Herald of Destruction

Chapter 7

-Percy-

Letting out a deep breath into the cold air, Percy walked through the snow, his wandering thoughts barely giving time to register the cold of it against his legs. The fight with Ataashi had helped him far more than he had expected it to, being able to let loose and burn off steam, to have someone who didn't seem afraid of breaking the 'poor child'. Still, he shouldn't be stuck doing nothing for too much longer. With those still at Haven recovering and the agents out in the field looking for leads, this stagnation should come to an end any day now.

Hearing a small yip, Percy let out a bemused chuckle and turned to see one of the few good things to happen since he woke up at Haven. Liliana, the Spymaster, had a dog she said was a Mabari, the child of an old friend of hers. That dog in turn had a litter of puppies, one of which had 'imprinted' on him. The Inquisition Agents from the eastern side of the Mountains, some place called Ferelden, had happily told him all about the history of his fuzzy new friend and how special it was to be chosen by one.

"Hey there Hudson." Percy scooped the energetic little puppy which had been doing its best to follow him through the snow, "Wanted to keep me company huh?"

"Yip!" the tiny dog barked eagerly, thrilled at being held up like this.

"Good boy." Percy gave a genuine smiled as he rubbed the puppy's belly, continuing his walk as he left the large wooden gate that separated Haven's training fields from the rest of the Frostbacks. Not too long after doing so though, his puppy began sniffing the air and squirming. "What's wrong Hudson?" Percy demanded, noting his canine friend had picked up something he hadn't. The puppy began squirming and barking more until Percy set him down. He let the puppy go a little way just to get a direction before scooping the dog and taking off, able to move through the snow far easier than the little canine who hadn't grown into itself yet.

It didn't take long at the speed he was running before he heard what had drawn Hudson's attention. He saw a girl wearing leather and hide armor painted black and white. She held a simple bow and had an empty quiver strapped to her back. Her bright red hair was done all in braids that were tied together. The girl was currently doing her best to stay alive from a massive creature attacking her. It looked like a Druffalo which he had seen wandering the woods here in the past few days but this one wasn't docile like its kin, added to that it was far larger with pristine white fur and bright blue eyes.

"Hudson, stay back!" He ordered his Mabari as he charged, drawing his swords as he attacked the wild creature's flank. The creature let out an angry roar as Percy felt the ripple of energy come from it, felt its skin hardening. "If you have any more arrows, now would be the time to use them!" Percy yelled to the girl, striking the white Druffalo with all the force he could muster which was thankfully still nothing to scoff at even if he lacked the titanic strength of a demigod.

The girl quickly got over by Hudson and started rummaging around in her pack. That was all Percy was able to see before he was forced to focus once again upon this creature. If it weren't for the lack of froth at its mouth he would have guessed it rabid. Soon, he heard the familiar whistle of arrows fling as they struck at the Druffalo, the redhead circling it to fire arrows where Percy wasn't while he continued to strike at it. With two targets the creature wasn't able to keep up and was soon brought down, a quick sword through the skull finishing the job.

"Percy!" hearing a frantic voice, Percy turned to see many of the more prominent Inquisition members running over, "We could hear the fighting from across the lake. What happ- a fade touched creature?" Cassandra's question trailed off as she stared at the white beast. Percy glanced over at the girl he had saved and saw her being licked by a happy Hudson.

"You alright kid?" Varric asked, poking at the massive bison like creature, "Fade Touched anything are usually a bitch to deal with."

"A little banged up but I'm fine." Percy nodded, "We were able to keep it handled with both of us fighting it at once."

"And may I ask who you are?" Liliana approached the girl who was petting a wriggling Hudson.

"I am Cerridwen Alfsdotten," the redhead rose to her full height and while Percy could tell by her face she was close to his age she was near the height of an adult man, "born of Red-Eagle Hold."

"One of the Avaar tribes." Cullen notes in surprise, garnering Percy's attention as he remembered Cassandra mentioning that term when they were trying to seal the first rift.

"We were." Cerridwen had the look in her eyes that Percy recognized, "When the Lady of the Skies was injured by that green wound, there was chaos everywhere. Fire and stone rained from the sky. My hold was in the path of that destruction, I alone was spared by the sole fact that I was out hunting. I returned to find my Hold a charred and burning crater." Just as he thought, those were the eyes of one who had lost the only family they had, "But then word spread of this 'Inquisition', of how it has one who can seal these rifts, can heal the Lady of the Skies!" Cerridwen stood up taller, her eyes still shining with pain and unshed tears but refusing to back down, "I came to swear my bow to this Inquisition, to do what I can to heal the Lady, and to see that my Clan did not die for nothing."

"I am the one who can seal the rifts." Percy stepped forward, showing her the glowing mark on his palm, "And I welcome you. If Hudson trusts you, then so will I." the last was added with a faint smile at the puppy who barked happily.

"I hate to interrupt," Solas spoke up from where he knelt to inspect the 'fade touched' Druffalo, "but I feel this is important. This creature wasn't born Fade touched. It would seem the breach was able to change it, likely what made it volatile enough to attack with such fervor."

"I was just walking past when it charged me." Cerridwen nodded, "I wasn't prepared for it."

"This is good to know," Cassandra sighed, "I'll see that researcher Menaive is made aware, along with our patrols."

"Are the pelts useful?" Percy asked, wondering what set a fade touched animal apart from a regular one, apart from what he guessed was the size and color.

"They often have unique properties when used to forge equipment." Cassandra told him honestly, "If I remember correctly, Fade touched Druffalo hide tends to give a warrior more stamina."

"Thank you Cassandra." He nodded, grateful that they weren't about to chastise him for fighting this creature or Ataashi.

"And we will be talking later about these fights." Damn it.

-Varric-

"You alright their Seeker?" the dwarven writer asked, kipping his feet up at the tavern where the drained looking seeker sat with only a tankard for company, the moon shining in through the window.

"I can already feel the headaches that young Perseus is going to give myself and Josephine." Cassandra sighed before taking a drink, "He and Cerridwen are bonding well, the boy needs friends his own age, so I'm not upset about that. But it seems his people's beliefs are far closer to the Avaar than an Andrastian. I saw them harvest the Druffalo for the horn and pelt and then burn the meat as a sacrifice to both their gods. They've been happily trading stories from their religions in his cabin since."

"So the lauded Herald of Andraste prefers the religion of mountain barbarians to the Chantry?" Varric laughed, "Oh man, I've got to use that for a story sometime."

"I'm glad you're amused Varric." Cassandra glowered, "But I'll be the one having to deal with people trying to pick a fight about it when we take Perseus anywhere. And Josephine will be having to deal with messengers from nobles and chantry officials alike about it."

"Oh…yeah that doesn't sound nearly as fun anymore." Varric winced, personally rather fond or Ruffles. Cassandra he would watch squirm though.

"Not to mention she's likely to give some of the more conservative Chantry Mothers and Sisters here an aneurism. Even the Inquisition's symbol, according to this girl, was originally an Avaar symbol. The Eye of the Lady of the Skies which only became the eye of the maker when Andraste led her march."

"I'm guessing she felt that was providence as well for her reason to come?" Varric asked.

"She is quite set in her convictions." Cassandra sighed and finished her tankard, "Do not misunderstand. I have no issue with her wishing to help, in fact I respect her conviction. I do not even have issue with her beliefs. I'm just dreading the headaches this will bring me."

"There, there Seeker. I'm sure everything will-" Varric was cut off before he could continue to comfort and tease his kidnapper when they heard the sounds of shouting and violence coming from the direction of Percy's cabin. Neither of them hesitated as they took off running, bursting through the tavern door as they ran to the source. Getting to the cabin, they saw the door was shattered on the ground. Cerridwen had a woman in the armor of the Antivan Crows restrained in a headlock while another was unconscious and pinned to the wall of Percy's cabin with arrows. A third assassin was fighting blade to blade with Percy while wielding a flaming sword.

"Sweet Maker, that's Vigilance." Liliana spoke up as the rest of the inquisition crowded around the fight. None dared to intervene as the fighters were moving too quickly and too closely to risk intervening lest they hit the kid.

"The sword of the Hero of Ferelden?" Cullen was wide eyed.

"It was stolen by the Antivan Crows years ago." Liliana scowled, "I'm guessing this was the thief."

"Wait, isn't that one of the Vashoth Mercenaries' swords?" Varric asked when he noticed that Percy still had one of his inquisition longswords strapped to his back, wielding a short sword in its place.

"Die!" the assassin screamed in rage, likely at his attack having failed. The man swung his sword down at Percy who smirked and thrust up with the Vashoth short sword, catching Vigilance between the tines of his own blade and twisting, quickly disarming the man of his weapon while Percy's other sword flashed and removed the arm that had once held it. The legendary blade spun through the air before landing, hilt first in Percy's palm, almost like the weapon wanted to be there. The instant it did, the crimson flames that smoldered along the blade flared up, growing brighter as the color became an awe-inspiring green.

The story worthy moment was broken as the assassin Percy had doubly disarmed continued to thrash and scream on the ground. Scowling angrily, Percy lashed out with his boot, kicking the man in the face and rendering the screams silent. "Liliana," Percy turned to the spymaster, his voice authoritative "take these bastards to the cells. I want to know why they came here to kill me."

AN: Quick note to avoid any misconceptions, Vigilance isn't covered in Greek Fire right now but Veil fire. Seriously, that sword was one of the coolest things in the game and is even rumored to be actually sentient, wanting to choose its wielder. So yeah, overconfident crows thinking they can easily kill Percy, especially now that they know he's a teenager, aren't prepared for someone with the strength and skill of Perseus Jackson.