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72. Balance of Power

Fortunately for me, the Crows either wise up or decide to toy with us some more, because a pair of servants--complete with guards--show up on the third day carrying food. It's simple and barely palatable; stale bread, tough meat, and apples that have started to go mealy. I wish I could say I cared. For a Warden, even a few days without food is an eternity, and it's all I can do to eat at a pace that won't make me sick. The aching stiffness of my arms helps.

"So, minx, any thoughts?" Zevran probes, after we've finished and they've chained us back in the same position as before.

I wait until the footsteps of servants and guards have faded into silence. "Unless you have a lockpick hidden somewhere unmentionable, I got nothin'." I raises an eyebrow when he shrugs dejectedly. "You mean you don't? Maker, Zev, I half expected a roguish grin and a joking confirmation."

"I know, I know, I am a terrible disappointment," he chuckles darkly. "Well, I suppose the only available course of action is to hope you are right and the others are indeed coming."

"I wouldn't put all my eggs in that basket, were I you," a new voice comments from the doorway. Well, new in that it doesn't belong to me or Zev. "If by some strange twist of fate they are still alive and find their way here, Vittorio is more than ready for them."

"Yeah, and Jowan was only along because I'm a clingy girlfriend and wanted his company," I snort. "You missed something pretty important there, Lita."

"Nice to have you back to normal," I hear Zevran mutter as Melita crosses to stand where I can see her. I smirk at that.

"We still got what we were after, Warden," she points out, nodding toward the chains that bind me and Zev. "And now we know your lover is a mage, Vittorio has taken steps to... even the balance, yes?"

I shrug. "Look, while I have your ear, let me ask you something: why is it you people keep tryin' to collect a bounty that can't be paid? The man who put a price on my head has been dead for well over a year now, so it's not like you can get whatever coin he promised."

"This is true," Melita allows, leaning against the wall and pulling out a dagger, which she proceeds to sharpen as she talks. "Aside from the fact we at least got half up front, it has become a matter of principle, a point of pride, or whichever clever little saying you think fits best. The two of you, so long as you live, are signs of weakness. We must kill you, in protection of our reputation."

"So your reputation's what made you waste all those men on me?" I laugh. "Just so you can have a perfect kill record rather than one or two who got away?"

She gives me a dark, cat-circling-the-canary smile. "Ah, but you have not 'got away' any longer. So they were not a waste."

"Don't spend your spoils 'til they're actually in your hand," I shoot back, wrists shifting inside the manacles. "I've gotten out of tighter spots than this before."

"Have you now?" In the space of a breath, she's next to me, resting cold steel against the side of my neck. "Tighter than this?"

"Do it if you want," I challenge her, managing a half-shrug that rattles my chains as I focus on keeping my heart rate down. "Then you get to explain to your good friend Vittorio how you robbed him of his fun." The word is ash in my mouth and I practically spit it at her.

"He still has the traitor over there," she points out, half nodding toward Zev, who's gripping his chains so hard his knuckles have gone white.

"Funny you should use that word," I riposte sweetly. "I guess it really does take one to know one."

"You are quite bold for a woman with a knife at her throat," Melita growls. From the way his jaw is tensing, Zev appears to agree with the sentiment.

"At least I don't need the balance of power to be in my favor to show some backbone."

I can almost hear Zev's teeth grinding together.

She snorts and pushes me away, hard enough my shoulders howl in protest as the chains pull against them. "Vittorio was right. It is going to be ever so fun to break you. The spirited ones always are..."

"Don't hold your breath," I mutter, blinking away the tears of pain pricking the back of my eyes. "I'm not makin' easy."

"Yes, well, that is what makes it such fun, minx," she taunts, stepping away from me and heading for Zevran. Too late I remember Vittorio's warning and curse my inability to keep my mouth shut. If I was going to be the one paying for it, I'd shoot off my mouth as long as one of them was here to listen.

But like all the heroes in tales and legends, I can't stand watching other people suffer for my words or actions. "No, don't!"

"Sorry. One warning only, Warden," Melita goads, setting her knife against Zev's cheek. She digs her fingers into his hair to hold him still as she rakes the blade back along his cheekbone, wickedly sharp metal opening an almost artful gash. "The more you fight us, the more he bleeds. You would do well to remember that for next time," she warns, releasing Zev's head with a small shove and striding from the room.

"Sorry, Zev." I barely wait for the door to close before voicing the words. "I forgot in the heat of the moment."

"Worry not, my dear. It still is no worse than my training," Zev consoles me.

"What the Void kinda training d'they put you through?!" I demand, eyes fixed on the blood running down his face. That's one thing I never felt comfortable bringing up during the Blight; the Crow training he referenced in the careless way of someone trying to downplay a part of their life that was singularly unpleasant.

"It is arduous. Rackings, fights to the death, racing through mazes full of traps... they need to know what you can withstand, no?"

I shake my head. "I just... killing and maiming your recruits seems counterproductive."

"Ah, but the ones who survive are quite literally the best at what they do. It is an effective, if brutal, way to ensure excellence.

"Still doesn't make sense to me," I mutter. "But there's prob'ly better things for us to be discussing. Like, for instance, do you know how many days' travel we are from Seleny?"

"Minx, I was just as unconscious as you," Zevran reminds me. "I would guess no more than three days, but if you are trying to plot the likely course of a rescue..."

"I know, I know. First they'd have to find us, then figure out a plan to get us, then wait for an opportune moment to enact said plan... I'm just trying to focus on something positive."

"And this I know," Zev replies. "It is one part of your personality I can depend on not to change; this almost unflagging optimism that gets stronger the darker things look."

"Almost?" I probe.

"You were somewhat more morose on an empty stomach," he points out.

"I- alright, you got me there," I concede with a rueful smile, before both of us fall silent, indulging in our own thoughts.

oOo

There were no words to express how grateful Jowan was that the journey to the village was uneventful. He'd been more than a little worried that, with the balance of power so firmly on their side, Melita and her friends would do something to at the very least slow them down, if not attempt to kill them outright. But no. Even though they took Nevio's suggestion and circled the village so that they came at it from a different direction--which added almost a full day's travel--they made it to the inn unmolested.

Sigrun was obviously convinced this was some sort of bloody miracle, having fully expected an ambush or trap along the way.

"So, how far outside the village proper is this farmhouse?" Aenya inquired, dropping her pack on one of the beds.

"Roughly a half hour's walk," Nevio replied, claiming the bed next to hers. "Someone will need to scout it out, check how many guards there are outside, best ways in, if there is a password--and how often it changes, if so, things like that."

"And I suppose you're gonna volunteer to do that?" Sigrun raised an eyebrow.

"I am, of course, perfectly willing if you wish me to, but I suspect this is a better job for someone the Crows would not recognize instantly, and also who is not slowed by a bad leg."

"Well, unfortunately, I think we're all pretty recognizable to the Crows," the brunette pointed out. "At least, if this is the same bunch from the dockhouse."

"Not me," Aenya piped up. "I mean, yeah, I met Melita, but I wasn't with you guys when you infiltrated there."

"She has a point," Jowan nodded. "Unless Melita actually drew them a picture of what we look like-"

"Oh, I doubt that," Nevio snorted, "She never was terribly gifted at art."

"Okay, then. Aenya has the best chance of talking her way out of trouble if she gets caught."

"Which is a pretty big if to begin with," the redhead winked.

"Yeah, yeah, you're awesome and stealthy. Quit braggin', salroka," Sigrun teased.

Aenya made a face at her before turning to Nevio. "Should I have someone with me? As back-up or another set of eyes or whatever?"

That would be wise, amica," he nodded.

"Kay. You feel like doin' it?"

His eyebrows arched. "Truly?"

"Yeah, why not?" She shrugged. "Good chance to prove you're on the up and up."

"Now, that's what I call an offer I cannot refuse," Nevio chuckled.

"D'we have time t' go now? Or is it better if we wait for morning?"

"Oh, there's time now, if you wish. Darkness will not fall for a couple hours yet. It would be by no means a thorough look, but we could at least get an idea of what to be looking for."

"Alright, then. Let's go." The duster headed for the door.

"You sure about this, Aen?" Sigrun pressed, worrying her lower lip between her teeth.

"Ancestors, Sigrun, yes. Yes, I am. Maybe it's because I wasn't there when you got betrayed, but I am actually willing to trust Nevio. And the sooner we investigate this farmhouse, the sooner we can get Rahna and Zev out. I've been living in a state of constant dread for far too long now. I want to find him, rescue him, and then kiss him long an' hard enough that one or both or us see stars," Aenya replied bluntly.

"Oh, is that all?" Sigrun teased.

"No, but the other things I wanna do to him are none of your business," the redhead shot back with a saucy grin.

"Ah, there we go," the Legionnaire ribbed. "Well, if you're so set on it, you better get goin'. You're burnin' daylight."

"Right... see you later, then." With a cheery wave and a tug on Nevio's arm to make sure he followed her, the redhead was out the door.

"Well, I guess we get to settle in an' hold down the fort, huh?" Sigrun commented, sitting cross-legged on her bed as the door closed behind the departing rouges.

Jowan managed a distracted Mmhm as he stared out the window.

"What's wrong?" Sigrun demanded. "I'm not the Commander by any stretch of the imagination, but I can tell you've been awfully quiet the last couple days."

"Just missing Rahna," the mage deflected. "And short on sleep b'cause cuddling with her has become such a habit I'm havin' trouble falling asleep alone."

"Aw, that's so sweet," the dwarf cooed, grinning. "I'm totally tellin' her when we bust 'em out."

"Go ahead. I don't care," Jowan shrugged. "She'd probably make a snarky comment and then kiss me breathless for being sweet. I fail to see a downside to this."

She laughed. "Good point. Maybe I won't tell her. At least, not until we're safe. Wouldn't want you all disoriented and distracted if we hafta fight our way out."

He wrinkled his nose at her for that. "Oh, hush. Read a book or something."

"Fine, I will." Still laughing to herself, Sigrun dug in her pack until she found a book, and then settled in to read.

Jowan retreated back into his thoughts, grateful she hadn't pressed further, like Rahna would have. She doesn't need to know the rest. Is not like she can say or do anything to stop me. It's just in my nature... I still think this is at least partially my fault. When will I learn that some people shouldn't be given the benefit of the doubt?

oOo

They were quiet for most of the walk out to the farmhouse, both because they didn't want to give away their presence, and because they didn't really know what to talk about.

They were halfway to their destination when Nevio interrupted the quiet. "Thank you. For trusting me. I know it cannot be easy to butt heads with your friend."

Aenya waved him off. "No problem. I've made it a habit to judge people by their own actions, not someone else's. You've been nothin' but helpful, an' you despise the Crows. Sigrun just-"

"Values honesty very highly," Nevio finished for her. "Yes, Jowan told me as much. And I realize how this... situation looks, and how badly that hurts her. But I truly wish she trusted me... For many, many reasons. But come, we're getting close enough, Vittorio may well have posted guards. We should be quiet-"

Even as he spoke, Aenya reached up and clapped a hand over his mouth, dragging him down into the underbrush between trees. "Someone's coming," she hissed as footsteps crunched against dirt and pebbles.

The two of them crouched low, peering between strands of dead, drying grass as the steps grew closer. Aenya's fingers curled around the red-bound grip of a throwing knife, tension in every line of her posture. Nevio rested a staying hand on her arm, and shook his head slightly when she looked at him. The dwarf relaxed ever so slightly.

He was right. If the approaching steps belonged to a guard, then killing or wounding them would arouse suspicion. And if the steps belonged to an expected visitor, them never arriving would also arouse suspicion. With all the effort they had put into not letting Vittorio's group know they were here, she wasn't about to kill this person without good reason. Like being spotted.

When the individual responsible finally came into view, Aenya's first guess was elf, given the cloak-swathed figure looked roughly Rahna and Zevran's height. When the arrival's hood fluttered in the breeze, a rapid glance confirmed this was indeed an elf. Female, with moss-green eyes, deep tan skin, and a staff the duster would have bet her best dagger meant she was a mage.

Those green eyes scanned the elf's surrounding warily, slowing as they passed over the brush that concealed Aenya and Nevio. The redhead's grip on her knife instinctively tightened, but Green Eyes kept moving. It wasn't until she was entirely out of sight and hearing both that they dared to move.

"Was she..." Aenya began.

"A mage? Yes. I don't know her name, but I've seen her from a distance before," Nevio affirmed. "She's very good. This rescue just got a lot more interesting, yes?"

The dwarf groaned. "I hate interesting."
Not much to say this time, really... I love the teamwork dynamic Nevio and Aenya have developed. And she really is more willing to trust him pretty much because she was with him when Melita was doing the betrayal bit. She knows he wasn't acting suspicious, and since he personally hasn't done anything to warrant mistrust, she still trusts him.

Chapter One

 Chapter Seventy One

 Chapter Seventy Three
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Zevran, Jowan, Sigrun, the Crows, and Dragon Age in general belong to BioWare

Rahna, Melita, Aenya, Nevio, and Vittorio are mine
© 2014 - 2024 queen-scribbles
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kitiaramajere's avatar
"Define 'interesting'."
"'Oh god oh god, we're all going to die?'"