Heated
Thornton had come to Redcliffe ready to fight a dragon. His belt held healing potions as well as a number of tonics that were proven to assist in warding off the effects of dragon breath. His arrows had been selected with care, each set with a specially designed point to penetrate heavy scales with ease. With no idea what kind of draconic foe he faced, he had chosen to bring an enchanted bow that threw arrows far and fast as well as enhancing each fired with the energy of lightning. But when he fired at this target, his arrow hit the abomination and did nothing. No effect at all. Not even the shimmer of a mage's barrier. It was immune to his attacks. So how could he fight it?
"Run!" He commanded the kids who had paused on seeing the abomination turned away from them. "You cannot fight this!" Indeed, several of them looked sick and one bent over and lost her breakfast on the grassy ground. "Get away!" He snapped as he dropped one of his special surprises and fell back before the monster's advance.
The abomination hissed and lunged for him, only to go flying as it hit his spring trap. Luckily, it's flight took it away from everyone else. The kids bolted and he could spare no more time to worry about them as the thing rose and advanced again. His other weapons would be just as useless as his bow, but he was not out of tricks. Not hardly.
Ordinarily, against such a foe, he would just retreat. His skill at stealth would allow him to hide from even arcane senses for a time. If he couldn't handle it, then his team could. That was the point of a team, each member buffering each other's weaknesses. Alone against an abomination, he didn't have much of a chance. But he had more than the kids did. And the dragon was still, so still where she lay. Hurt? Dying? He didn't know.
His other available tricks were nastier, but would likely have as little effect on a creature of magic as his arrow had. For the first time, he wished he carried caltrops like Hall did. The sniper wasn't that great at close quarters so when enemies closed, he dropped nasty little things that always landed with one point up. They would slow almost any foe down, allow him to keep his distance. That would be useful right about now. Unfortunately, he didn't have any. He would have to ask Hall for some the next time he saw his fellow agent. If there was a next time...
Thornton knew his strengths and weaknesses. Against this foe, he had little chance with his arrow not affecting it.
Try again...
The words were soft, as if the speaker was in pain. He wasn't sure he had heard the words over the creature's roar as it closed with him. He shook his head, but he didn't really have any other options. He pulled another arrow from his quiver as the abomination charged again. But this time as he drew it back... The energy of his arrow changed color! From blue to greenish white! He stared at it and then jerked into motion as the abomination swung at him. He threw himself backward, a special ability he and Hall had practiced a lot. It was a literal lifesaver, what some of the troops who had seen it called 'Leaping Shot'.
He did not expect what happened. Neither did the abomination. Instead of the dozen or so smaller, less damaging arrows that he normally shot in a spread during that particular move, two flew from his bow. Both sped across the scant feet between him and the magical monster. The monster hadn't even bothered to guard itself, apparently sure in its invulnerability. Both arrows hit true and sank in deep. The monster stared down at the arrows and then at Thornton who was just as surprised. It hissed and stepped forward. It staggered a bit, but kept coming.
Not enough... The voice was weaker. Flee.
"The kids!" Thornton snapped, unsure of who he was arguing with. He drew another arrow, but this one did not change. He didn't bother to fire it. He dropped another trap and backed away, but this time the monster saw it and skirted it. "Smart nasty."
A horn sounded in the distance. One he knew! Belinda! Backup!
"Here!" He shouted as he ran back another pace. But the monster was faster than he was. It never made sense how such ungainly looking things could be so swift. "Abomination!" He screamed as the thing swung at him again. He dodged the first blow, then the second. The third in rapid succession hit. There was no pain, but he was suddenly staring up at the monster, unable to move.
The abomination roared in triumph... no... that wasn't the abomination roaring. He stared up as a red streaked blur flew through his fading vision. The blur held a two handed sword, but that wasn't what she used. Oh no. She reached out with a clawed hand and a miasma of power grew around it, instantly taking the form of a dragon's claw. It reached out to the abomination and pulled back, part of the magical monster flowing with it.
"Sidony! Help Thornton!" The call from the team leader came and Thornton felt a presence nearby.
A grunt of disapproval sounded, but even Sidony had limits. She knew better than to cross Tamar when the warrior woman was in full battle mode. Everyone in the Inquisition knew better than to anger Tamar. It had taken two weeks to completely rebuild the lower floor of the Herald's Rest after the last 'friendly' brawl that the warrior woman had instigated with Bull's Chargers. The Herald had not been pleased, but the Chargers had thought the whole thing hilarious. She had fought them all barehanded and only the intervention of The Iron Bull himself had finally managed to stop her. They called her an 'honorary Charger' for a reason and it was a mix of respect and fear.
Power flowed into Thornton from somewhere he couldn't see. Pain flared and he bit back a groan.
"Be glad it hurts." Sidony said nastily. "Pain tell you that you are alive."
"Nice to see you too, Sidony." Thornton grated out. Appreciation was wasted on the mage, she just ignored it. "Lightning doesn't work."
"Of course it doesn't!" Sidony said nastily. "If magic worked regularly on abominations, no one would be afraid of them." The last of the pain faded as Sidony finished whatever she had been doing and she turned back to the fight. Thornton rise, his bow in hand.
"Where did it come from?" Belinda asked from where she watched Tamar rip into the thing again and again. It couldn't defend against her attack and it seemed baffled by her single minded onslaught. No one sane got too close to Tamar when she was so into it. The Reaver's face was a mix of rage and joy. Thornton moved to stand near the Templar.
"Group of young mages." Thornton said quietly, his eyes flicking here and there. "They trapped the dragon in some kind of spell. I was caught up in it too after I sent up the flare. Odd." Belinda looked at him and he shrugged. "Not hostile to me. Were scared shitless when they found me." Belinda frowned at the mild profanity and Thornton had to bite back a smile. Some things never changed. "Sorry."
"Young mages?" Belinda asked. "How many?"
"Not sure." Thornton admitted. "Maybe a dozen? They said they were trying to stop the dragon to help Redcliffe. I... dunno." He shrugged. "Seems kind of convenient, no?"
"They just happen to show up and they just happen to have magic capable of restraining a dragon?" Belinda said slowly. She shook her head. "A setup of some kind. No kids -even apprentices- would be able to hold such." The Templar was cheerful in most situations, she certainly wasn't stupid. "Sidony, stay close in case Tamar needs help."
Not likely, the berserker woman had pushed the abomination back further. But Belinda took her role as team leader seriously. Sidony did not respond, but she also did not move when Belinda and Thornton moved off. She knew better. Belinda might be cheerful, she was not a pushover. Belinda looked a question at the hunter. He nodded and started off towards where the dragon lay in the distance.
"One thing more..." Thornton didn't want to say this, but he had to. "Someone talked to me. Through me and then to me." Belinda glance at him and he scowled. "Yes, I know that means a full checkup back at Skyhold. Not looking forward to it. But whoever it was, she was odd."
Any time agents were exposed to possible mind affecting powers, demons or red lyrium, they had to be vetted by the Inquisition before being allowed back on duty. Considering all of the secrets that they were privy to, it only made sense from a security standpoint. Mages, healers and agents trained in security by Leliana herself would be involved and it would not be pleasant. But more pleasant than having a demon lurking inside his mind.
"So one of the mages turned." Belinda said softly.
"Yeah." Thornton replied the same way. "Oldest one I saw was about fifteen. How many apprentices are accounted for from the rebels?" Belinda jerked but then nodded slowly.
"About half." The Templar said slowly. "Most of the apprentices were moved to supposed places of safety when the magister came." She bowed her head. "And some of those... didn't make it." Thornton nodded. Safety was relative. During a war between magic using rebels and rogue Templars determined to stop them? There were few safe places.
"I think..." Thornton froze in place, Belinda mimicking him as voices wafted. One he knew. One he did not.
"This is wrong!" The child mage Carla. "Mikol is dead. We cannot do this!"
"Child, Carla... I think so too. But the Maker's will must be done." This voice wasn't anyone Thornton knew. Belinda looked at him and he shook his head. He nocked an arrow and slid forward.
"Please don't!" Carla begged. "She hasn't hurt anyone!"
"Carla, it is a dragon." He could see the speakers now. A female form in robes that looked Chantry who stood by the fallen dragon. The familiar absurdly young looking female mage who stood nearby, wringing her hands. Other young mages looked on, all with expressions of fear and shock. "Hurting people is what they do!" She was doing something at the dragon's neck.
"Hold!" To Thornton's surprise and bewilderment, Belinda stepped out of concealment. The Templar strode into the clearing, her weapon... at her side? "Hold in the name if the Inquisition." She wasn't hostile! She wasn't even worried. Then again, she had Thornton covering her from the shadows. "No more blood needs to be shed here."
"No!" The woman in robes spun, her face going pale as she saw Belinda approaching. "Not now!"
"Step away from the wyrm." Belinda commanded. "I will not ask again."
"Templar, you do not understand!" The woman did not move. "This thing... is a monster. It was made in a lab!"
"My name is Belinda." The Templar said as she strode up and gently but firmly pulled the woman away from the dragon. She shook her head as she saw the knife in the woman's hands and the cuts that had been made in the soft scales of the dragon's neck. "And I have my orders. Drop it." The woman did.
"My name is Rhapsody and I have mine." That had to be a code name or something. The woman did not resist. Wise of her. But her hands were slowly edging to her side where two dagger were sheathed. She went still as Thornton's arrow hit the ground at her feet. Smart woman, she froze and did not look away from Belinda as Thornton readied another arrow.
"Let us not escalate this any more than we have already." Belinda said with a scowl as she turned, blocking the access to the dragon's neck. "If we fight, you will die. My orders come from the head of the Inquisition. Yours?"
"The Divine." The woman said softly. Thornton's eyes narrowed as Belinda's did and Rhapsody nodded. "Yes, I am from Tevinter. We made this mess. We have to fix it."
"Mess?" Belinda asked, to all appearances stunned. "Do you have any idea what you did? What they did?" Rhapsody went still and Belinda sighed. "You don't, do you?"
"Sister Rhapsody?" Carla was staring from the Templar to the Chantry sister in shock.
"I am sorry, Carla." Rhapsody said softly. "I was sent to help you, but... I got other orders."
"Oh boy..." Belinda actually swallowed and Thornton felt the same way. An agent of Tevinter's Divine. Sent here, to do...what? The Templar recovered first. "Help them?"
"My job has always been to clean up messes." Rhapsody said quietly. "Don't tell me you never had to do the same." Thornton felt this guts freeze and from Belinda's expression, she felt the same way. Rhapsody shook her head. "I have done horrible things, but this? No. Alexius didn't care about the apprentices. I was close. I was sent when some were found. The less about the state of them, the better. The bandits responsible are dead, I made sure of that but they were just kids."
"You told us you found them." Carla's face was stricken and Rhapsody nodded. "Was it all a lie then?"
"No." Rhapsody said sadly. "I did. I dealt with the bandits too. My daughter is about your age and I do want to help. That is why he sent me! To help. Not to sanitize the area."
"You can say it!" Carla snapped angrily. "Kill us all!"
"Carla, I have had to do worse." Rhapsody said sadly. "That was the point. I didn't want to this time and he knew it." She shook her head as her hands fell to her sides. "I am sorry I lied to you. But come on, if I had come up and said 'Hey, I work for Tevinter, trust me!' what would you have done?" She asked with a tiny grin.
"Run like hell." Carla said with tiny, choked sob.
"I am sorry about Mikol, Carla." Rhapsody said softly. "He was a good kid. I don't know where he learned that. The only magic I had was the scroll I showed you. The 'hold' spell. That is all." A soft rumble sounded and all eyes turned to where the dragon lay. One of her eyes was open and she was watching the group intently. "No!" Rhapsody exclaimed, backpedaling to place herself between the dragon and the children for all the good it would do against a High Dragon. "Kids! Run!"
"There is no need." Thornton stared as Belinda smiled a bit sadly and nodded to the dragon who hadn't moved as much as a claw tip. "You played asleep to keep them calm, didn't you?"
"Why are you talking to the dragon?" Rhapsody demanded.
"Because whatever their reasons and their evil methods..." Thornton was hardly the only one to exclaim in shock as Inquisitor Trevelyan entered the clearing. She was alone. Where were the others? Did Thornton want to know? "...the people who experimented on her did something miraculous. There is only one person who can possibly explain to you, Agent Rhapsody and you, Carla, what is going on. You won't trust me. You should trust her. She could have killed you all and didn't. Belinda, Thornton, ward."
That was a command as the Inquisitor lay down on the ground and put her hand to her mouth. She closed her eyes and in moments, she was asleep. Belinda moved to guard her.
"Is she insane?" Rhapsody asked, staring at the dragon and then the slumbering Inquisitor.
"Yes." The sour voice that replied was from Evelyn, but not her. Everything in the clearing stopped. "That human is completely, utterly insane. Crazy. Bugnuts. Whatever you want to call it." Belinda smothered a laugh at that and Thornton had to fight to keep from the same. It was true. "She is also... so brave.. I..."
"Julisa?" Carla had gone pale. "That... Your voice is coming from her now."
"Yes." Julisa's voice was gentle and soothing. "My own throat will not produce the sounds that make up your language. This is the only way I can communicate. My throat is too big." It took a moment for that to sink in. Then Rhapsody fell to her knees, her hands coming up in prayer. Carla's eyes went huge and more than one of the apprentices jerked back with cries of fear. Julisa's voice turned sad. "I will not hurt you, child. Any of you."
"How...?" Rhapsody begged through her prayers.
"I do not know." Julisa said sadly. "Most of my memories are horrible. They... drained me and put other people's memories in me. I am not sure why. Just one day... I woke up. I couldn't speak to any but the ones who were connected to me and they thought I was a figment of their madness." She snorted and the puff came from the dragon. "Maybe I am. Who knows? A long philosophical debate for another time."
"You... let us... hold you..." Carla said softly.
"I did." Julisa agreed through her proxy.
"Why?" Carla demanded. "Rhapsody would have killed you!"
"What right have I to take another life, Carla?" Julisa asked and Carla stilled at the raw sadness in the not so monstrous being's tone. "I have had to, to protect myself and a good friend. But I have had time to think since then. What I did was wrong. I took lives, snuffed them out. I hope the Maker forgives. For I have sinned." The pain in her voice had both Carla and Rhapsody staring.
"You were defending yourself, Julisa." Belinda said softy. "There is no sin in defending oneself."
"They didn't have a chance against me, Templar!" Julisa said savagely. "Part of me welcomed the rage that came. Welcomed the pain. Welcomed the feeling of power, of freedom. It was wrong, what I did and men died. I did not want to! I do not want to be a monster!"
"I don't know what to say, Julisa." Belinda was sad now. "I am not a priest. Not really. All I can say that is that I am glad you are alive."
"So am I." Rhapsody was slow and careful when she spoke. "You... think."
"I don't know." Julisa groaned halfheartedly. "What is thought?"
Thornton had never thought to groan as loud as he did as both the Templar and the agent of the Black Divine stared at the dragon and then at each other. The two women shared a small smile.
Oh dear... here we go... We might be here all day!