"Interesting tactic. What, grab first talk later? Bad strategy," Isabella remarked, brushing off her hands as she turned to the Venatori. The bar owner chuckled under her breath as she sat on the ledge. "Shall we try this again? Where's Neve Gallus?"
"You think you can just waltz in and start making demands? In my bar?" the woman scoffed as the Venatori surrounded Isabella. Even though she had thrown one out of the building, she was still outnumbered, and Harding had her bow. With a silent prayer to Teia, Isabella smirked as she gathered all her charm.
"It's not a demand so much as an offer. Honestly, telling me what I want to know is the smart play here," the Crow answered, enunciating her accent just as Teia had instructed. The western Antivan dialect sounded so romantic when said in the right tone. She walked up to the bar owner and leaned against the bar.
"What makes you say that, sweet talker?" the woman whispered, enjoying the game Isabella was playing.
"Neve Gallus is the only one in the city that can tell me where the Dread Wolf is. I just need to know where she is," the Crow informed, leaning away from the flirtatious side of the tactic. She had already come in swinging, so she couldn't suck up to the bar owner now. "We were supposed to meet here, but it seems you let the Venatori drag her away."
"I didn't let them, their boss Aelia paid me," she chuckled. Isabella smirked as fury boiled her veins. This woman had no decency as far as Isabella was concerned.
"Then tell me what I want to know and walk away with the coin. Or you could spend it cleaning up the place instead," Isabella suggested, gesturing towards the cultists as the bar owner sized her up. The Crow stared right back, making sure not to move an inch. The bar owner hopped down off the surface and smiled.
"Dumat Plaza. That's where you'll find Neve Gallus," she informed as Isabella bristled at the bar owner's touch. The woman dragged her finger over her shoulder and down her arm before turning to walk away.
"Thank you," Isabella replied, earning a snort from the woman.
"Your funeral, love," she called out as she left.
Isabella turned her attention back to the cultists, who know started to surround her. Even though their faces were covered, she got the feeling that they were eager to put her in her place. As if she would let them even land a finger on her during a fight. She spread her arms wide with a smirk, glancing between the masked people.
"That offers good for you too," she explained, hesitating for a moment. When there wasn't an answer, she sighed, lowering her arms to a fighting stance. "No? Well then."
"If they don't listen to you," a deep voice called out, catching the cultists' attention. They turned to see Varric with his crossbow, and Isabella thanked every god she could think of. "They can always listen to Bianca."
A few shots of the crossbow were all it took to clear the bar of the Venatori. Isabella watched as the cultists left, and she leaned against the bar once they vanished into the night. She wasn't sure if she could've taken that many Venatori by herself at close range.
"Glad you got here when you did. Neve Gallus isn't here though, the bar owner sold her out to the Venatori. She's being held at Dumat Plaza," Isabella explained as Varric grabbed two leftover tankards and a bottle of unknown alcoholic liquid.
"I think you might be too charming for your own good," Varric remarked as he handed her a quick drink. She smirked as she drank.
"I knew you weren't far behind, I just needed to buy some time. Plus, now we know where Neve is," she reminded, finishing off her drink. "Where's Harding?"
"She's scouting the area as she usually does. We haven't been this way yet, so she wanted to get a good idea of the layout," Varric sighed before taking a swig himself.
"We probably shouldn't linger too long if the Venatori are involved. I'm sure Neve can fend for herself, but we should offer a hand," Isabella suggested as Varric nodded. "I hope Harding found out where Dumat Plaza is. I'm not sure where to start with that."
"Fair point. I'm sure she'll have an idea if nothing else," Varric agreed, placing his cup back on the bar. Isabella followed him out of the bar, and she could barely parse what she was seeing when the doors opened.
Isabella had heard of the Archon Palace before, but she had never seen it before with her own eyes. It looked horribly imposing and terrifying. She wondered if most of the citizens looked at it with hope or fear, but she would guess fear judging by the search lights it was emitting. Although, she wasn't entirely sure what the palace would be searching for.
"Is that what made that large noise earlier?" Isabella wondered as Varric shook his head.
"No, it was something else, but I think the noise drew the Archon Palace here. We should hurry if we want to find Solas and Neve," he urged, ushering her down the steps onto the street. Isabella went to break into a run before Varric grabbed her arm. "We don't want to look conspicuous, though. We have to get out of here and get to Neve."
"Alright, fine," she agreed, even if she wasn't on the same page. "How are you going to stop Solas's ritual, by the way?"
"I'm going to talk to him and get him to stop," he explained as Isabella cursed inwardly.
"You are going to stop a mad mage from tearing down the Veil by talking with him?"
"I have to try. He's my friend, Rook, and I think he'll listen to me."
"And if he doesn't?"
"Then we'll figure that out next. We won't let the world be swallowed up by demons," Varric insisted. Isabella ran a hand through her hair, nearly pulling it out at the added stress. So much for the grab and go operation she had envisioned. She imagined placing Solas in jail, not having a meeting with him.
"Alright, we'll try to talk him down," she relented. She was not on point in this job. Varric was the leader and the client, and what he said was what was going to happen. If he thought he could talk down an elven god, then Isabella was going to give him that chance at least.
As they turned the corner, the lights kept searching for something and picking out random people. Isabella felt the need to help them, but she didn't know how. Varric warned her that they could stop Solas from jail, and then another loud crack sounded through the sky. They fell silent as they turned to the Archon Palace.
In the center of the palace's circle was a green crack floating with the building. Isabella stared as Varric cursed. The crack shimmered and grew, popping as it ripped open wider. Over the crackling of the tear, demonic screams could be heard as Isabella's heart started pumping.
"We're too late," Varric hissed, turning to Isabella. "The ritual's started, but if we hurry, maybe we can stop Solas before he destroys the Veil."
"Then let's get going and find Harding," Isabella answered as the screams and shrieks grew louder. Even without any magical ability, she could hear the demons grow closer to them from the Fade.
Varric and Isabella took off running down the road where Varric had last seen Harding. Isabella called out to their scout as Varric kept the scrambling demons off them. It was a mad dash through the city as demons grabbed and threw people off of buildings and into walls or the sea. It was a horrific scene that Isabella would process later once she knew where Harding was. If they couldn't find Harding, then she wouldn't get her weapons or find Dumat Plaza. Which meant that Neve could be as good as dead, and Solas would be out of their reach. In that scenario, if she lived, that meant no more Treviso. So, she shouted and dashed through the streets, dodging debris and demons as Varric watched her back.
Isabella hopped over a fence ready to shout again when she saw an arrow fly past her into the face of a demon just beyond. She turned to see the scout help two women find safety. Relief flooded Isabella's veins as she ran up to Harding, letting Varric catch up when he could.
"Thank the Maker you're alright," Isabella smiled as Harding handed her bow and pack to her. "Neve is at Dumat Plaza, do you think you can get us there?"
"She wasn't at the bar?" Harding asked, confused.
"Venatori sold her out," Isabella answered as she readied her bow and quiver. "Now we have to make a break for Dumat Plaza and hope that Neve has a good lead on Solas."
"Luckily I saw it earlier, it's down close to the water, but it's not too far from here," Harding explained, pointing the general direction. "Probably a lot of demons between here and there, though."
"Probably more Venatori, too," Isabella groaned, rubbing her forehead. "Solas isn't working with the Venatori, right?"
"I think Solas would rather drown himself," Varric answered as Isabella nodded.
"Well, that's one point for him I suppose," she groaned as another pack of demons descended on them.
The fight down to Dumat Plaza was filled with demons and Venatori, as they expected. Isabella wondered what was with the sudden resurgence of the cult, or if maybe she was just behind on current events. Treviso was preoccupied with the Antaam, the rising Venatori problem probably slipped her notice. Regardless, she was growing increasingly frustrated with them. Did they want the ritual to happen? One had screamed that she had caused trouble at the bar, which seemed strange to hold a grudge about that while the city was being attacked by demons. However, she never could understand the thoughts of a Venatori.
Eventually, they made it down to Dumat Plaza and cut down the few cultists there outside the ice dome. Harding mentioned that it seemed like Neve's work, which worked for Isabella. It meant that Neve was alive if she was conjuring a giant dome. As she reached out to touch it, the magic dissipated to reveal the detective surrounded by frozen Venatori corpses.
"Varric, Harding, about time you showed up," Neve remarked with a grin. She reached down and grabbed her scepter just as the magic vanished completely.
"Thank the Maker you're all right," Harding exhaled, approaching the detective. Neve smirked and shrugged. "We thought that the Venatori caught you."
"They thought the same. Figured I'd play along to figure out who wanted to kidnap me and get some answers. Then the demons showed up, so I'm back on the job," Neve explained, leading the way through the other side of the plaza. Isabella followed the others, starting to understand why they hired her.
"Rook, meet Neve, the best detective in Minrathous," Varric introduced as Isabella jogged forward. Neve turned around and smiled at her, hardly slowing down. "Neve, this is Rook. Found her a while back when we realized we needed an expert in trouble."
"Rook? Like the bird?" Neve wondered as Isabella grinned.
"Rook the Antivan Crow at your service," she replied with a bow, keeping pace with the rest of the group. If Neve stuck around, she would give a better explanation of her nickname, but time was still of the essence and backstories could wait. "With the Venatori at your heels, I can see you have excellent taste in enemies."
"I do my best," Neve remarked lightly. Isabella went to banter again, but the building they were in shook, reminding them of the danger outside.
"You said you had a lead?" Harding wondered, her voice tight with worry and fear. Isabella glanced at Varric who was watching Neve eagerly.
"I haven't seen Solas personally, but I've sensed old magic. Old elven magic like the kind you get in old ruins," Neve explained as she walked over to the window. "It's coming from there. From Our Lady of Victory."
"Then I'm guessing that's where Solas has started his ritual," Varric informed with a nod.
"You said he was working alone," Neve reminded as he grimaced. "This is drawing more power than a dozen of Tevinter's best mages."
"I also told you he was an ancient elven god," Varric reminded. Neve sighed, turning back to the statue across the bay.
"Whatever he is, he's causing trouble in my city, and that stops today," Neve informed before gesturing towards the exit.
Neve led the way, getting them to the docks and across to the base of Our Lady of Victory, where she opened the magically sealed door. Isabella clenched her jaw as she tapped her fingers on her thigh, waiting for the entrance to open. Once it did, Varric led the way as they walked through the strange cave system.
Once they left the caves, there were strange murals on the walls of old elves and rituals, but something caught Isabella's eye. It shined through the room, giving off a faint blue light. She peered through the window to see a large mirror or glass window. It shimmered instead of casting a reflection, and Isabella frowned at the realization. She didn't know what it was, but it was most likely what had drawn Neve here in the first place. However, the number of demons outside the statue proved that the ritual had started, regardless of where it was being held. They were running out of time.
"What are you looking at?" Varric wondered as Isabella shrugged.
"Some kind of mirror or window, I think. Something weird for sure," Isabella explained before she walked away. Varric got a glimpse before the rest of them followed her down.
With a few more demons dispatched, they wandered through the strange wolf themed rooms, searching for clues or evidence that Solas had been there. There was nothing, outside the fact there were nearly twenty wolf statues for the Dread Wolf. Eventually, they made it to the room Isabella had seen that had the mirror, and she groaned. It was the last room to check after all.
"Is this what you saw earlier?" Neve asked as Isabella nodded.
"It is," the Crow agreed, crossing her arms as she saw the strange magic shimmer on the glass surface.
"I think that's an eluvian. They can transport you to different places across Thedas," Harding mentioned before something clicked in her mind. "That's how Solas has been getting everywhere so quickly. He must have access to a few of these."
"Then the ritual must be on the other side of it," Neve surmised as Isabella swallowed. She tolerated magic as well as the next nonmagical person, but she hated it when she had to use it. However, her contract was clear, and if Solas was on the other side, then she would go.
"One way to find out," Varric remarked as he stepped through. With a sigh, Isabella quickly followed with Harding and Neve on her heels.
As they emerged from the eluvian, Isabella frowned to see that not only did it work, but she was also in a completely different place she didn't recognize. Still, she said nothing as a large crack sounded through the sky. She had to remember that she had priorities and stopping the ritual was at the top of the list.
"I know this forest," Harding remarked, almost as if reading Isabella's mind. "It's Arlathan Forest."
"And there's the ritual site," Neve pointed out, keeping everyone on track. Not that Isabella knew where Arlathan was in relation to anything else. They could be on the southern side of Thedas for all she knew.
She just needed to finish the job, and then she could go return to Treviso with a complete contract and a bottle of wine.
Varric led the charge as they wasted no time in getting to the ritual site. The demons slowed them down a little, but they were taken care of as quickly as they could. Eventually, with the pride demon down, they neared the ritual site where Solas was. Isabella stared for a moment before pulling Varric up to the platform.
"Keep the demons off me as I go talk to him," Varric instructed as Harding and Neve argued. Apparently, he only told Isabella this part of the plan.
"Varric, Solas isn't going to stop just because you asked him nicely," Harding reminded as Varric smiled.
"Someone has to sell him a better option. I have to try," Varric informed before looking to Isabella. The Crow nodded.
"You can do this, and we can keep the demons away while you talk to him. Just keep it quick, alright? I only have so many arrows," Isabella teased, her smile more forced than usual. Varric chuckled at that and nodded.
"Wish me luck," he remarked before climbing the steps. Harding stared at Isabella for a moment before shaking her head.
"Do you really think this is going to work?" the scout asked as Isabella sighed.
"Not a clue, but I do think it's worth a try. Come on, we have to keep the demons away, or none of this will matter," the Crow reminded as Harding nodded. Neve kept casting, shoving the demons farther and farther back.
Isabella kept an ear out and listened to the conversation, and she slowly realized that Solas wasn't changing his mind. Varric had done his part, but now it was time to do what she was hired for. She needed to stop the ritual.
She turned and looked passed Solas, seeing the statues with the crystals in use in the ritual. She was no mage, but she could piece together that the crystals were holding the ritual together. At least, she hoped that was the case. If she knocked one down, then maybe the ritual would fail. There was one with scaffolding, and then the plan formed in her mind.
"Harding, Neve, I have an idea. This isn't working, so I'm going to disrupt the ritual. Harding, come with me and we're going to knock over the one with the scaffolding to stop it. Neve, I need you to keep fighting off the demons for a while longer," Isabella informed. Both looked like they wanted to argue, but instead they both nodded. Neve took a strong stance against the demons as the other two ran towards the statue.
Isabella could hear the faint arguing as Solas continued to cut a hole in the Veil with his dagger. She could hear Harding close behind her, and together, they pushed the supporting beams away from the scaffolding holding up the statue. Within seconds, the statue started to lean and then it crashed into its neighbor, creating a domino effect.
There was little time to celebrate as the debris from the statue started to fall as Solas cried out angrily. Isabella tried to get Harding to safety, but the wooden walkways were too unstable to support her. Isabella grabbed the railing and turned to where Solas was.
She watched in horror as Varric wrestled Solas for the dagger only for Solas to bury the blade in Varric's chest. Isabella screamed, shouting in Antivan, scrambling to reach Varric. Solas frowned at his friend as chaos ensued. Isabella reached Varric, panicking as the blade protruded from his ribs. This would be a fatal wound if not treated immediately, and they were in the middle of the forest.
With curse words ready on her tongue, she turned to Solas only to watch in horror as two entities emerged from the tear Solas created. Isabella heard the loud reverberation before it knocked her several yards back against the wall. She heard the crack as pain radiated through her body.
Focusing became impossible. Isabella tried to blink and remember what was happening. She could hear Harding, but it sounded like she was under water. She could see the ritual site from far away now as she was propped against something sturdy. Something wet slid down the back of her neck. Confused, she reached back and looked to see her hand covered in blood. A not yet fatal wound, but something she would not likely recover from soon either.
Dizziness set in as another reverberation shook the forest and the ground, sending Isabella to the ground as her consciousness slipped away.
~C~
Viago read the reports several times, nearly memorizing them all by heart. The Crows in Minrathous had scattered, saying that the Fade had opened, and demons had started to pour out. A few accounts saw Isabella with Varric and their team disappear into a building beneath a large statue. However, there was no reappearance before the statue fell and crumbled into the sea.
Each report was the same. Demons appeared through tears in the sky before the tears and demons vanished within an hour. The world was calm again, and according to the mages in his House, the Veil was still intact. Solas and his damned ritual had been stopped.
That just left the question of where his damn Crow went.