CODEX

Catapult – medium siege weapon using torsion to throw a projectile

Trebuchet – large siege weapon using a counterweight to throw a projectile

Barbute – visorless helm with an open face in either a T or Y shape

Fletchings – fins at the back of an arrow used to stabilize flight

Halberd – pole weapon with an axe head and a long spike at the end

The Bannorn on the Estates of Bann Telmen

The rhythmic pounding of rocks impacting on stone walls had long since become background noise in Chancellor Loghain's tent. The morning air was still cool and the Teyrn warmed his hands over a glowing brazier. Through the open flap, he could see the arms of catapult and trebuchet wind and then uncoil, hurling boulders and even dead animals at Bann Telmen's castle. If they weren't crushed by rocks then disease might take them. Either way, the enemy would be dead. Nearby, diggers shoveled dirt, delving mines to collapse the battlements that protected the rebels from justice. A massive siege was underway.

Ser Cauthrien entered, holding her barbute helm under her arm. "Your Grace, the first siege line is nearly complete. Bann Telmen's castle will be surrounded by the end of the day. He sent out several raiding parties, but we have driven them all back."

"What of supplies?" Loghain asked, always keenly aware that logistics could win or lose a battle.

"The Chantry gave us enough to last two weeks. However, the Warden just ambushed our last wagon train," the captain said, disdain dripping from her lips.

He grunted with a hint of frustration. He had not been able to bring the Warden into open battle, where she would surely be destroyed. Instead, she had nipped at his heels with her tiny force, capturing food and arms and killing messengers…just as he had done against Orlais. "What of Telmen's supplies?"

Cauthrien sighed. It was another bad sign. "He has a month worth of crops and water that were pulled into the castle before we arrived."

"So, we can't starve them out, can we?"

"No, Your Grace."

Loghain was nothing if not cool under pressure and he quickly reassessed the situation and its urgency. "Begin a second and third mine. Keep up the fire from the trebuchets as a distraction. I want the miners to be under Telmen's walls in four days," he said and then pointed at a map of the castle. "We'll collapse three walls, here, here and here, and then overwhelm him from three directions. We have two weeks at most so we must move quickly. I'll bring Anora the banners of Oswin and Telmen for the grand hall yet. Then, we'll take Telmen's supplies and press for Redcliffe. That will force the Warden to stand and fight."

Cauthrien was about to leave when a rider galloped up and reined his horse in violently. "Arl Howe sends an urgent message!" the man called and jumped down from the saddle – three arrows protruded from his armor…Dalish arrows with white goose feather fletchings.

Two guards with halberds parted to make way for the messenger. "Your Grace, we were attacked by elves on the road from Denerim. Only I escaped!"

"Elves?" Loghain asked. How were the damn Dalish involved in this? He examined the shafts quickly, all glancing shots. "It's a good thing that the Dalish aren't good marksmen. Neither of these wounds is serious. Give me the dispatches and get yourself some food and drink."

"Thank you, Your Grace."

The Chancellor sliced open the letters with his dagger, breaking the wax seal of the Arl of Denerim. He read the first few lines and the color drained from his face. "A coup? In the palace? Why am I just hearing about this now?" He read a little further, seeing how the Arl had dispatched the news right away and requested that the Teyrn return to settle the unrest and destroy the Orlesian plot. The mere mention of Orlais and any threat to Anora made his blood boil. Having the hated Orlesians gain a foothold in Ferelden once more was unthinkable. A million questions rushed through his head – were the Dalish rising up? How did Orlais get agents into Denerim under Howe's nose? How could he be at two places at once when there was a siege to run? It was enough to drive a regent mad and he knew that he had to make a decision, quick and confident. That was what his soldiers needed to see. The Dalish were nothing, a mere nuisance and Bann Telmen was finished, but Orlais…Orlais was a real threat.

Loghain wiped trickling beads of sweat from his brow and then pumped his fist into his other open hand. "We cannot let Orlais regain any power in our land! This threat must be dealt with personally. I leave for Denerim at once."

Ser Cauthrien looked at him with concern, her eyes narrowed. "Your Grace? You alone are worth five thousand swords on the field. Surely, the Arl can handle the matter."

He swung his fur cloak over his shoulders and began walking out of the tent. "Cauthrien, I give you the army. Carry out my orders and destroy Bann Telmen," he said, giving her a nod that was both stern and loving at the same time. She had always been his faithful servant and had never let him down. There was so much that needed to be said, but now was not the time. As much as he wanted to reach out to her, he was the regent and could not afford such displays. "When I return, I expect to see scattered rubble where that castle now stands," he added, addressing all of his captains. "Guards! My horse! We ride for Denerim!"

As he swung himself into the saddle, he looked back to see Cauthrien make a furtive move to join him, but then she backed away and pursed her lips. As the captain of his personal guard, she had always been with him, through thick and thin. But, desperate times called for desperate measures. Soon, he would put Orlais back in their place and the Bannorn would be united under his regency. Then, that snake, Eamon and the Warden would have to bend the knee and either kiss his hand or feel his boot.

Two knights raised his Wyvern standard and called out, "Make way for the regent! Make way!" Soldiers cleared a path and spur was put to horse as a trebuchet hurled another rock into Telmen's walls.

As an experienced general, the Teyrn sent out pickets, light horse scouts to reconnoiter the road else they be ambushed. The ride to Denerim was swift and exhausting and Loghain switched horses several times to keep up the pace. They arrived well after dark, hooves clattering on cobblestone as they passed through the gates and under the portcullis on their way to the palace. After the hard ride, his ass hurt and his legs felt like rubber and he swung back over the saddle to land with a painful grunt. The years were catching up to him and he thought for a moment on how he used to be able to ride all morning, fight all afternoon and barely be breathing heavy. Soon though, soon it would all be over – Ferelden united, Orlais kept at bay, the Darkspawn incursion removed and Anora safely on the throne. Everything that he had fought so desperately for would be within his grasp.

A carriage waited just ahead and Loghain and his guard handed the reins of their horses to ready grooms. Rendon Howe stepped out and made a curt bow that seemed to lack the respect that he had shown before. Was this the same bow that the Arl gave to Teyrn Cousland on that fateful day? A sense of paranoia grew in the regent's gut and he choked it down else it get the better of him. He was just tired and his imagination was now running rampant. What did the Orlesians have planned? "Arl Howe, what intelligence do we have?"

In spite of the impending danger, the Arl made a grin that seemed to take him far away. "Your Grace, I have uncovered an agent that revealed to me that she was working for the Orlesians."

"So, she told you just like that?"

"No, it took a little…persuasion. I have a skill for such things, you know."

"Except for when your touted Antivan Crows failed to complete their mission."

Howe snorted. "That remains to be seen, Your Grace."

"Nevermind. Pray, continue."

"I recovered documents from the little spy about the Orlesian plot and the Warden's movements."

"Are the documents authentic? Did the spy admit to them?"

"She denied them for a while, but she was eventually convinced to tell the truth. Here, Your Grace," Howe added, producing the documents. "You can see the true seal of the Empress Celene I and the hand of that upstart girl."

"Let me see," Loghain said, examining the impression of the dragon over three lilies set in red wax. The detail was unmistakable – it was that of hated Orlais. He read it over, but parts of the letter were smudged and unreadable. Still, its intent was unmistakable.

Ferelden is…weakened due to the Darkspawn problem. The Darkspawn have good…timing, don't they. Let us deal with the…regent first. Once that is done, we will discuss your reward.

You will secure the palace on the morning of the 23rd.

My chevaliers stand ready…and will…march to Ferelden.

Images of another Orlesian occupation filled the regent's mind – burning villages, impaled peasants and swarms of refugees fleeing the chevaliers. It could never be allowed to happen again. Never. He looked at the letter again and grit his teeth. Would Celene really risk war? He couldn't risk not believing it – the coup was set for this coming morning. He balled the letter up and threw it into the street.

They did not have a whole lot of time left and they had to move quickly. "Arl Howe, have your agents ready within the castle walls."

"Already done."

"Report directly to me from now."

"As you wish, Your Grace."

"And what of Anora? Have you seen to her safety?"

Howe seemed very proud all of a sudden as if he bore some powerful secret. "I have indeed. I had her moved to my estate in Denerim. She will be quite secure there, I assure you."

Loghain breathed a sigh of relief. "That was very good of you. Let me read the Warden's dispatch and then we shall be on our way."

To my trusted friend,

We are still not strong enough to stand openly against the tyrant. I must remain near the prince's uncle to absorb any thrust from his forces. It is up to you to play them and confuse them behind the lines. To that end, our contact with the Magister's Shield has proven to be ever so useful. You have been our loyal friend in bringing the tyrant to justice and I know you will never betray us. Even if captured, I know you will resist unto death.

A small image of a griffon was drawn at the bottom of the parchment, enough to tell the regent that it was from a Warden. And, he had seen the girl's writing before, when she tried to send a letter to Fergus Cousland before Ostagar. It looked like her writing. Still somewhat suspicious, he needed just a bit more to satisfy him. "What did the spy say about this?"

"Of course, she denied everything at first, even saying she hated the Cousland child. But, my skillful inquisition pulled the location of the Magister's Shield from her. So, I guess she did resist." Howe chuckled darkly at some inner joke. He seemed almost aroused.

The look on Howe's face sent chills down the regent's back, but that was enough confirmation for Loghain. The fact that the Warden was still too weak for open battle and in a defensive posture reassured him. He could deal with this situation and still destroy Bann Telmen without interference. "What action has been taken?"

"It took a while for her to tell me of this place. At first, she said it was just a hideout in one of the back alleys of the festering commons of the city, but I knew otherwise. I dispatched scouts to confirm the location and my men will be taking it down soon. I did not want to tip off the main conspirators too soon. We'll bring down the whole rotten lot in one swoop."

"Excellent. Let's make that happen so I can return to the siege and bring the Bannorn to heel."