"Maeve, to the Alienage!" Meredith bellowed, already whirling away from the vista of the burning city. "Barricade it until you see an opening! Guard Captain, Watch Captain! Rally your forces before this Keep at once!"
I was already running, not waiting to hear what Brennan or Ruka said. A still trailing Orsino stepped aside at the last moment, watching me with an enigmatic expression. Near him was a more worried looking Evelyn, who I gave a quick nod of reassurance as I ran past.
Then I was racing down stairwells and through hallways as rapidly as I could. Hallways filling with the sound of men and women rushing around in confusion, hidden bells ringing somewhere high above.
I hit the lobby at a full sprint, not surprised to see the doors wide open. The Templars assigned as the wardens were frantically waving people inside; off-duty Guards were rushing in to retrieve their arms and armor, as were dozens of nobles and servants who'd simply been in the area. Now they sought the security of the keep's walls, unaware or uncaring that it was certainly the Qunari's primary target.
Tallis would know the book was in this building, and that had to be what this was about.
As much as I hated the Qunari, I would be the first to admit that they were anything but stupid. If anything their leaders seemed to be dangerously competent more often than not. I couldn't see them trying to capture a city of sixty thousand with a mere six hundred. Not unless they were truly desperate, or unless they'd been provoked.
And I'd been the one to kick that hornet's nest.
Fuck!
"Clear a path!" My snarl had a Templar grabbing a portly merchant, yanking the man out of my way as I approached. Others were quicker to get out of the way, even if several of them swore about knife-ears in the process.
Ignoring them, I took the stairs as quickly as I dared considering how many people were scrambling up them.
The smoke was rising in the afternoon sky by the time I reached the main plaza, making my way toward the next stairwell that would take me down to Lowtown. A small group of Guards, they must have been on a patrol, were already forming up there, a dark haired Templar in command.
"Ser Wesley!" I called, recognizing him.
He turned, nodding his head sharply, helmet tucked under an arm. "Lady Maeve! The Knight-Commander?"
I slowed, both to catch my breath and catch him up. "Trying to get the Guard armed I think, and I expect calling the Templars out of the Hightown Chantries. I'm heading to the Alienage to get the Night Watch ready to sally out when the Qunari make for the Keep."
"You're certain it is their target?" He asked.
"If they take it, who's fucking left to lead?" I asked in return. "With their numbers, killing our leaders is their only chance at a quick win and they've got to know that."
He grimaced, nodding once. "We will hold this gate then. Luck, Dame."
"Luck, Ser." I was already moving before he could try to offer me a hand to shake, starting my descent into Lowtown.
The steady rush of people going past started to get worse in a hurry. What had only been a few when I'd been near Aveline's husband became a stampede by the time I was halfway down, forcing me to keep to a wall, drawing my sword to force people to not run directly into me. I badly missed my armor right about then, and cursed the fact that I hadn't thought to put it on this morning.
It wasn't quite so bad that anyone was forced onto the blade, but I had to smack one panicked man and a bawling woman with the flat of its side before I made the street.
I didn't even try to stay to the main road; I made for the nearest of the old style apartments instead. The angles made it easy to take a running start, kicking off from a side wall to grab the roof, pulling myself up and onto it.
From there I got moving along the Thieves' Highway, heading for the Alienage's walls, and its single Chantry tower. I could see the bell ringing furiously along with all of the others, a silent prayer hoping that Merrill had stayed there instead of trying to come out and find me.
...and I kicked myself when I leaped from one roof to another for forgetting the obvious.
"Longing." I hissed, "Find Merrill and tell her where I'm going."
The spirit's voice was smug when she replied, "I already did. She is arming herself with the others, and awaits your arrival."
I grunted, landing hard on a stone roof, "Thanks."
Her presence didn't fade. Instead it felt as if she was hovering right over my shoulder as I ran, which didn't bode well for the situation on the other side of the Veil. Trusting that she had my back there, I focused on not plummeting into an alley or a street as I leaped from building to building.
It would be peak black comedy if I'd lived this long on Thedas only to snap my neck doing parkour.
I was about two blocks from the Alienage's western wall when I ran into someone determined to help me make that mistake.
Landing on a gently sloping roof, I was just putting an arm out for balance when a figure leaped down from another building, planting themselves between me and my destination.
Tallis wore a light mix of plate and chainmail, mostly hidden under a dark cloak. Steel glinted in both hands, the Qunari assassin easily keeping her balance as she stared me down. The sight of her armor made me wish I was wearing mine for the second time in fifteen minutes, just as I badly wished I had even a scrap of mana available to my soul.
My sword sang as it cleared its sheathe, my own feet carefully shifting as I settled into place. If I couldn't throw her off this roof with my magic, I'd just have to deal with her the old fashioned way.
"Where is it?" Her question was expected, though she surprised me with the follow-up offer. "Give it to me, and I'll make the Antaam pull back to their compound!"
"I don't have it!" I called back. "And even if I did, I don't believe that you would or could!"
She scowled, taking a threatening step forward, a motion that I matched. My counter-advance at her bring one dagger up, the other held low and ready.
"Last chance!" Tallis said. "How many innocents are going to die today because of you, Maeve? You can save them if you just give me the list."
Fingers tightened, sword shifting to a low guard, ready to lash out. "How many would die when those Viddathari turn on their neighbors? When they start assassinating leaders across Thedas, to leave the kingdoms wide open for your next invasion, soulless?"
Tallis narrowed her eyes.
It was the only warning I had before she'd nearly crossed the distance between us, feinting right, then sliding down to try and embed a weapon into my thigh. I half-bought the motion, twisting awkwardly to parry the real attack.
My riposte and her off-hand follow-up strike both whistled through the air thanks to her ducking and me leaning back. Before we could recover several tiles slid down under her feet, making her scramble back out of range, both of us quickly moving up to the roof's central ridge.
It wasn't a long fall to the raised street level below, a half story maybe, but we both knew the other would pounce on the first one to make that drop.
I recovered first, advancing, falling into a lunge to abuse my longer weapon. Tallis caught it between her blades, throwing the attack aside, and nearly got my wrist with her own counter. She pressed, trying to overbear me with her size and paired weapons, forcing me to beat a quick retreat, slashing to keep her honest.
She parried, but it worked to slow her, giving me a chance for a more calculated low-feint, high-slash. Like me she bought the feint, realized her mistake, then jerked back. Sparks flew when she turned just enough to take the edge on her armored shoulder, her teeth bared in a feral snarl.
Two more quick exchanges had me keeping the advantage, pushing her back, forcing her to respect my sword's length and quickness. Unfortunately that was the extent of the good news; her armor kept her alive through two more hard impacts from my blade, and I couldn't press too hard or I'd end up with a knife in my guts.
Tallis held me off through another exchange, then went back an extra step, and side-armed one of her knives at my face.
I hadn't been ready for the throw at all, my sword totally out of position to deflect it. I flailed at the motion, ducking, and took the handle and cross-guard across my temple. It hurt like a bitch and left me staggering, wide open when she came in with the other weapon.
A desperate scramble avoided the thrust at my heart, but she caught my arm with the edge when she pulled the weapon sideways. I snarled, saw her duck a quick slash, then felt my left leg buckle when she lunged in to drive the weapon into the meat of my thigh.
I didn't even try to stay upright; I let myself fall, rolling down the roof, ripping the dagger from her hands. It was her turn to swear as I vanished over the side, falling the short distance to ground. Landing drew another furious sound from my lips, back and ass throbbing in sequence.
Kicking out with my good leg got me partially upright just as she came hurtling down, but she hadn't aimed to land near me.
Instead Tallis landed in a roll a few yards away, quickly rising, two more knives appearing in her hands. Her expression was merciless when I tried to stand, and felt the dagger still embedded in my flesh start tearing at things.
That knee stayed down, leaving me in an awkward crouch, sword held up as best I could. My heart began to pick up speed; I was losing this fight. Had already lost it. Tallis was going to kill me if I didn't pull some trick out, and do it quickly.
"The book." She demanded. "Or I won't miss the next throw."
Longing's name was on my lips, to see if she couldn't give me enough mana to survive this, when I got help of a different kind.
The four legged kind.
Ser Hound, bedecked in his armor, simply appeared around a corner behind her, coming in low and fast. Tallis saw my attention waver, and whirled around, but she hadn't been expecting a Mabari. Her guard was too high, and the war-dog struck her about the knees.
Her yelp was understandably panicked when they both went down, limbs flailing when he went for her throat with his jaws. She managed to get both legs under him, more by luck than skill I thought, hurling him off when she kicked out.
He landed near me with a snarl, whirling around, planting his stout frame between us.
Tallis bounced upright, but her attention jerked the other way again when Ser Emeric came storming around the corner in full plate. She didn't wait to see how many of the Watch were with him; she dropped a dagger, ripping a smoke bomb from her belt and smashing it at her own feet.
By the time it cleared she was gone, vanished down one of the nearby alleys, and a dozen furious Elves were formed up around me while I tiredly scratched Ser Hound behind the ears, telling him what a good dog he was.
"Easy," One of them, a teenage girl, was carefully inspecting the dagger still protruding from my leg. "Easy lady. Here, drink this when I say."
One of the men took my sword, sheathing it for me, letting me grab the vial from her fingers. Pulling the stopper out with my teeth, I gulped it down when she said. The girl pulled the dagger out at the last swallow, making me grind my teeth against the sensation. Ser Hound shoved his head under my other hand, letting me stroke his fur to try and bare with the pain.
"No!' Hands quickly caught my shoulders when I made to stand. "No weight on it! Help her up, she'll need another and food as soon as we get back!"
I was too out of breath to offer an opinion of my own, and soon enough Ser Emeric was scooping me up bridal-style, careful of my leg. His Mabari trotted along behind, ears up and ready, nose lifted as he searched for any further threats.
"A dangerous enemy." He noted quietly, carrying me along as more of the Watch became visible on the roofs around. Archers looking for targets. "Who was it?"
"Tallis. A Tallis, I guess." I bit down on a sound of pain when he went down a stairwell too quickly. "Qunari assassin. Quick bitch, and clever. Don't think I can beat her without magic."
Or at least armor, but magic would make it a hell of a lot easier to take her on if she tried to come at me directly again. Assuming that she did anything of the sort. If she believed me about not having the book, she'd probably go for Dumar or Meredith. I'd need to warn them if I could.
I'd recovered enough of my voice to start barking orders when we reached the entrance to the Alienage. A half-dozen Templars led by Thrask were formed up along with twenty-ish members of the Watch arranged in a mini-phalanx. The archers who'd followed us stayed out as scouts or sentries, finding good places on nearby roofs.
"Thrask!" I shouted, Emeric finally letting me down, even if he made sure to keep one arm over his shoulders, none of my weight on my left leg. "The Qunari are making their move! We're to barricade the Alienage until their main force moves past, then we're to attack them when they try to enter Hightown! Get runners out to the nearby Chantries, pull every Templar and Guard you can find here, or tell them to run to Hightown!"
My friend nodded at once. "Understood! Ser Matthew! Ser Joseph! Relay those orders, and get back here before you're cut off! The heretics will be here any moment!"
Both men saluted, then broke into sprints, drawing their swords as they plunged into the chaos of Lowtown.
Thankfully that was the extent of my orders; Emeric hauled me onward, the ranks parting to let me through. The old knight picked me up entirely when we reached the stairs, taking them two at a time. The Watch medic and Ser Hound were right behind us even if the others remained behind to reinforce the Gate, while Nethon was waiting for us at the bottom.
Emeric paused there long enough for me to relay Meredith's brutally basic plan to Nethon as I had to Thrask, my replacement promising to get everything organized while I was seen to.
He ran off, shouting more orders, while I was quickly taken over near the Vhenadal. Cots were already being laid out under the great tree's branches; children and preteens hauling vases of water, rolls of cloth, and potions out and into place next to each. A medieval field hospital was being created before my eyes.
"Petrice's old training..." I murmured as I was laid down on one, "...you all kept up the drills she started."
"Of course we did, my lady." The medic was already kneeling at my side, checking my leg. "Potion worked nicely, it's just a shallow cut now. You should only need a mouthful more, then a heavy meal."
I waved her off, "Don't waste potions on a shallow cut. Send for Merrill instead, and find spare armor for me."
While she went to find my companion, Ser Emeric gave me a single pat on the shoulder before leaving as well to return to his post. I appreciated that, and the slobbery lick that Ser Hound gave my hand. I watched them go, then tried to relax for the few minutes that I had before Merrill came racing over.
She said nothing, her familiar magic enveloping the shallow wounds within a few seconds of her arrival.
"Tallis." I answered her unspoken question. "Bitch was waiting to ambush me."
For once her growl actually sounded threatening. "She will not get a second chance, ma vhanen."
My wounds were just closing when another member of the Watch, an older archer whose name escaped me, came sprinting over. "Lady Maeve! The Qunari are approaching!"
That hadn't taken them very long. Holding a hand up, Merrill grasped it, pulling me to a seated position first, and then to a standing one a moment later.
I was ready to start heading back to the gate, only for Merrill to promptly get int my way.
"Armor." She said firmly, turning to the runner. "Tell them she will be there as soon as she has protection, and has spoken with Elowen."
He nodded, running off, leaving me next to my overly protective... girlfriend. She was my girlfriend now. Ma vhanen.
I saw Shina jog past, dozens of the Watch following her. Several began to scale the walls, to get up onto the platforms we'd built up there for archers, while the rest readied themselves at the base of the stairs. There wouldn't be enough space for them to go up and try to hold the gate, so staying down here as a reserve was probably the best use for them.
Merrill led me over to the barracks, where we found the medic already laying out spare bits of armor. It was all older, fairly battered plates with no mail, which didn't surprise me. The Watch may have been getting funded these days, but not nearly as well as anyone would have liked.
Honestly I was more surprised that there was any extra armor at all.
Between the three of us we got the plates strapped on fairly quickly, the medic, whose name turned out to be Kela, made sure to force feed me bits of jerky and apple as often as possible during the process. When my stomach rumbled again, she went off to fetch some more, plus some bread, leaving me to eat on the move when we moved next door.
Elowen had set up her command center in the Chantry, runners sprinting back and forth to relay messages from Nethon and Thrask. Four men and women with swords and shields, a rarity in the Watch, were standing professionally near the door.
Good that she had guards. Elowen had once been a damned good fighter, but she'd never recovered her talent for it after losing her dominant hand.
"Maeve." The Baroness exhaled in relief to see me, the pair of us exchanging an embrace that made our armor clang. "I heard you were wounded. Are you all right?"
"Already patched up." I said, bringing up what was left my bread and popping it into my mouth. A quick chew and swallow let me go on, "What's going on out there?"
She shook her head, "I don't think anyone knows. Our archers are trading arrows with Qunari, but the ox-men aren't coming close to our walls. They used either magic or their powder to destroy something just a few blocks away, but no one knows why."
I frowned at the news. Maybe they were trying to break down to the tunnels underneath of us? That or they were just dealing with local bits of resistance with extreme overkill to try and preserve their numbers.
"Are they going to attack us?" Elowen asked.
"I don't think so, but I can't guarantee it." I replied before asking, "Who's watching the sewer entrances?"
"The militia." Elowen replied. "Mother Caelia is there to make sure none of them dare run."
Brave of her, but also smart. The militia didn't train even as often as the Watch did, and as brave as a lot of them were, their gear wasn't even as good as what I was wearing. If a dedicated charge came out of the sewers they'd be hard pressed to stop them.
But most of them were devout enough that they wouldn't abandon the Revered Mother. They'd stand and fight to the end to protect her.
"Let's hope it doesn't come to that." I said. "Any messages get through from Hightown? We're supposed to move out and hit the bastards in the flank or rear once they commit to trying to attack the Keep."
She shook her head. "No. I think you were the last one to get through before the Qunari made it this far. How will we know when to attack?"
I had no idea.
"Our best judgement I guess." I replied quietly. "We need information on what's going on. Where's Nethon? Still outside?"
"At the Gate, I think." Elowen replied.
I nodded once, "I need to talk to him. Make sure you keep those guards nearby, the Qunari like to kill any authority figures they can get close to. Don't send them off for any reason."
My friend chuckled, her hand reaching out to grasp mine. "Back to giving me orders, Maeve?"
"Once in a while." I conceded, smiling as we tightened our fingers before letting go. "I'll be back soon."
She nodded, Merrill falling into step with me. The two of us headed out of the Chantry, staying together as we made for the stairwell. The assembled members of the Watch clearly noticed us going past, their interest an almost physical pressure.
It was a sharp reminder that hundreds, thousands, of people's lives could be relying on my decision making skills over the next couple of hours.
No pressure.
"It'll be all right." Merrill whispered once we were past them, moving up the stairwell. "You're a good leader."
"Am not." I replied quietly, but my heart really wasn't in the denial. "Come on. Sooner we get up there, the sooner we can go out and try and see what's going on. Can't make any plans without information."
She nodded, "I'm staying with you tonight, no matter what."
My hand reached out grasping hers tightly. We kept a hold of one another until we reached the top, finding Nethon in consultation with Thrask just inside of the gate. It was still open at the moment, the better to let those outside retreat if they had to.
The mixed force of Watch and Templars had been slightly reinforced since I'd first been carried past, but not by much. I picked out seven or eight Guards who must have been nearby, a handful of new Templars, and what looked like a pair of the city's Knights. They all had good armor, but they didn't exactly bulk up our numbers much.
"Maeve. Merrill." The Night Watch's Commander nodded to us both. "No major attacks so far, just a few exchanges of arrows."
I nodded, "I heard. We need better than that if we're going to know when to make our move, or if the Qunari are massing for an attack on us. I also need a runner to see if they can make it to that Coterie front on Garland street."
The older man frowned. "Why?"
"Because they'll have everything to lose if the Qunari take over." I explained patiently. "Don't ask them to fight, just ask them to get onto the rooftops and scout for us."
He still didn't look thrilled, but he nodded, allowing me to go on. "Merrill and I are going to head out and scout, see what we can find."
Nethon stepped in front of me at once. "No."
A scowl immediately formed on my face. "What?"
"You," He actually pointed a finger at my nose, "Are too important to send out as a scout, Maeve. You're staying right here while other people do that part."
"Nethon-"
"No." His arms crossed. "You need to stay here and lead us, not run off on your own. What would happen to our morale if you ran off and were knifed in an alley? And don't tell me you wouldn't be, you were already attacked just trying to get here."
I narrowed my eyes. "Nethon, I am-"
"-staying put." He turned, barking out a series of names before I could try to interject. Four men and a woman all stepped out from the waiting ranks, saluting. "Scout duty! Find the Qunari, and report back as soon as possible. We need to know where they are, where they're going, and just what they were doing with those blasts!"
My mouth was opening when Merrill stepped behind me, grabbing me by either shoulder. Her sudden pull left me off balance, staggering into her, letting her slide those arms over my chest to pin me in place.
The newly designated scouts all looked incredibly amused, and several of the rank and file openly snickered.
"Thank you, lady Merrill." Nethon said, barely glancing at us. "Go! The Knight-Commander will be relying on us! Althon! Get up onto the roofs, and find Ser Zatris! I want his report on what's going on up there as well!"
All five sprinted off, joined by a sixth man who darted over, climbing a nearby ladder.
I kept up my scowl when Nethon walked over, his own expression irritated.
"You are too important." He said again, though more quietly. "You can't just run off anymore, Maeve. I've done my best, but these men and women still aren't real soldiers. Sure, they're armed and armored as if they are thanks to you, Meredith, and the deshyrs, but they still don't have the discipline. The training. They'll stand and fight to defend the Alienage, but attacking outside of it?"
I exhaled slowly, not trying to fight my way free of Merrill's restraining embrace. "I can't be that important."
Thrask stepped over as well, smiling faintly. "You are, Maeve. You don't like it, but you are. If you were to die the Watch would rout, which is why you cannot be allowed to fall. That is why Lady Merrill will stop you if you try to go off on your own."
Said girlfriend breathed her words into my long ear. "I will, ma vhenan. You're staying with me. I'll keep you safe."
A little part of me melted to hear her say that, even considering the awful context of the situation.
"...fine." I grumbled. "But I would have been fine."
Nethon rolled his eyes, pointing at the Templar guardhouse. "Maps are already set up for you in there, and I have three young lads ready to act as your runners. Ser Emeric and four of our Templars will be staying right outside, and Zatris has three of his best archers on the roof."
I grumbled some more, but allowed Merrill to march me over to the house in question. Sure enough there were a group of Templars, only one of whom had rounded ears, standing guard outside. One of them was Lanamaya, who'd apparently been released from her cell to participate in the battle.
The Templar squire flushed at my attention, speaking quietly as I walked past. "I will prove myself worthy of your mercy."
My forearm gently thumped her shoulder, my chin moving in a nod.
Inside I found three teenaged boys nervously waiting. The table normally used for card games or meals was now covered in maps far less precise than Meredith's, but which would be the best anyone else in the city could expect to have. Several ink pots were set up with quills, as were charcoal pencils, giving me my choice of writing implements.
Exhaling, I moved to the head of the table, resting my hands on it. Though my eyes were staring at the maps, I wasn't really looking at them.
For her part, Merrill followed me around, resting one hand on my shoulder in support.
And then we waited to see if any of the scouts would survive to tell us what was going on inside the city.