Chapter 58: All Roads Lead to The Pearl (Aedan)
In Denerim, Aedan and Leliana reunited with Sereda and Zevran, and they also got to know the new member of their squad. Gorim, a dwarf of the warrior caste and Sereda's loved one, seemed to be a good warrior, but a bad liar, as Aedan thought. He was obviously hiding something, but it wasn't Aedan's concern.
All the way to The Pearl Zevran was talking about his love affairs:
- Have I told you about my second assignment? Well, I was sent to kill a mage from the Antivan Circle, who got into politics.
- A mage? Into politics? But how? - Leliana asked.
- I don't really know. Maybe slept with the right people, maybe something else. It turned out that this mage was a charming tall guy, bearded, muscular. He almost ran away from me, but I still caught up with him. When I killed the templar that accompanied him, he knelt down and began to "beg" passionately, and he did it very skillfully, I must say. Who would have thought that the senior enchanter of the Circle would turn out to be into young men? That's what I wouldn't have thought either. But I liked it. I stayed with him overnight and left in the morning.
- Did you kill him? - Sereda asked.
- Yes. But not in the way you might think. The mage convinced me not to kill him. I agreed. I was young and stupid. When I kissed him goodbye, he tripped and hit his head on a huge rock. It's a pity, of course, but at least he died fast. I was surprised, but then I found out that he was going to tell the templars about how I had killed one of them, and embarrass me in front of all the Crows. The boss decided that I made the murder look like an accident, even praised me for my cunning. The death of the templar was attributed to the bandits, the Circle did not find out anything, everyone is happy.
- Everyone except the mage, - Gorim said.
- He's dead, he doesn't need to be happy anymore. From then on, I learned: you can't let a pretty face twist your mind. It's very important to be professional.
- I do not agree with you. It's too cruel! - Leliana replied.
- You can disagree with me as much as you like, but Orlais is full of temptations too.
They soon reached the brothel.
- Just in case, stay close to each other, - Sereda said.
Two bouncers let the group inside. In the main hall, a lot of people were drinking and playing cards.
- Who are we looking for here? - Zevran asked.
- White Falcons, - Aedan said. - These are mercenaries from Anderfels, as you can guess, they are in white armor.
- These ones? - Zevran pointed at the group with the noisiest warriors.
- Yes. I'd rather go alone.
Young Cousland approached the mercenaries. One of them, a bald black man, got up from the table.
- This is the White Falcons table, - he said. - You don't belong here.
- Is that how you talk to someone who wants to hire you? - Aedan asked with condemnation. - Where is Cristof? I want to talk to him.
- He's busy with two elf girls, if you know what I mean.
- It's urgent. Cristof and I have known each other for a long time.
A red-haired elf approached the table with two mugs of beer. He obviously didn't look like a waiter, as he was wearing and old brown armor and had a crossbow. Aedan recalled that he had seen this elf somewhere before.
- Thanks for bringing the booze, Soris, - the mercenary said. - Now go to Cristof and tell him there's something important.
- Y-yes, Walter, - the elf replied. - It will be done.
He bowed and left. The mercenary turned to Aedan.
- Stay where you are. If it suddenly turns out that you are lying to us, then we will pull you out of here and flay you alive, understand?
- You won't do that. And if you do, Cristof will be very unhappy.
The elf returned to the hall.
- Cristof is ready to talk to the stranger, - he said.
- Very well, - said Walter. - Soris, take him to the boss. And aim at this guy while he is talking to Cristof. If he flinches, shoot.
Aedan showed Sereda a thumbs up, hinting that everything is in order, and went into the corridor after the elf. There Soris suddenly stopped and said:
- I know you. You came to visit us at the alienage with Duncan.
- Now I remember too. You are one of the grooms, Kallian's cousin. Soris?
- Yes. How is Kallian?
- She is alive, now she's in Redcliffe. What are you doing in the White Falcons?
- After you left, a riot broke out in the alienage. The guards severely suppressed it. Some locals found a scapegoat in me, and my wife, Valora, suggested that I run away from the alienage and lie low. I went first to Highever, but there was no place for me there. On my way back to Denerim, I ran into the White Falcons, and they... left me no choice but to join them. For some reason Cristof liked me. They didn't give me white armor, but they treat me well.
- Cristof is a butcher. He doesn't care how many of his men survive the battle. Trust me, you shouldn't work with him. Run away at the first opportunity.
- Then why do you need him?
- Highever was captured by Arl Howe. And I need people to take it back.
Approaching the right door, Soris knocked.
- It's open, come in!
Aedan and Soris entered the room. The elf immediately took out a crossbow and aimed at Aedan. On the bed next to two naked female elves sat a swarthy man with dreadlocks. Seeing Aedan, he got up from the bed and shook hands with his old friend.
- Aedan! Long time no see!
- And I'm glad to see you to, Cristof.
The man gestured for the elf to lower his weapon. The girls picked up their clothes from the floor and left the room.
- Forgive my people for being rude. Out of those who could remember you, no one is left alive. And the elf didn't describe you that well. How is Meeran?
- When we last saw each other, he was doing well. But I'm no longer with Red Iron.
- So why are you here?
- I want to take back Highever. I remembered that the White Falcons sometimes go to Denerim, so I tried my luck.
- You are very lucky that we're here. There are twenty-five of us. Twenty sovereigns for each one, and we'll even fight the archdemon for you. And no, if one of us dies, the amount will not decrease, all the money for the dead will simply be mine.
Aedan was worried. Why did Cristof mention the archdemon? Does he know that Aedan is a Gray Warden? But he wasn't supposed to show how he felt.
- I saved your life once, remember? Fifteen.
- Yes, but I don't want to go broke. Seventeen.
- Okay, it's a deal.
- I'll go get my boys. Have you made the arrangements for the ship?
- Not yet.
- So do it. We won't go to Highever on foot. When you're done, we'll meet in the main hall.
Aedan nodded his head and left the room. In the main hall, he met Leliana, Sereda and Gorim.
- Well, how did it go? - Gorim asked.
- White Falcons have been hired. What remains is to find a ship. Where is Zevran?
- He said he needed to talk to someone, - Sereda replied.
- So much for being professional. Stay here, I'll look for him.
Squeezing through the crowd of prostitutes and their future clients, Aedan reached a separate table in the corner. Zevran was playing cards with a dark-skinned girl in a revealing white corset and long black boots.
- If you came here to hook up with one of the local girls, then don't count on it! Let's go! We still need to negotiate with the captain of the ship.
- Just like you said, Zevran! - the girl said, giggling. - Big, impatient, aggressive. I like such men.
- I'm not interested, - Aedan answered. - And stop bothering Zevran. Find yourself another client. Zevran, come on.
- I'm already used to being mistaken for one of the "girls", so you didn't offend me. Zevran, can you introduce me?
- Certainly. Aedan, this is Isabela, the famous pirate, Queen of the Eastern Seas and captain of the ship with the big name Siren's Call. I figured you'd need a ship, so I found her. Won't you beat me up for it, please?
- I'm sorry I was harsh. Isabela, will you agree to sail to Highever with us?
- Only because I can't say no to Zevran, - the pirate said. - He once helped me so much that I am now indebted to him for life. But whatever you have in mind, the team and I are not involved in it. We drop you off and go to Kirkwall.
- Thank you.
- You have two hours to get ready. The fourth dock, a ship with red sails. Don't be late.
Isabela left to gather the crew, while Zevran and Aedan met with the others.
- That's all, both the mercenaries and the ship are with us, - said Aedan.
- Isn't it scary to sail in the sea? - Sereda asked. - Where I come from, all the rivers are made of lava, so you can't really sail in them.
- Not at all, sailing is not scary. Sometimes someone gets seasick. But you can survive.
Cristof approached the group. With him were Walter, Soris and a few other people.
- A ship with red sails is waiting at the fourth dock. We'll set sail in two hours, - Aedan told them.
The mercenaries, having heard this, left the brothel. Aidan and his companions followed them out. Cousland looked west, towards the royal palace, and saw that a light was burning in one of the palace windows. Regretting that he couldn't see Anora for the time being, he walked with the others to the port district.