Isabella stood in front of Viago as they stood in fuming silence in front of her room. In her mind, she had done nothing wrong. In fact, she was in the right as far as she was concerned. She had saved lives by stopping the Antaam, even if it was at the expense of a larger Crow operation. Those people would be able to continue to live as they were instead of as slaves.
However, Viago had made it clear that she was the only one who thought this way. Word had spread quickly, and she had been summoned to the Cantori Diamond when she had made it back to the House de Riva estate. Viago intercepted her, which had led to their argument ending in eerie quiet.
"What do you mean you're sending me away?" Isabella hissed, finally breaking the silence. Her fists clenched as she felt her nails break the skin on her palms.
"I believed that you were ready to become a full-fledged Crow, but I was wrong. No Crow would have made that call with your judgment," Viago countered, raising his voice. Isabella narrowed her eyes, but she recognized the tone in his voice. It was subtle, but he was hiding something still. He was sending her away for an undetermined amount of time. She clenched her jaw as she worked through her thoughts.
"Where are you sending me?" she scoffed, tilting her head back.
"You cannot stay in Antiva," Viago informed sternly. Her jaw dropped as her mind scrambled for words. Using her speechlessness as an opportunity, he continued. "I will not have any contracts available for you while you are away, but-"
"Don't even bother," Isabella sneered as she walked back into her room. Viago stood in the doorway as he watched her gather a few things in a pack. He kept his face neutral even though he could feel his heart breaking. It was for the best after all.
Isabella grabbed a few items she cared about: a potion kit, her bow, a few daggers, a few shirts and pants, an old crow broach, and a few other souvenirs that she pocketed from a few jobs. She wished she had more time to pack and sort what she wanted to take, but her anger and irritation didn't give her much time.
She turned on her heel and shoved Viago out of the way before walking down the hallway. He frowned at her behavior, glaring as she stalked passed him. After a few paces down, Isabella stopped and turned. Her face was equally as stoic and stern as his as her eyes watered. She would not let him see her cry. Not at this moment.
"I guess you were right, Viago. I'm more of a Rook than a Crow," she mocked before she made her exit out the window.
Viago watched her jump onto an outside ledge as her verbal jab stole his breath. It was an old jab he had made when they were younger, specifically when he had been forced to train her. She was a street rat brought in by the Fifth Talon at the time to be trained as a Crow by Viago. He had been upset by the notion he had to train a child, so he constantly teased her before they grew closer.
Neither of them had mentioned it in over a decade, and he had nearly forgotten that he called her that at all.
She had not.
~C~
Downing ale in the Drowning District of Treviso had a certain poetic flair that Isabella loved as she slowly got drunk. She had booked the first boat out of Antiva to Ferelden, as per her Talon's wishes. Generally, she would argue and fight him on such decisions, especially if it meant leaving her one and only home, but something in his eyes spelled danger. Something at the Diamond was waiting for her, and it most likely would spell her death or worse. So, leaving seemed like the best option, as much as she hated Viago at the moment.
As she tipped back what was likely her fourth, possibly fifth, stein of ale, she saw someone sit next to her at her table. As smoothly as she could manage, she grabbed the dagger at her hip and pointed it at the stranger.
"This table is reserved," she informed, hopelessly trying to keep her words crisp.
"To think I was delivered from the Antaam just to be threatened by my savior. Maybe I should put that in one of my serials," the stranger laughed, raising his hands. Isabella lowered her ale and the dagger before turning towards the dwarf.
"You were one of the captives?" she guessed as he smiled. "Glad to see you in one piece. Now, if you could leave me in peace, that would be appreciated."
"You are just a pile of fun, aren't you?" the dwarf teased before reaching his hand out. "The name's Varric Tethras."
"I've read your stories," she commented, glancing at his hand. It was free from blades or spikes, but Viago had taught her how to make effective skin to skin poisons. Without her gloves on, she didn't move to shake his hand. "Why follow me to the bar?"
"Actually, it was just a stroke of luck. My scout and I were in the corner when you walked in. She recognized you before I did," Varric explained, unbothered by her slight.
"Then why approach me? Most are afraid of approaching a solitary assassin at a pub," she countered, pushing her tankard away. Varric paused, watching her for a moment.
"Truth is, I'm putting together a team to track down an elven mage."
"While that sounds fascinating, that doesn't sound it requires the skillset of an assassin."
"I think you would be surprised. He plans to tear down the Veil, the only thing guarding us from the Fade and world full of demons."
"Do you want me to kill him when you find him?" Isabella guessed, causing another pause in the conversation.
"Well, no, that's not what I had in mind."
"Then you don't need my skillset."
"What I need is you and your thought process," Varric explained once she stood. Isabella froze before turning back to him. She sat back down, intrigued by his wording.
"What do you mean?"
"There was no way we should be out here, drinking and living as free people right now. Those Antaam had us dead to rights, and you took down all twenty of them in a matter of moments. I've never seen anything like it," he continued. She folded her arms, tapping her elbow with her finger as she thought. "What I need is your unpredictability and quick thinking to find this mage. He and I have known each other for years, and he knows what to expect from me. He won't see you coming. Plus, you know how to track and find people."
"I do what I can," Isabella admitted. She hadn't been a Crow for very long, but she had always completed her contracts. Viago's words of wisdom on that were very clear.
"We could even consider this a contract, if that would be easier. Although I am not asking you to kill Solas," Varric offered as her ears perked up at the name. It was familiar, but she couldn't quite place it. Instead, she scoffed and rolled her eyes.
"I'm in no place to accept contracts. The Crows have all but disowned me over that little stunt," Isabella replied bitterly.
"I doubt that your lifestyle is one that you can just walk away from," the dwarf reminded. She frowned before exhaling.
"Fine, I will accept your contract. What are your terms?" Isabella asked, pulling out her pack. Varric stared in almost disbelief when she produced a partially filled out form and a quill. He was about to make a joke about needing ink when she pulled out a small jar out of a different pocket. Then she stared at him expectantly with the quill dipped and ready to go.
"Terms?"
"Of the contract. In circumstances where there is only one Crow or one client present, a physical copy of the contract is needed. Otherwise, it can be a notary nightmare."
"Notary nightmare? Assassins care about that?"
"We are renowned assassins for a reason, plus my House has its own contract negotiator that we usually use. Since they are not here, we will have to make do. Again, what are the terms?" Isabella repeated, making Varric laugh under his breath.
"Alright, so far I have find Solas and stop his ritual to bring down the Veil," he explained. Isabella wrote verbatim what he said on the contract terms and nodded. "My scout and I believe that he's headed to Tevinter, so we were headed in that direction when we were captured by the Antaam."
"Then I will put that down as the location," Isabella muttered, more to herself than to Varric. Once the contract was written, she slid the paper to him to read over and sign. "If you agree to the terms, then sign the first line."
"We didn't discuss payment."
"While this is an official de Riva contract, as I am a de Riva, it is not an official Crow contract. It requires no monetary payment, but I am hoping that upon completion, this will put me back in the good graces of my House."
"De Riva, huh?" Varric commented as he signed his name. "That's one of the more known names around Antiva."
"Which is why I need to return to its good graces before I can come back."
"Right," he answered as she signed as well. Quickly, she rolled up the parchment and walked to the window. Varric stared in confusion as she cawed into the night, luring in a crow. She tied the parchment to the bird and gave it a quick direction before it flew off.
"Contract accepted and taken care of. Now, where is your scout and I can introduce myself."
"You haven't told me your name."
"I haven't," Isabella informed with a smirk. "But you may call me Rook."
"Rook?"
"Yes, a not quite Crow," she answered, earning a hearty laugh from him. "Maybe I'll tell you my real name later, Varric Tethras."
"Harding is this way," Varric answered, standing from his seat. Isabella smiled, following him to meet the third teammate.
~C~
Viago sat at his desk in his home after returning from the Cantori Diamond. Teia had been angrier than the rest of the Talons, and for an entirely different reason. While the rest of the Talons were irritated that their hard work had come undone so instantaneously, they were sure they would have another chance soon. The First Talon was the second angriest, as it had been her scheme that had been foiled, but she had agreed that another opportunity would appear.
Teia had pulled Viago aside after the Talon meeting discussing the matter, wanting to know why Isabella hadn't shown up. Viago had given the Talons the reasoning that she was being seen to and punished accordingly. That satisfied everyone except for Teia. The Seventh Talon and Viago's protégé were nearly inseparable once they were introduced. Viago was responsible for Isabella's training, but he still needed to finish his contracts with his partner Teia. Teia saw Isabella as a younger sister and treated her as such, even through their own rocky on and off again relationship.
When Teia found out that Viago had essentially banished Isabella from Antiva, Viago was worried that they would find him in the morning looking like a pin cushion. However, she simply shouted at him for being overprotective and hotheaded. Viago had expected that Isabella would be imprisoned, at best, for the stunt she pulled. He had seen Crows die for less. Of course, he hadn't taken into account that Isabella had Teia in her corner, who was in the First Talon's corner as well.
However, in the end, Teia couldn't fully blame him for sending Isabella away to save her, even if she thought it was a bit over the top. Teia simply wished she could have given her farewells and good wishes. Instead, she could only yell at Viago for being the protective older brother that he acted like.
Viago rested his head on his desk as he sighed, realizing that Isabella was probably on a chartered boat, on her way to Par Vollen for all he knew. He only straightened when he heard a crow at his window. A crow with a written contract rolled up tied on the leg. Confused, he removed the parchment and released the bird to read it. His blood pressure skyrocketed.
Isabella had been gone for possibly two, maybe three, hours and she had already accepted probably the strangest contract he had ever seen. He even recognized the names she had written, even if she hadn't. This Varric and Solas had been a part of the Inquisition nearly ten years ago when he was barely a Crow. It had been the biggest news in Treviso, and he thought it might be interesting to keep up on. Mostly, it turned into tabloid nonsense, but he kept up on it anyway. Even when he had heard the Solas had betrayed the Inquisitor.
Cursing under his breath, he realized that she was headed to Tevinter with Varric, another Inquisition member, to find the traitor. An elven rogue heading into the heart of Tevinter to chase down a mage. Of course, she would run from one troubling thing to another. Quickly, he called a Crow to find out if they had any contacts in any Tevinter cities to watch for his protégé when she arrived. He had sent her away to keep her safe, not for her to find something worse.
Once the Crow left to find out what resources they had in Tevinter, if any, Viago sat at his desk and stared at the contract. He read through it a second time, now catching the signature. He wasn't sure if he should laugh or curse.
Of course, she would sign it Rook de Riva.