Picking up Fenris and Isabella simplified a few things, in the way that having more manpower always did. Even better, they inspired Zatris and Elowen to volunteer as our rear-guard, giving us the two best fighters from the Alienage as backup.

That many people made getting through Darktown a lot easier. The poor bastards that lived in the sewers and tunnels fled from eight armed people in the way they might not have from a smaller group. Well, they might have still taken their chances now and then, but the fact that Fenris glowed in the dark probably scared even the most desperate of them.

Thankfully the Hanged Man wasn't all that far from Hightown, so we didn't have nearly as long of a trek as we could have. An old, rusty gate sealed off the sewer access to the Amell Estate, at least until Varric pulled a key out of his vest and casually opened it.

"Always good to have friends in the Coterie." He stepped back, waving Merrill forward. "You're up Daisy."

Merrill nodded, quickly ducking in. She'd left her staff behind at my request, carrying a short spear instead. It wouldn't do anything to help her channel magic, but it also didn't immediately identify her as a mage.

And besides. Her role in this heist wasn't to fight, not if we could help it.

"These are very lovely glyphs." She murmured, crouching down to stare at the floor just inside. "I think... oh. Three layers even? Fire, fear, and sound from the feel of it."

I peered over her shoulder, wincing at what I 'saw' with my magic. The glyph itself looked like it had been drawn with one of those childish rainbow-ink pens. My other senses caught up a moment later, my ears ringing like somewhat had just smashed a cymbal next to my head, while my nose filled with the scent of raging campfire.

"Ugh." I quickly backed up, shaking my head to try and clear it of the phantom sensations. "Can you disarm them?"

She curled her middle finger and thumb together, snapping them to trigger a pulse of magic. "Done! First one, at least. I think there's a second one on the next door."

Isabella made an approving sound somewhere behind me. "What I wouldn't have given to have someone like you in Antiva last year, kitten."

"Stealing from someone with magical traps?" I asked.

"Something like that." She gave me a flirty grin. "How about I tell you the tale over drinks tonight?"

"I don't think I can afford your tab." I countered, doing my best not to react to that smirk, even if it did make me want to smile vacantly like an idiot. "Merrill, how does that door look?"

"Old and wooden? Oh! You meant the glyph. Just a moment."

She disarmed that one just as quickly as the first, then backed off to let Varric at the door. He had to actually pick that lock, not that it slowed him down any. It wasn't quite as fast as if he'd had a key, but it was pretty close.

"And we're in." He lowered his voice, carefully pushing the door open. "Buzz? It's your job."

And of course he had to remind me that everyone seemed to like assuming I wanted to be a leader. Fortunately we'd already agreed on a basic plan, one that would hopefully work just as well as the last one.

"We stick to the plan. Varric, take Merrill to the vault and see what we've got. Zatris, Elowen, close these doors behind you and stand guard inside." I took a few careful steps forward, glancing around as I entered a dark storage room. Pipes, they had to be for waste, filled the space, running back toward the sewers we'd just left.

"Thrask?" I asked. "You and Fenris out front, stairs should be in the next room and to the right. I'll barrier you, Merrill will protect Fenris. Captain Isabella will watch our backs."

Our Templar nodded, pausing just long enough to pull his helmet on before drawing his sword. Fenris didn't look nearly as happy to have me behind him, muttering something to Isabella on his way forward. Probably telling her to stab Merrill in the back if it looked like she was casting anything stronger than a barrier.

The pirate merely snorted, patting him once on the shoulder, then gave me another of her too-sexy smirks.

I quickly turned away before my stupid libido could distract me anymore than it already was. Casting barriers was hard enough as it was without my hind-brain reminding me that I hadn't been with anyone since I'd gotten to this stupid planet.

"...red alert, shields up." I murmured, half-closing my eyes, forcing myself to focus on Thrask. The magic came readily, but as usual it felt like it was protesting being merely used as a shield. I fought down the urge to growl, keeping that image of a wooden circle in my head until I felt metal beneath my fingertips, heard a memory of a Stark Trek actor telling me that the Enterpise's shields were being raised.

The magic rushed out in a trail of blue sparks, tracing themselves of Thrask's armor. I felt the tug of maintaining it like a rope around my waist, something invisible pulling me toward him.

"...done. Don't leave get too far away from me or it'll break. Merrill?"

"It's up." She chirped, having apparently gotten hers on Fenris long before I'd managed the same.

I glanced over and confirmed that Fenris was covered in greenish sparks of his own. Dammit, I really wished I could change the way my magical senses seemed to work. I'd have far fewer headaches if I could just 'sense' it like Merrill could.

"Time to work then." My fingers drew my dueling blade, Fenris pulling his shorter blade loose a moment later. Isabella didn't draw out daggers so much as she simply made them appear, while Zatris and Elowen got their own blades settled in their hands.

We got moving after that, moving silently and quickly into the estate.

There wasn't anyone in the next room; a broad storage space filled with old furniture, a floor-to-ceiling wine rack that was mostly empty, and a handful of old crates. Three exits led out of the room; one in each of the other directions. Thrask and Fenris cut to the right, the only space without a proper door, Isabella and I following them, while Merrill and Varric went straight across.

I gave my friends a final glance, seeing Varric picking another lock before I was through the doorway and onto the stairs.

Thrask didn't bother trying to move silently once we were that far in. He took them two at a time, racing up while the rest of us hastened to follow. He slowed just long enough to make sure I could still see him before rushing out into the estate's kitchens.

A man with salt and pepper hair whipped around as we emerged into the space, a bottle of wine falling from his hands. "Intruders!"

Thrask went for him a blur of steel, his first cut missing as the guard nimbly dodged, bolting for the door. "Templars come! To arms! To-"

He'd been quick, but Fenris had been faster. His blade buried itself at the base of his throat, the ex-slave yanking his victim around before twisting it free. Blood sprayed out onto the kitchen wall, the body dropping flat when he let go.

"Well done!" Thrask called, already moving again, Fenris hot on his heels.

Isabella and I darted after them, the four of us emerging into the main chamber of Hawke's estate. I only got a brief glance around, confirming it was more or less as my vague memories recalled, before we were entirely occupied with people trying to kill us.

One of the mages had been reading by the fire, while two guards had been sitting at the dining table. All three had risen to their feet before we fully entered; the two men on the right seizing nearby weapons, while the Altus opened up with a magical attack.

Red streams of light coalesced around Ser Thrask before bursting into flames, the magic lashing at the barrier around him. I hissed in discomfort as red met blue, the attack fading out without breaking my shield, but leaving spots in my vision.

"I am a noble of Tevinter!" The Altus shouted, voice high and reedy, "Templars have no-kaffas!"

His weapon, a fire poker from the look of it, barely blocked a second swing of Thrask's sword.

I lost track of that fight after that because the guards were running right at me; both armed with long daggers.

My sword rose to en garde, balance settling as I let myself assume my usual stance. The closer of the men feinted left, trying to bait me into a lunge, then lurched to the right with his short blade extended.

He was too eager. Too panicked. Too rushed.

I retreated a quick step, angling myself to the right, and thrust up and across my body. He tried to lean back but couldn't pull himself up in time. The thin sword bit deep into his shoulder, cutting its way out of his armpit as he flailed.

That would have left me open for the second man, if not for Isabella rushing past to meet him dagger to dagger.

My own opponent howled in pain, but was still good enough to stumble back, avoiding the quick slash I aimed at his throat. He managed a decent parry when I thrust again, pressing my advantage, but his wild riposte fell far short thanks to the length of his weapon.

I didn't have that problem; and my next lunge found his heart when his flailing left him wide open.

"More coming!" Isabella called, skipping over the body of her guard. "At the stairs!"

Our friends were already there. The mage they'd engaged was laying prone, alive or dead, I couldn't tell. He was out of the fight, which couldn't be said for the four men who'd just appeared on the balcony, half-dressed guards rushing down the stairs while the remaining mage tried to provide ranged support.

Thrask cut loose with a Smite before the other Altus could do more than begin to summon his will. My barrier dissipated at once, Merrill's vanishing off of Fenris as well, but he must have thought the exchange worth it.

What followed was, well, kind of anticlimactic considering the fact that people were dying in front of me.

Three men, armed with short swords, wearing sleeping wear against an angry Fenris and a fully armored Templar was... not a fair fight. All three were on the ground, bleeding out within twenty seconds or so, with Isabella and I unable to do anything thanks to the narrow stairwell. We just kind of lingering in the back, watching as the boys cut up people in front of us.

The Altus tried to summon up his magic when Fenris made the top of the stairs, was promptly drained by Thrask for a second time, and then fell to his knees begging for mercy.

Fenris tossed him over the balcony in response.

"That's a few broken bones." I grimaced at his agonized squealing. "Ugh."

"He's always been like this." Isabella confided, idly cleaning her daggers on a banner hanging from the nearest wall. "Just warning you, sweet thing, but it won't be pretty once he starts questioning them."

I grimaced, stepping over to join her in cleaning my sword off. "I believe you. I think it's time to start looting while he questions them."

Her chuckle was as good as her smirk. "A woman after my own heart. You sure you don't want drinks later?"

"Of course I do. I just don't want to pay for them, and I know you won't."

That earned me a mock gasp, "Such accusations so early in our relationship."

"You didn't say I was wrong." I countered, unable to stop myself from smiling at her. At least until I realized I was staring at her lips when they curled. "...ugh. Stop that! Go downstairs and check on Varric and Merrill, see what the vault's got."

"If you insist." She drawled, swaying her hips as she strutted back to the kitchens.

I did not stare at her ass as she left, even if I wanted to, turning instead to walk over to where Fenris was already kneeling over the broken 'Vint. Thrask was standing behind him, apparently supervising. "You two have this in hand?"

Fenris grunted without looking up. "Yes."

Thrask huffed through his helm. "You could at least thank the lady for her assistance tonight."

"Her assistance was self-serving, as a mage's always is." A hand reached down grabbing the whimpering Altus. "You will tell me everything you know about Magister Denarius. Now."

I rolled my eyes, waving for Thrask to keep an eye on him while I walked over to the stairs. Picking my way past the bodies, and doing my best to ignore the fact that I was now leaving bloody footprints behind me, I pushed open the first bedroom door that I found.

Three beds told me it was one of the guards' rooms even before I started yanking open chests, drawers, and bags. They had a few silver, which I pocketed for the general loot-fund, but not much of value beside that. The armor they hadn't had time to pull on looked all right, I supposed. We'd give that to the Alienage.

Merrill and Isabella arrived just as I left the room, the pair of them coming up the stairs together.

"Twenty sovereign at least, mixed gold and silver." The pirate reported, eyes gleaming happily. "And a great deal of incriminating papers that the handsome dwarf believes will double our earnings once he finds buyers for it all. Plus some magical amulet thing."

"Useful?" I asked.

Merrill beamed, holding it up. It didn't look like much. A bronze disc with a ruby in the center. "It's enchanted as a Flame-Ward, I think."

"Nice. Keep it." I waved an arm, "Guards' room was disappointing, but there's three more on the floor. One each?"

Isabella was already moving, humming what sounded like a sea-shanty as she went. We both followed her lead, minus the humming. She, entirely expectedly, went straight for what was probably the master bedroom at the far end, leaving Merrill and I with the two smaller ones.

My roommate took the first, leaving me to shove open the one in the middle.

...where I promptly stopped dead in the doorway, staring at the sight in front of me.

This was apparently the 'research' room. It was packed full of magical gear, books, and sigils drawn on the floor and walls. Some of it in paint, some in lyrium and some with what was unmistakably blood.

The blood's owner was tied down to the bed; a naked, middle aged man whose pale skin was absolutely covered in lacerations.

"...fuck! Merrill! In here now!"

I was halfway across the room before she came running in, not caring that I was kicking aside pieces of a magical ritual in the process. My focus was on the prisoner, and on his wounds. Up close some proved to be fresh, some scabbed, some looked to already be scarring.

They'd had him for a while, then.

My fingers were nearly to his neck to check for a pulse when he abruptly lurched, biting at me. I barely got them away from his yellowed teeth before he could chomp down, "Fucking bitch! What the hell!?"

Surprisingly bright blue eyes peered up at me, blinking slowly. When he spoke his voice was a pained rasp. "...you're not... the brothers."

"No. Shit." I growled. "You going to try and bite me again, or can I untie you?"

"...elf?" Apparently he wasn't all there. "What's.. an elf doing here? They sent you, didn't they? Finally dispose of me?"

"No. They're a bit busy entertaining one of my companions-" A shrill scream that abruptly cut off made me pause, then amend my statement. "Uh, one of them is entertaining my companions. I think the other just died. Merrill? Potion?"

She hurried over, quickly pulling a vial out. "Do you want me to...?

Use her magic? No. "Bandages only, but let's see how the potions do first. Can I untie you now?"

The prisoner glanced at Merrill, frowning. "Dalish... neither of you is a slave?"

"No." I growled. "You want us to help you or not?"

"I... yes." He tugged at his bonds. "I don't know if I can lift my arms anymore."

That proved to be a prescient worry once I'd cut him loose. He couldn't even sit up without help, and we had to help him drink the potion down. The magic in the red liquid healed most of his still open cuts, leaving them scarred like the rest. It gave him enough strength to turn around a little, groaning, and to finally realize that he was naked.

Merrill quickly got him a pair of trousers from a nearby dresser, and he pulled them on just as Isabella finally came to see what the fuss was about.

"Maker's balls." She groaned, settling a stuffed bag over one shoulder. "A blood slave?"

"Looks it." I told her, getting a bit of cloth wrapped around the one cut on his arm that hadn't quite healed. "Go tell Thrask, please. And don't skip out without letting Varric see what you've got in the bag."

"No promises."

I huffed as she vanished back out of the door, turning back to the prisoner. "How long have they had you?"

"...weeks." He tried to shake his head, nearly fell over, and only slowly straightened. "I think. Bastards took me from the docks... guards just took coin and laughed. Been cutting me, throwing my blood into... things since then. Maker cursed mages."

Merrill winced, though he didn't seem to notice.

"Well," I said, concealing my own irritation. "You're free now, and the 'Vints are all very dead."

"All three?"

"And their guards." I confirmed. "We can give you a room at the Hanged Man for a night or two, if you don't have a place to stay."

He shook his head, fists clenching in the sheets. "No. I... take me to the Chantry. The Grand Chantry. A nobleman... was locked away. Bled for magic. No Templars came to my rescue."

I huffed. "A noble, huh? And technically one Templar did. We've got one with us."

"...you knew I was here?"

"Nope. Don't even know who you are." I waved back the way we'd come. "The old mage attacked the Alienage two days ago. We're here to make sure the other two never got the chance."

"I won't weep for them." He brought a shaking arm out. "Help me up. To the Chantry. I may be the poorest noble in Kirkwall, but I am a damned noble. The Grand Cleric will hear of this. I will make sure she rewards you."

"...who are you?" I asked, reluctantly getting a hand in place to grab his wrist. Maybe Thrask could take him. Strike that, Thrask could definitely take him. This completely removed our need to fabricate evidence against the mages who'd been living here.

Rescuing a noble who'd been tortured by blood mages? Kill them in the name of justice? Meredith would have to reward Thrask for that. Heavily. Even better, none of us would have to be involved. We could focus on moving the loot, and preparing our celebratory-

"Gamlen Amell."

...oh. Well.

Fuck.

"You are Gamlen Amell?" I demanded, hoping I hadn't heard him right.

Even as out of it as he was, he picked up on my tone. "I don't remember owing an elf any coin."

"You didn't. I was looking for you a month ago." I paused, snorted, and shook my head. "I wanted your help to get into this estate and kill everyone in here. Broke into your house and everything."

He blinked slowly, then let out a quiet, bitter laugh. "You couldn't have done that a few days earlier? Couldn't have missed me by much."

I carefully pulled him up, watching as he wavered. A quick jerk got an arm around my neck just as he began to fall, Merrill quickly moving to take his other side.

"He needs water, Maeve." She told me, "And food. A lot of food. Will the Chantry have that?"

"They would." I let out a frustrated breath, "Come on, let's get him downstairs and let him drink something. Then we'll figure out how to get him there."

"You'll be rewarded." Gamlen repeated, trying to support his own weight and mostly failing. "The Grand Cleric has to know what's happening in her city. To nobles in her city."

"...let's go." I sighed, already doing the math.

Gamlen probably wasn't wrong. He was technically still a noble, even if he was one that had been reduced to living in Lowtown. The Chantry would give him food and medicine on that basis alone, and do more for him once they found out the source of his condition. Would they actually reward us?

Doubtful, but... dammit. Gamlen might know where the hell Hawke was, and I wouldn't get my questions answered by refusing to help him.

Of course that left the question of how to get him there. He couldn't walk on his own. Brennan should be just outside, and could escort us, but that didn't change the fact that Gamlen probably needed at least two people to help move him.

Elowen and Zatris were both out. I needed them to help carry loot back. Varric for the same reason. Isabella probably wouldn't care unless I paid her, which I didn't want to do. Merrill probably could help, but bringing a Dalish Mage anywhere near the Chantry was a stupid idea. I'd nearly had a heart attack when I'd realized she'd wandered in the one time, I wasn't about to take her there on purpose.

I didn't trust Fenris considering his opinion of mages, meaning me, so that just left Thrask and I.

Ugh.

Well, I supposed it had to happen sooner or later.

"Let's go meet the Grand Cleric." I muttered.

And hope that I wasn't hauled off to the Gallows or jail in the process.