Chapter 53: Odd Jobs and Something Pleasant (Kallian)
For the past few hours, Morrigan and Kallian have been wandering around the village, running errands for everyone they meet. At first, by Harrith's request, the witch spent an hour making potions and the elf was making bombs. Considering how many mages were in their squad, Kallian did not want to anger the templar. Then some stupid girl asked them to find her little brother. The boy, as it turned out, was hiding in a closet in his house. Morrigan, forced him to return to his sister. And only after that the two girls got to the knights. Their leader, Ser Perth, seemed reasonable until he asked them to retrieve the amulets from the Revered Mother. They had to help him.
- Here, - Kallian said, handing the four amulets to the knight. - But I don't understand why you need these amulets. They aren't even magical.
- Truly, it's all stupid, - Morrigan continued. - You could take the amulets that I would make. There would be more benefits.
- Andraste will help us through these amulets, - the young knight exclaimed enthusiastically. – I am very grateful. But how can I address you?
- My name is Kallian, - the elf said. - Address me as you would address a human.
- We are very grateful for the amulets, Lady Kallian.
Hearing this, the elf laughed out loud. Morrigan and the knight looked at her in surprise.
- I'm sorry, I just never thought I'd hear my name along with the word 'lady'. Thank you, Sir Perth, for making me laugh.
Having completed all the tasks, the girls sat down in a local tavern. In addition to them, there were six drinking militiamen, a lone elf archer and a young red-haired hostess who ran around the tavern and served drinks to all the guests.
- Tell me, Morrigan, - Kallian began the conversation. - Why does the Chantry fear and hate mages so much? Before all this, I did not communicate with mages. Except that the templars sometimes came to the alienage and took away some children with magical abilities. But you, Daylen and Neria seem to be good guys.
- Stupid they are, who serve the Chantry. They don't understand. They invented a legend for themselves that mages are the root of evil. That supposedly they entered the Maker's chambers and defiled them. In my opinion, it's all about something else. Society is afraid of what it does not understand. That's how they do it.
- Maybe humans do, but I'm an elf.
- Don't pretend that your morals are so different. Both elves from the cities and those who say they are free. You, too, are not inclined to favor mages.
The hostess of the tavern approached the girls.
- Do you need something to drink? - she asked.
- Not yet, - Kallian replied.
Morrigan ignored the conversation between them and began to look at the elf sitting at the next table.
- Will you… really protect us from the dead?
- Certainly. If we didn't want to protect you, we would have already left. My name is Kallian and this is Morrigan. And what is your name?
- Bella.
- Very nice to meet you. Let me ask you. How does such a young and charming girl have her own tavern?
Bella blushed.
- It's not mine. It was owned by Lloyd, a very vile and unpleasant man. After the first night attack of the dead, Lloyd packed his things and tried to escape. It is said that his attempt was unsuccessful. Maybe you even stumbled upon his corpse when you entered our village. That's how I got the tavern.
- Why are you still here, and not in the Chantry?
- I'm the only one working here. But by the evening I will close everything and go to hide in the Chantry.
- Does anyone here offend you?
- Yes, there are some pigs here. They persistently offer to sleep, grope me.
- Do you want me to help you get rid of them?
- I hope by "get rid of" you don't mean "kill".
- Of course not. There is another way. And I think you will like it very much.
Kallian whispered something in Bella's ear and the two of them went to the center of the tavern.
- Hey, Bella, bring more beer here with your ass! - one of the militiamen shouted.
Looking at him with disdain, Kallian sat down on the high chair at the counter and kissed Bella passionately. The hostess of the tavern did not hesitate to respond to this kiss. All the men in the tavern looked at the girls in surprise, and Morrigan put her hand to her face in bewilderment. After finishing the kiss, Kallian took the dagger in her hand and turned to the militia.
- You get it now? - she exclaimed. - Bella is mine. And whoever annoys her, I will gouge out his eyes. Understand?
The men silently nodded their heads.
- Thanks, Kallian. It was very cool, - said Bella, putting her hand on the elf's shoulder. - Maybe tomorrow, if we both survive, we can meet at my house and do it again?
- I'm very much in favor of it. Thank you for giving me the motivation to survive. Now that we've solved your problem, let's solve mine. I haven't seen elves in this village at all, so this guy stands out here. What do you know about him?
- His name is Berwick, and he's not from here. That's all I can say.
- Thanks for that too. Bye then. I'll talk to you tomorrow. I promise you won't regret it.
Kallian nodded to Morrigan, and the two girls walked over to the table where Berwick was sitting.
- It's unusual to see a fellow elf here, - said Kallian.
- What's wrong with that? - the elf asked. - Looks like elves can move around the country. I don't ask you why you kiss girls, so don't bother me.
- I, unlike you, do not look suspicious. Why don't you help defend the village?
- I'm not from here! Nobody forced me! They just told me... Leave me alone!
- Who told you? And what?
- Never mind! Stop threatening me!
- I haven't even started making threats yet. And now I'll start. Tell me who you work for and why you're here, otherwise my witch friend will torture you. Of course, she is beautiful, and this can turn some guys on, but you will not like the torture from her.
- Trust her, - Morrigan added. - I know how to torture. Here's what I'm going to do with you. I can plunge you into a Crushing Prison, or I can slowly cripple you.
- Okay, I don't get paid that much to take that kind of risk, - Berwick said. - I was paid to watch the castle and write letters to them if anything changes there. But they didn't tell me about the dead! I was only able to report that Eamon was ill, and Teagan came to find out what was the matter. After that, the dead began to come out of the castle!
- Who hired you? - Kallian asked.
- A tall guy named Chase. He works for Arl Rendon Howe. And Howe is the right hand of Teyrn Loghain. Well, I couldn't refuse. Here's a letter from Chase with all the instructions. I swear I'm telling the truth! I thought I was serving the regent and making some gold.
- I believe you. Go to Jory, tell him you'll protect the village. If you live until dawn, you can go in all four directions.
- I will do it. Thank you both for your kindness! I will never forget it!
The elf ran out of the tavern. The elf and the witch followed him out.
- Where are we going now? - Morrigan asked.
- Back to the Chantry, - Callian replied. - It will soon be evening, and we will complete our preparations for battle. And the rest will be finished soon.
The elf was very pleased with herself. After all she's done for the village, many of the locals will survive the night.