Chapter 64: The Return (Elissa)
Four rogues walked along the tunnel that connected Castle Cousland with one of the farms. Elissa paused, remembering the events of that fateful night.
- Are you sure you're ready for this? - Daveth asked. - You can stay here. We can sneak around on our own.
- No, it's all right, - Elissa replied. - You will get lost without me.
She opened the hatch and entered the kitchen. Leliana, Daveth and Zevran went through the hatch next. All four gathered around a large trail of clotted blood.
- My father was dying here, - Elissa said. - They didn't even wipe off the blood! Bastards!
Daveth immediately hugged her.
- We're sorry, - Leliana said. - But we need to move out. Your brother and mother are counting on us.
Elissa, Daveth, Zevran and Leliana moved on, hiding from Howe's guards. Most of the guards were drunk and did not understand what was happening. In the main hall, the invaders set up a big bedroom for themselves. Elissa took the opportunity to kill the half-awake guards. None of those who invaded her home will escape alive.
- They attacked us suddenly, - Elissa began the story. - My brother left with most of the guards, only few were left here. My father, my boyfriend, his mother and her handmaiden, countless guards and servants. All of them were killed by these monsters. Trust me, my friends. Every armed warrior here deserves death.
- What are we going to do next? - Zevran asked, looking at the crowd of warriors lined up at the main gate.
- There is is the treasury on the right, - Elissa replied. - The entrance to the dungeon is in front of it. Zevran, Leliana, go there and let out whoever you find. Daveth, you're going with me. Let's open the gate.
The group split up. Elissa and Daveth went through the storage areas and found a lever. One of Howe's guards entered the room, and Elissa immediately killed him. The scream of the poor fellow was clearly heard by someone else.
- Pull the lever! - Elissa screamed. - I'll take care of those who come here!
Daveth nodded his head and grabbed the lever. Elissa left the room and struck down two more warriors.
- Have you finished? - she asked Daveth as he was pulling the lever.
- Almost... just a few seconds... done!
Elissa and Daveth ran out to the main courtyard, where all the assembled Howe guards engaged in deadly combat with the besiegers, led by Aedan, Sereda and Cristof. Elissa entered the fray, cutting off the head of one of the guards, and Daveth saved Soris by shooting the guard approaching him in the head.
Elissa, Aedan and Sereda stood back to back to each other so that no one could hurt them.
- So much fun here! Just like at home! - Sereda yelled as she thurst her sword into one of Howe's warriors.
- Lowan's not here! - said Aedan, finishing off the wounded enemy. - Was there anyone wearing a more expensive armor in the main hall?
- No, - Elissa replied. - Only common thugs.
- Then he might be in father's bedroom. Are you with me?
- Of course!
Brother and sister rushed away from the battle, into the depths of the castle.
- Hey, what about me? - Sereda was shouting to them.
Aedan and Elissa quickly got to the bedroom. Aedan kicked the door open, and the twins saw Captain Lowan, a dark-skinned man in silverite armour. He held a sword in each hand, and both of them were aimed at the throats of two kneeling people: an elderly woman in tatters and a teenager in armor. Also on the floor was the corpse of one of Howe's thugs.
- Nan! - Elissa exclaimed, recognizing the woman as the castle's cook and the twins' former nurse and storyteller.
- I knew two of Bryce's little spitfires would come here to die, - the captain said haughtily. - So I got ready. Take one more step and both will die!
- You can't escape from here, you bastard! - Aedan said. - Die with dignity! Don't hide behind old people and children!
- And now I will name the conditions. You see, I've always enjoyed making people choose. And now I'm forcing you, mighty Couslands, to choose. My left sword is threatening your old friend Nan, who was lucky not to die with your dad that night just because she got sick and stayed at home. As the servants I had tortured told me, she is like a second mother to you. It would be sad if she stopped breathing. At my right sword is young Thomas Howe, my master's son. You must be full of the desire to take revenge on all Howes. But I'll tell you right now. Thomas was not involved in the attack, he was in Amaranthine that night and did not even know anything. Are the Couslands ready to kill an innocent for revenge, be branded as insane child killers and, more importantly, lose leverage over Rendon Howe?
- You're bluffing, - Elissa said. - Your master will flay you alive for killing his son!
- Really? See that guy on the floor? He was my best friend, and he didn't want me to put Thomas' life in danger. But I killed him. Him, his best friend. So it's easy for me to kill someone else's child. If I kill both of you after this, I'll say that you killed Thomas. If you kill me, I won't care anymore. So who will live? Nan or Thomas? Take your pick, or I'll kill them both!
The twins looked at both prisoners. Thomas looked at them fearfully. Nan silently shook her head, trying to point her finger at Thomas. Apparently, she did not want to live with knowing that someone's death was needed to save her.
- Forgive us, Nan, - Elissa said.
The woman silently nodded her head in approval.
- You've made your choice, - Lowan answered and cut off the head of the elderly woman with one strike. - Now let's dance!
The captain got distracted from Thomas and attacked the twins. Aedan did not have time to fend off the blows of two swords and soon lost his weapon. But Lowan, having paid too much attention to brother, forgot about the sister. Elissa, dodging Lowen's swords, pierced his legs, causing him to fall on the floor.
- I'll make you choose something too, - she said, standing over the defeated captain. - Which hand will you lose first? Left or right?
- Screw you! - Lowan said defiantly.
Elissa didn't answer and plunged one of her swords into Lowan's stomach and the other into his throat.
- Wrong answer, - she muttered.
Meanwhile, Cristof, Walter, Soris and two more White Falcons approached the entrance to the bedroom. Aiedan immediately came to them.
- Thanks for coming to the rescue, but we've dealt with him by ourselves, - he said. - So…
But Aedan did not have time to finish the sentence. Cristof punched him in the face with all his might. The rest of the White Falcons drew their crossbows and aimed at Elissa.
- Drop your swords! - the mercenary leader shouted.
Elissa had to comply. There was no way she could resist so many crossbowmen.
- And now both of you kneel and turn back! Thomas, get to the corner of the room.
The twins carried out the order of the mercenary. Elissa glared at Aedan angrily. Hadn't five years in exile taught him not to trust the wrong people?
