"Everyone just stay put!" Varric shouted, and they all turned to look at him.
Hawke thought he looked exasperated, and he voiced his concern. "You okay, Varric?"
"Look, Hawke," the dwarf said with a stubborn glare. "I realize that there are more rogues here than you are used to, but it doesn't do you any good if you don't let us lead! We can't disarm the traps if we're behind you, got it?!"
Hawke looked suitably ashamed, gesturing for the others to go first. Sebastian was kind enough to give him a shrug and a smile, though Nathaniel and Duran merely snickered as they walked past him.
He swallowed any retort as Nathaniel disarmed a nearby trap, causing large saw blades to show between the floorboards they had been about to walk across. He wasn't the only one looking sheepish when Varric gave the group a pointed look.
After a few moments, the rogues returned, giving a clear signal for the warriors and mages to continue. They moved, not altogether quietly, but without speaking. There was only one doorway that led further into the building, and so they moved down the stairs.
Coming into the next room, they separated, finding several smaller rooms. A few were occupied with sleeping dwarves, and they were taken care of easily, the men grateful that they were able to kill them without them suffering.
Hawke did his best to curb his desire to march into the next room, ensuring that at least one rogue was in front of him.
Duran glanced back an forth in the room, before waiving Hawke in, and he moved over to a table in the center, as Duran checked the next doorway.
The others gathered around as Hawke finished the note, passing it on for them to read.
We have learned that the younger Hawke is with the Grey Wardens. Search all of the Free Marches if you must, but find him. Kill whoever gets in your way, but make sure the boy is unharmed. The blood of Malcolm Hawke must remain pure. The Great one demands this of you.
- In the name of the master, Corypheus. May he see the sunlight again.
Hawke looked back to Carver, hearing his noise of protest as he read it.
"The Carta should want gold, not blood," Varric stressed again.
"They call this master, the Great One?" Sebastian commented, scratching the stubble on his face as he thought. "Could it be some sort of demon perhaps? Seems the most likely if it wants your blood…"
"But why our blood specifically?" Carver asked, shaking his head.
Hawke gave a shrug. "We'll only get that answer from this Corypheus," he said.
Varric glanced around, wondering why the others weren't contributing. If anyone would have a theory about a demon at work, it would be Blondie… but the mage was looking away, as if he had a thought that he didn't want to share. That doesn't bode well…
His eyes narrowed, as he noticed the three other wardens. They seemed content to let them speculate, but not assist, and Varric felt something was off.
"Well Warden?" he asked, deliberately not using a name, so he could judge their reactions. "Any thoughts?"
Duran turned to the other dwarf, raising an eyebrow at the speculative look he was receiving. "Several, but nothing concrete," he lied easily. "This all feels too easy."
"Easy?" Hawke asked, wondering if he heard that correctly.
"Yes," Duran stated as he walked around the room again. "There are stacks of crates everywhere, but they are covered in dust, as if the Carta had been up to their normal business, then decided to do something else," he explained, pointing out the crates.
The group inspected them, seeing the truth of his statement. "With everything we have seen so far, I'm thinking this is a large group of the Carta, yet instead of overwhelming us with their numbers, they come at us in small groups," Duran continued.
"And every room only has one other door that leads anywhere," Alistair explained. "In the past when dealing with the Carta, there were so many twists and turns, their base was like a maze."
"You think we're being herded?" Hawke asked in surprise.
"I'm saying it feels like an elaborate trap, without a good reason," Duran replied, giving a sigh. "And we won't get answers from the minions."
Hawke nodded gravely. "Then we move on," he said. "Let's go."
Varric followed, but he still felt unnerved. Nothing in this place made sense, from the Carta, to the Wardens. He wanted to find the person that was doing this to Hawke, put a bolt in him, and leave- and as quickly as possible.
"Gerav?" Varric asked in shock.
The other dwarf looked back at him in equal surprise. "Varric? N- No one told me you were part of this. We were only going after the Hawke."
"Care to explain why?" Hawke asked venomously.
"I… I can't say. The master must be freed." Varric followed his look, and saw that he was eyeing the Wardens.
"Really Gerav?" Varric asked, practically begging for an explanation that made sense. "I mean, gutting the occasional competition for fun and profit, that's the game! But this? What are you all even doing out here, worshiping demons?"
Gerav looked him in the eye, and seriously answered, "We drink the darkspawn blood, and He calls us."
Varric looked horrified, and Hawke stepped in. "Why would you do that? Won't it kill you?"
"Yes," the five tainted men with them answered.
"It's the only way to hear the music," Gerav replied with a shrug. He turned to the wardens, giving them a sly look. "Isn't it?"
"Oh come on, you nug-licker!" Varric said, his voice rising in volume. "There's no profit in this!"
"How do you know him, Varric?" Hawke asked, concerned.
Varric took a deep breath and released it. "Everyone, this is Gerav. A greedy, brilliant, son of a nug from the Carta." He pointed behind him as he continued. "Gerav, this is Hawke. He's the one whose blood you want to drink, or bathe in, or whatever."
"Oddly, I don't feel slighted about not being introduced," Anders muttered.
"The master is calling, he needs the blood," Gerav said, pulling out his daggers. "Can't you hear him?" he asked the wardens.
Varric looked over, relieved that they were all shaking their heads, and looking at Gerav like he was unstable. Which… is pretty much the truth, Varric thought.
A puff of smoke appeared where Gerav had been standing, and in the next moment, he was thirty paces back, with several other dwarves flanking him, their weapons out and ready to attack.
"You bastard," Varric grumbled, and realized as the other dwarf gave him a smile, that he wasn't looking at his friend any more… not really. "You've always been crazy, but it used to be in a good way," he said, as he pulled Bianca into his hands. "Goodbye, Gerav."
The fight wasn't long, and Varric gave a moment for the memory of his friend, as he glanced down at the body. He felt the hand on his shoulder, knowing it was Hawke. "He helped create Bianca," he explained. "I hate that she saw him like this."
"I'm sorry Varric," Hawke murmured, consoling.
"Me too," Varric replied. "But he made his choice. Let's go."
The group continued on, stopping a few times to deal with small groups of dwarves that came at them. They found the body of a bronto, and Duran waved them away from it, saying that it had died of the taint, causing the others to glace at each other in disgust.
Hearing a voice, the group moved quietly forward, hoping to overhear something useful.
"Why does the master want this Hawke fellow anyway?"
"It is not our place to question," came the short reply.
"I hate that I cannot hear him, as you do," the first voice said. Not to be deterred, he continued. "Is it something to do with the key, do you think?" he asked. "Didn't it belong to somebody named Hawke?"
The group looked at each other in surprise. Hoping to learn more, they waited, but no further conversation followed, and eventually they moved forward. The dwarves were not willing to talk, and Hawke reluctantly put them down.
"There's some papers here," Sebastian called from ahead of them.
It didn't take long for the men to read through them, sharing anything that seemed important.
"This one mentions something about how Corypheus has opened their eyes to the truth," Carver said.
"And this one says that the Carta was rewarded by helping to dig him out of the Deep Roads," Nathaniel added.
"These are someone asking where the reward that they were promised is, for helping him walk in the sun again," Anders murmured.
"Duran," Hawke said, and the others looked over to him. "I think it's time you explained."
Duran looked into his steely gaze, and gave an innocent expression. "Explained what exactly?" he asked.
"Even if you didn't know before, you must have some idea now," Hawke said, his tone brokering no argument. "You are privy to Warden secrets, you have knowledge that I don't," he continued.
Hawke looked over at the Wardens, seeing even his brother's gaze falter as he looked away guiltily. "I'm not asking you to betray the wardens, but surely you can help us understand what we are up against," he appealed.
Duran gave a sigh, feeling weary. "I don't know anything for certain," he said, wishing yet again that Hawke had the same knowledge from Cat as he did.
"Well, let me tell you what I know," Hawke replied, disgruntled. "These Carta dwarves found this place, and decided to use it as a base. How or why, is irrelevant."
Duran nodded, gesturing for the others to sit and rest. This would take some time, and it seemed they were alone for the moment.
"There was some sort of ancient and terrible… being, for lack of a better word, that was so bad it took hundreds of people and lyrium to bind it - and we assume because they could not kill it."
"Agreed," Duran answered. He could tell from glances from Alistair and Nathaniel that they could see the slippery slope he was navigating.
"For some reason, these dwarves are ingesting darkspawn blood, in order to hear some voice, or music," Hawke started pacing back and forth as he outlined everything he had learned. "And are trying to release some sort of being that they call Master, who calls himself Corypheus."
"That is what we've discovered," Duran agreed, giving away nothing.
"I'm still not sure what Carver and I have to do with it all, but something our father was involved in, the only mention we've heard is about a key- now causing these dwarves to seek our blood, at the order of this Corypheus."
Hawke stopped pacing and turned to Duran. "So, knowing that you have knowledge of things that I do not, involving both darkspawn and Grey Wardens- I think at the very least you might have an idea as to what we are facing?" he postulated.
Duran sighed again, and sat down wearily. "I have a few," he responded. "But that is all they are, are thoughts. As much as I trust you, Hawke, I cannot willingly break the oaths I have made. And I don't know how to tell you my thoughts without doing that."
Hawke narrowed his eyes, wanting to push the dwarf further, and at the same time not. He gave a weary sigh himself. "All right, then… can you tell us anything?"
Duran held up a small book, and Hawke looked at it, confused, because he hadn't seen it before.
"What is it?" he asked.
"A journal, from the leader of the Carta in Kirkwall, a dwarf named Rhatigan," Duran responded. "There is much rambling, but I found this near the end," he said, turning to a page and clearing his throat.
"The wardens did not guard the key with care," he began, hearing an "Aha!" from someone as they all paid closer attention.
"It was left in a repository, with objects of little worth. Trinkets, dusty Grey Warden trophies, and not even a guard posted. Fools. If only they knew what they had, and had lost."
He gave his fellow wardens a skeptical look, and then went back to reading aloud. "It will not wake at my touch; it sleeps and its power remains within. The Great One says it requires… Malcolm Hawke's blood-" he paused at the significance, "only then can its powers set him free."
"Then more blah, blah, find the Hawke, etc…" Duran finished, snapping the book shut, and looking at Hawke.
"It doesn't explain why, exactly, but there is something that will set this thing free, and it requires your father's blood- your blood- in order to work," Alistair concluded.
Hawke looked down at his hands, unsure what could have caused his father to become involved in all this, but then realized that he truly didn't care. What was done, was done, and now he needed to focus on getting the Carta to leave him alone.
He looked back to Duran, his expression grave. "I guess the only question left, is who Corypheus is," he said slowly. "Either he is trying to free the ancient horror that is bound here..."
"Yes," Duran agreed, though he didn't finish the thought. He just gave a nod.
"So we find him," Varric spoke up grimly. "Either way, he's the one we have to stop in order to get the Carta off your backs, Hawke."
"I have to agree," Sebastian said. "I don't think stopping these dwarves will end this."
Hawke grumbled, but couldn't do anything but agree. "I guess we know what we have to do then," he said, standing once again, and looking forward to the door that would take them further into the mountain.
"Bell, what a surprise," Charade said with a smile, and a raised eyebrow. "I thought you never saw the same person three days consecutively." The true surprise was that Isabela had come into Hightown and sought her out- which was definitely NOT the norm.
"That's a guideline, not a hard and fast rule," Isabela replied saucily as she sauntered over to join the other woman. "Besides, I thought you had found some work today."
Charade could tell the sultry voice was just for show, as she saw the strain in Isabela's eyes. She gestured to her crew to make themselves scarce, and they quietly changed tables without a fuss. "What's wrong?" she asked quietly, once Isabela was seated next to her.
"Nothing," Isabela responded immediately.
"Uh-huh," Charade said with disbelief. "If you simply wanted to drown your sorrows, you would have stayed in Lowtown."
"Maybe I just wanted to see you," Isabela replied flirtatiously. "I can't help but think of how much fun we had… sailing together…" her voice dropped, as she bent her head and whispered in Charade's ear. "Remember?"
"How could I forget?" Charade replied huskily, even as she looked away.
"I suppose I was thinking… maybe… we should try again?" Isabela asked, letting her fingertips trail over Charade's arm, and smiling as she felt her shiver.
"This is hardly the place to try to seduce me," Charade answered. "And you know very well that that was never the problem." Suddenly feeling angry, Charade finished her drink in a few gulps, and stood. "You know what I want, Bell," she snapped in a furious whisper, as she leaned down to be face to face. "And I won't settle for less."
"Char," Isabela stood, her face twisted in annoyance, as she followed the other woman out of the tavern. "C'mon Char, just listen to-"
Her words cut off, as she followed Charade into a side alley, and had to stop short or run into her, as she had turned to face her.
"Listen to what?" Charade demanded furiously, though her voice was hardly above a whisper. "To you tell me that you want me, but not enough to commit to me?" She inched closer, pushing Isabela up against the wall. "So you can tell me that you love everything about me, but won't love me?"
"I've told you why-" Isabela started.
"Yeah, I know," Charade interrupted. "You tell me all the lies you tell yourself, about how love is for fools, and doesn't last, and blah, blah."
"It isn't lies!" Isabela countered, feeling her own anger rise. She stopped and took a deep breath, speaking again, her voice cajoling. "Why can't we just enjoy each other Char?" she asked quietly, her hands reaching out to caress even as her voice did the same. "It's been so good, why do we have to change things?"
Charade let herself enjoy the touch, but only for a moment. "I want more than a couple of nights here and there." Charade took Isabela's hands and removed them from her body.
Isabela huffed, "You're asking for more than I can give, Char," she said as she looked away. "This is all I have, take it or leave it."
Charade smiled then, stepping back, even as she reached up to stroke Isabela's face. "I know you're scared you'll hurt me, Bell," she said, looking into her eyes. "But I can't cheapen what I feel, and I won't let you either."
She stepped away, seeing the shock on Isabela's face, and then shaking her head as she turned on her heel and walked away. Part of her wanted to simply give in, take whatever scraps Isabela would give her, and be grateful. But she knew she couldn't do that. And she knew that deep down, Isabela would think less of her if she did.
Love, she sneered to herself. Why did I ever think it would be so grand?
Continuing down the street, she let herself walk aimlessly. She took random turns, just to avoid others, wanting to simply drown in her own misery for a bit, though she knew it wouldn't last. Eventually she would need others, need the uplift it brought her.
Hearing voices, she instinctively turned to go another way, but stopped short at hearing Hawke's name.
Listening intently for a few moments, had her eyebrows raising as she slowly moved stealthily forward. She didn't know who these men were, but if their conversation was anything to go by, she would need to find out- quickly- before anyone got hurt.
No one messed with her family. No. One.
"Hi Charade, come on in," Cat said happily, at seeing Hawke's cousin at her door. She opened it wide, and Charade came through, though she seemed perturbed about something.
"Who is it Cat?" Nyssa asked, as she came into the room from the kitchen, still wiping her hands on a towel.
"It's Charade," Cat replied, still looking at Charade in confusion, as the woman was pacing. "Uh, Charade?" she asked, gaining the woman's attention. "What's wrong?" she added.
"Cat," Charade replied gravely. "There's.. well, I suppose I need a favor," she said, though she grimaced as she said it.
"Name it," Cat replied, still uncertain as to what could be going on.
"Just… let me explain…" she said, then looked up in surprise. "What?" she asked, shocked.
"I said, name it," Cat replied, pulling on her sleeve and bringing her over to some chairs. "Obviously something is wrong, and I will help however I can."
"But… you hardly know me," Charade gaped.
Cat gave her a skeptical look. "Not only are you the cousin of the man I love, but you also are in love with my best friend. I'd say that qualifies as a basis for trusting you."
"But… I… but…wha?" Charade stammered, even as she blushed. "Is it that obvious?!"
Cat grinned. "Probably not to everyone, though most of them are men, and therefore are oblivious."
Charade let out a breath, relieved. "I suppose I'm not quite ready for that to be common knowledge," she said, embarrassed at her behavior.
"Don't worry, you're secret's safe with us," Cat said, glancing over to Nyssa and getting a nod in agreement. "I will warn you, you have an uphill battle ahead of you, to get Isabela on the same ground."
"Believe me, I know," Charade muttered. Then she looked up, calculating. "But that's not why I came here," she said, looking up to meet Cat's eyes.
The three women looked over as the door opened. "Hey Kitty!" Isabela called out as she strolled in. "Oh, you're right here," she said, seeing Cat standing up in the main room. "I thought I'd see if you want to spar or something, I'm feeling a bit restless…" she stopped short, finally seeing that there were others with Cat.
"Char?" she asked, in disbelief. "Since when do you come visit Kitty?" she demanded, feeling cheated somehow, as if there were something going on that she wasn't privy to.
"Bell," Charade said, giving her a nod, and standing, her spine snapped straight. "I came to ask Cat for a favor," she said. "I was going to come talk to you about it tomorrow."
"Well, that's just fine, but I guess you'll have to change those plans, because I'm not going anywhere," Isabela countered.
"Fine," Charade replied wearily. "Grab a seat then."
Isabela looked suspicious, but did as she said, flopping into another chair. She looked over to the elven woman, and gave a "Hi Nyssa," before giving Charade a "go ahead" gesture.
Nyssa and Cat glanced at each other in concern, but both turned to give Charade their attention.
"I wanted to ask if there was somewhere that you could go, for a couple of days," Charade said to Cat, holding her hands up in defense as the others started asking questions. "I promise to explain, but that is the favor I need," she said.
"Um, yes, actually," Cat replied. "Merrill has been wanting to visit her clan, and destroy the demon that is on the mountain. It will take some time, probably a week or two, since we need to get more information on it, before taking it on."
Charade gave a sigh of relief. "Have you told anyone of these plans?" she asked.
"No, since we haven't made them yet," Cat replied, frowning. "I know Merrill would prefer to go sooner, but I was thinking that we'd need more people to help."
"If you and Merrill will go, then we can take care of the issue I am about to tell you about, and then meet you there to help," Charade mused. She looked over at Nyssa and Isabela. "What do you think?" she asked.
"I don't know what help I would be," Nyssa said with a frown. "Especially against a demon."
Charade nodded. "Okay, the two of us then?" she asked, glancing at Isabela, who paused, but then agreed. "Will that be enough?" she asked Cat.
"I would think so, especially since we'll have the Keeper and other members of the clan most likely." She turned to Nyssa. "You could come if you wanted to," she offered.
"That would be… interesting," Nyssa replied. "Though from what Merrill has told me, I won't likely be welcomed."
"No, probably not," Cat agreed with a smirk.
"I'll think on it," Nyssa replied.
"I guess I'll go talk to Merrill in the morning then, and leave within the next two days?" she offered, looking from Charade to Isabela, and wondering what happened between them in the past week.
"So what is going on?" Isabela asked petulantly.
"Have you told Cat about the Knight Captain?" Charade asked, causing Isabela to sit up and glare at her.
"Told me what?" Cat asked, looking back and forth between the two women. "Did something happen to Cullen?" she asked again. "Issy?! What happened?!" she asked, getting more and more upset as they didn't answer her.
"You know I didn't," Isabela glared at Charade. "And there had better be a damned good reason you're doing it now."
Charade nodded. "There is," she replied, as she turned to Cat. "The Knight Captain is fine, Cat," she placated. "But when Issy went to deliver your letter awhile back… well," she sighed. "Something seemed off."
"A lot of somethings seemed off," Isabela spoke up, taking over, and Cat looked to her. "I delivered the letter just fine, but the Knight Captain didn't know who I was, and didn't seem to recognize your name either," she said, trying to remember exactly what had happened.
"What?" Cat asked, aghast.
"He thought I was somehow using his sister's name to threaten him or something," she recalled. "It was all very strange, and after he threatened me, I just left the letter and came back."
"He threatened you?!" Cat screeched. "But… but why?!"
"It was obvious that he didn't know me, and thought I was trying to blackmail him or something. He was just protecting himself, so I wasn't upset by it." She turned to look at Cat. "I didn't tell you, Kitty, because I knew you would be worried about him and try to do something."
Cat glared at her. "Worried, about him?" she spluttered. "He threatened you! I want to punch him"
Isabela smirked, and sat back in the chair. "I guess I was worried for nothing then," she laughed. She turned to look back to Charade. "But what does all this have to do with Kitty getting out of Kirkwall?" she asked shrewdly.
"I don't have all the details, but I'm sure we can find them out," Charade explained. She told them of walking the streets and hearing the voices talk of Hawke. "When I got closer, I heard one say that the experiment was a success, and the other disagreed, because the champion's lady was still in the way."
The three of them glanced at Cat, and she rolled her eyes. "That's nothing new," she protested. "Someone always has a problem with Hawke, or me, but it's not like I have to run scared every time."
"I'm not asking you to run scared," Charade said. "I'm asking you to simply get out of the way, so we can find out what their plan is." She sighed, and ran a hand through her hair.
"What is it?" Isabela asked, seeing through Charade's sigh. To anyone else it may have sounded as if she were simply weary, but Isabela knew that she just didn't like giving bad news, and was putting it off as long as she could.
"One man called the other Knight Lieutenant, and asked about the Knight Captain's memory, so I discovered that they were templars and likely responsible for whatever is going on with Cullen," she said quietly. "The only other thing I heard was that the Knight Commander didn't want to know how they accomplished it, just that it got done."
She looked down at the floor. "I don't know anything for certain, Cat, but I would feel much better about uncovering this, if I knew you were safe." She met Isabela's eyes, then Cat's. "I don't want to think about the templars trying to kill you, but the thought won't go away."
"All right," Cat said, though her face told them plainly that she didn't like it. "I know that I'm not back to my peak form, so I'll go, on one condition."
The genuine surprise on the two rogues' faces was quickly changed to suspicion.
"What condition?" Isabela asked. "Don't let anyone hurt Cullen?" she guessed.
"Issy, that's not a condition, that's a given," she admonished her friend. "No, my condition is that you don't keep this to yourselves," she continued. "Use our friends, our networks. And definitely get Aveline involved."
Cat smiled at hearing Isabela's groan. "Yes, I know you two have issues with each other, but Aveline can get you information that you can't on your own. Merrill's network can get you into the Gallows if need be. Just… don't think this is all on your shoulders alone."
Charade stood, and stuck her hand out in front of Cat. "Deal," she said with a smile. "It's probably a good idea if you come with me to talk to Aveline tomorrow," she said. "She'll be more inclined to help if you're the one to ask for it."
Cat smirked back at her. "You're probably right about that."
"Well?" the shadowy figure asked.
"She's gone," the other answered quietly.
"You took care of it then?" the first asked, sounding impressed.
"No, what I mean to say is that she is not in the city. According to our sources, she went to the mountains with the wild one," the second replied. "We have no authority there, and the rabbits scurry before we can even find 'em."
The first man rolled his eyes, giving a pained sigh. "It's so frustrating to have to lead you around by the nose," he muttered.
"Hey, that's just rude," the second started to rise, giving a pained groan when the first grabbed his ear and twisted it.
"Listen very carefully," he murmured, enjoying the pain he was inflicting. "If that bitch comes back, then all our carefully laid plans are ruined, yes?" he said, pulling up and down on the ear to help the other answer correctly.
"Ye-yes!" he squirmed.
"Exactly so. And what happens if our plans are ruined?" he asked, even knowing he wouldn't get the correct answer.
"Th- the wrong… people stays in … power?" the idiot answered, and the first man felt himself smirk.
"Well… I'm impressed. So impressed, that I'll give you a hand this time," he said, letting go of the other man. "We have everything we need to set the stage, but if she interferes, then it is all for nothing. If you can't do the job, then hire someone that can. Understand?!"
"O-of course, Ser," the second man said, bowing his head, even as he put distance between them, and rubbed his damaged ear, thinking he should have left his helmet on. "It will be done, immediately."
"Good," the first replied. "Now, get out of my sight."
He watched as the man scrambled away, and then rose himself, and moved casually for the door. He counted to himself, giving plenty of time between their two exits, so that no one would notice the two of them together.
Once he was ready, he opened the door and began walking in the other direction, at a slow and steady pace. He opened another door, and stepped out into the sunlight, hearing the sounds of the training recruits.
Finally giving himself leave to remove his helmet, he walked over to where the Knight Commander was standing, observing.
"Commander," he said, letting her know that he was there.
"Lieutenant," she replied. "It seems that you were correct," she spoke quietly, so that they were not overheard. "The Knight Captain is questioning, but does not seem any worse for wear."
"The dosage is the tricky part, but I was confident we would succeed. If you desire, we can always bring the witnesses before him again, since they are part of our tranquil now. Though he did try to massacre them the last time," the Knight Lieutenant smirked. "It took more lyrium than I thought to help him past that painful memory."
"I do not think that will be necessary," she replied, still not looking at him, though she could feel him step closer, and her eyes narrowed, as she glanced over her own shoulder using her peripheral vision. "Cullen will put this behind him, and be stronger for it."
"Indeed," he said, smirking to himself again at his own cleverness. It was simply too bad that he couldn't tell anyone everything that he had accomplished. Not yet, anyway, he thought. But soon, the Commander will want every detail. He hadn't realized that he stepped closer to her, but felt better as soon as he had. As if things were right. And he wondered why.
"Sad, yet fortunate, that events turned out this way," the Knight Commander continued. "I never wished for Catarina's death, especially at the hands of an apostate, yet, it made such a lesson for the Captain," she mused aloud, keeping the Lieutenant in her sights. "Almost perfectly, in fact." She could see the way he stiffened, and kept talking.
"Though I have often wondered what the mage's reasons were," she said, as she turned around and looked at her Lieutenant. "I suppose I will simply have to ask him sometime."
The Knight Lieutenant broke out into a cold sweat, but he kept his features like stone. He gave his commander a nod, trying not to glare at her back as she walked away from him.
What did that mean?! he wondered, as put his helmet back on, and stormed off another way. She's the one that practically TOLD me to do it, the way she laid it all out, and now she's trying to threaten me?! You don't want to be at odds with me, Knight Commander. He stewed, as he went to his office, slamming the door shut behind him.