doing little damage but enraging the Alpha Hurlock as it tried again and again to land a killing blow, and again and again Firefly kept Killeen out of reach, sweat lathering the mare's neck and foam flying from her lips.
Killeen was tiring too. Time, she thought. If this is going to work, it has to work now.
She turned Firefly toward the gates and sent the mare flying back toward their lines. Behind her, she could hear the Alpha Hurlock's pounding footsteps as the creature saw its impudent challenger fleeing for her life. That's it, you bastard, Killeen thought. I'm running from you. Teach me a lesson, come on, come on —
They had nearly made it when Firefly slipped on the slick, melted rock and went down.
Killeen felt her thighbone shatter beneath the mare's weight, retched with pain as Firefly struggled to get to her feet. Foot — stirrup — quick — Reaching down she managed to grab her ankle and drag her foot clear of the stirrup before Firefly rose. "Go," she urged the mare breathlessly, and turned to see the Alpha Hurlock looming over her.
It did not raise its sword. Not yet, Killeen thought. It wants me to know. It wants me to fear — me, and all those darkspawn obeying it out of their own fear.
"Go," she said again as Firefly neighed in fear, then leaned down to nuzzle Killeen's face. Loose reins flapped against the mare's neck.
Killeen raised herself on her elbow and managed to get them in her hand, and as if that was what the mare had planned all along, Firefly began to back toward the gate, toward the Inquisition lines and safety.
The Alpha Hurlock laughed, an evil, mocking sound, and followed, step by step, keeping Killeen in reach as she clung to the reins, trying not to think of what her weight was doing to Firefly's mouth, trying to breath through the agonising bolts of pain that every jolt sent through her leg. It will let me get within a handspan of safety, Killeen thought, and then kill me.
A step by Firefly, and one by the Hurlock. Another. Another.
The creature said, in a voice clearly meant to carry to the Inquisition troops: "Now who fears?"
It raised its sword.
And an arrow flew hissing through the air from behind Killeen and struck the darkspawn straight through the eye.
About fucking time, Harding, Killeen thought, and let Firefly's reins go as the Alpha Hurlock fell, without a sound, stone dead in an instant. Behind it, Killeen could see the ranks of the darkspawn waver. Already a few near the edges were melting away.
She let her head fall back on the rock and stared up at the boiling green sky. Somewhere, orders were being barked to provide cover, to form a wedge, to go and get the Lieutenant.
That's going to hurt, Killeen thought, and then blinked. Far above her she could see a winged speck, seemingly launched from the top of the Temple. A bird? What bird would fly in this?
It grew larger, larger still, and she saw the long neck, the thrashing head trailing fire, the tail. The dragon. No creature moved like that unless in its death throes, writhing in final agony, which meant the Inquisitor was still alive, up there, somewhere, had struck down the Magister's mightiest ally, and might, perhaps, have a chance against Corypheus himself.
It was falling fast, too wounded to try and brake its earthward plummet, plunging at breakneck speed toward her, flames and blood spurting from its mouth.
"Hurry!" someone screamed, and someone else: "Too late! Get back!"
Killeen realised that she was directly below the dragon precisely one second too late to do anything but fling her arms over her face.
Red. Heat. Pain.
Darkness.