This much opulence should be forbidden, Rush thought disdainfully as she walked behind Bull through the immensely beautiful, gleaming halls of Lord Adlebrent's "summer house".
More like a small castle, really.
She had to bite her lip to hide a smile when she noticed Bull stomping on the gleaming, expensive, breakable tiles and noticed the barely hidden wince of the snotty steward who opened the doors for them… and then ordered them to go through the servant's entrance and to put down their weapons before they approached his Lord.
So… Bull didn't like the man either. She never would have guessed from his expression or body language, which was perfectly polite and understanding. But the cracking tiles spoke for themselves.
Lord Adlebrent met them in his study, sitting behind a huge desk, probably meant to make him appear intimidating. And, of course, dear Louis stood at his side, while several guards lined the walls. 'Expecting trouble, then?' Rush quickly masked her expression not to give away their game. Let Bull have his fun with this.
"Have you found the missing jewels?" Lord Krestus Adlebrent looked down his crooked nose at them, obviously expecting a 'no'. He didn't even bother to greet them.
Bulls lips pulled into a half-smile as he set the small bag on the Lord's table, right in front of his face. "We did," he said amiably, "Along with your wife's murderer."
Louis tensed up beside his lord, then put a hand on his sword. "What nonsense is this? Lady Anabelle drowned when the ship sank." He glared at them hotly, "If this is a trick to blackmail us for more money…"
Bull only grinned and pulled out the small golden locket, "Not at all," he twirled it between his fingers as the captain froze on spot and stared at the locked with growing horror. "We have found evidence that the ship's crew has been replaced by raider Blacktalon."
The room collectively held its breath as Bull's eye suddenly focused on them with frightening force, "And evidence of Lady Adlebrent's affair with the captain of the guard, Louis Croux, Blacktalon's lover."
Well, that was fast, Rush thought and had to bite her lip to stop from smiling. Looked like Bull wasn't in the mood to drag this out for too long.
Louis abandoned his sword and before anyone could blink, held a dagger to Lord Adlebrent's throat. "Nobody move, or he dies," his cold voice left no one doubting he would do it. Rush quickly lost her smile. The guards tried to move, but a single look from their lord stopped them. No one wanted to risk their lord's life.
Bull didn't move a muscle, but concentrated on Louis and spoke calmly, "You are surrounded with no way out. Come quietly and you might survive."
Louis didn't seem willing to let go. He scoffed, "As if I'd believe that. Execution is always the Orlesians first and only response to a crime committed by anyone without a title, even when there's no proof. With what you have? I'll be hanged. Might as well take this bastard down with me." He pressed the dagger against the hostage lord's throat and a thin line of blood appeared on his skin.
Lord Adlebrent wisely didn't move a muscle, but his terrified eyes spoke volumes.
Bull relaxed his stance and Rush felt herself tense up in response. She had a feeling he will try to shock the man, but didn't plan to use the moment to attack. Did that mean that she should…? But there was no time to pull her hidden dagger!
"Oh well, it will probably be better this way. There's something romantic about joining your lover in death."
"Wha…," Louis never managed to finish his sentence as Rush used his brief moment of surprise to freeze him on spot.
Bull jumped forward and punched him square in the chest.
One punch, and Louis was sent flying into the wall. He fell down, half-frozen, banged up and on the verge of unconsciousness. The guards moved in to tie him up.
"Nice! Little bit of excitement to spice things up," Bull grinned.
Lord Adlebrent didn't seem to appreciate it. He jumped up and started shouting. "Nice?! I could have been killed! And you brought a mage here without warning me first?!" He gestured angrily towards Rush, "I knew you Qunari were savages, but I thought you had more sensible views on magic than this!"
'Oh, dear,' Rush thought. That… might have been a mistake. If she knew the lord would react like this, she would have risked his life and went for her dagger after all. She hesitated, uncertain how she should react.
Bull came to her defense. He fixed the lord with a serious look, "She saved your life, Lord Adlebrent. I believe in this one case, you can overlook the means she used to do it."
The Lord didn't seem willing to calm down. "I think not! I should call the Templars on you and…" Then he seemed to realize that all the Templars left the Chantry to hunt the mages. Making themselves unavailable to anyone who might wish to contact them about the mages, ironically.
Lord Adlebrent sighed and gave them a disgusted look, "Very well. In this one case, I'm willing to be merciful. Get out of my sight." He waved his hand, dismissing them, but the look in his eyes was… strange.
Rush has seen that look enough times to recognize it. Greed. She narrowed her eyes. She had a feeling this man didn't mind magic as much as he pretended; more like he was trying to weasel out of paying and she just gave him the perfect excuse to do so. "I think not," she stated in a voice so cold it could have frozen a despair demon. "We have done you a great service. We are not leaving without our pay."
Bull raised his eyebrow at her, but didn't interrupt; leaving her to get them out of the mess she accidentally got them into.
Adlebrent sneered at her, "You try my patience, mage."
"Trust me, I could do worse." She straightened up and used the almost forgotten mannerism of a high-born lady to threaten him in a language he understood, "I think the Poutouilles would be very interested in knowing just how much intimacy there was between you and your wife." He wanted her to be the evil mage? She could oblige.
They stared at each other for a moment. Just when Rush considered adding the fact that it was his family dagger that was used to kill his wife, Adlebrent snorted with disdain, "Very well, take your coin." He pulled a sack full of gold from his desk drawer and threw it at her.
She oofed quietly when it hit her.
Rush stared at him in surprise. That was… surprisingly easy. And, looking down at the coin bag in her hands, she realized the pay was actually more than what she could expect even from a pleased client. She raised confused eyes to look at the man behind the desk and saw… respect? He looked at her with a spark of appreciation. Did he wait for them to 'earn their pay' by blackmailing him? Or was it simply that he knew when he was beaten? Or something else entirely? She had no idea.
'Orlesians and their stupid Games', she sighed mentally, but offered the man a polite bow anyway.
She exchanged a look with Bull, and they both turned to leave.
-rushing-ahead-rushing-ahead-rushing-ahead-
"Well, that was interesting," Bull commented the moment they were out of earshot and re-joined Rocky and Stitches, who gave them curious looks.
Despite his words, Rush had a feeling he was displeased. If she was honest, so was she.
To abandon her rules, her cautiousness the moment there was the slightest possibility of failure… that was unacceptable. She felt way too safe when in Bull's company. That could get her killed.
Or worse.
"Yes. Interesting," Rush commented quietly, not wanting to draw more attention to herself than was necessary.
Not that it helped her much. The moment they arrived back at the tavern where they currently stayed, Bull waved at her to follow him. Somehow, she had a feeling this won't be a pleasant conversation.
"So, back there, in Adelbrent's study," Bull began and Rush prepared herself for the worst. "You revealed your magic to someone you didn't know, with no idea how he'll react. Jeoparized the mission and the Chargers themselves."
Rush lifted her head in shock. "I didn't threaten the Chargers! Just… myself," she finished uncertainly. The worst that could happen was that she'd be forced to run, right?
"What do you think would happen to us for harboring a fugitive? An apostate? The moment nobility heard, they'd crush us. They could still come after the Chargers, blackmail us with this." He fixed her with an intent stare, "Make no mistake, we are in just as much danger as you."
"I…" Rush felt on the verge of tears. She had no idea how to make this better. What could she say? 'There was no time to decide or prepare'. 'It went too fast, I couldn't reach for my dagger'. Anything she could say sounded like a cheap excuse. Because, in the end, she made a choice between finishing the mission and her safety. The safety of their company. "I'm sorry." She hung her head and waited for his verdict.
He stayed silent for a moment. Then he said in a strange tone she couldn't categorize, "I'm docking your pay for this. Five royals less, Rush."
She looked at him, shocked. That was it? Less pay? That was… much mellower than she expected. She almost thought she'd be kicked out of the Chargers for this, not that Bull would give her a smaller share from an already excellent pay. Made better by all the loot they collected… and Bull never asked for his share of that, even though he had the right.
She still made more today than she had in a month living as an adventurer.
"I… Yes, Chief," she nodded to him, but hesitated when she met his eyes. He was still giving her that odd look. She could not identify the emotion behind that stare, but had a feeling something more happened here just now. Something she didn't understand.
Then Bull nodded, went to a cabinet lining the wall and pulled out something that smelled like concentrated brewery in a bottle. "Go on to celebrate with your team." He waved her at the door. "I still have some things to finish up here. I'll join you later."
She nodded again, still confused, then walked out of the room. He wanted her to celebrate? Didn't she… well… fail?
She'd never understand the Qunari, she thought with a shake of her head as she closed the door behind her.
She never saw Bull's calculating stare on her back.
A/N: I'm going somewhere with this, I promise. ;) Explanation in the next chapter.
Also, some things weren't revealed about the whole Storm Coast mission… that's mostly because neither Bull nor Rush cared to know just why exactly Louis hated Lord Adlebrent so much. So, consider it a codex entry they both skipped, because they concentrated on finishing the quest :D