i.imgur.com/ZNk3JoX.png
This is a colab between
Space Cowboy ,
dragontartare, and
phoray from Kirsa's point of view. Thinking of you,
cmoe
Kirsa set her pack on the rickety chair provided to room guests at the inn/tavern they had found in Val Dorma.The trip had been quiet. Strained even, one might say. Kirsa shrugged. Silence suited her just fine. Not one for idle chit chat, she was content to pass the time deep in her own thoughts. The mission, her role, the behaviour of her companions, all sorted and analyzed for future consideration. Adan too,of course. Briefly, Kirsa brushed her lips with her fingertips at the memory of the kiss. She shook her head as she pushed that thought away. There was no use in distractions on a mission like this. She couldn’t let thoughts of what might be cloud her judgement.
The inn was nice, not elaborate enough that Kirsa would feel uncomfortable, but it was pleasant. She had certainly slept in worse. Val Dorma was a quaint town, a bit rough, but that mattered little to her. Her Grey Warden armour was usually enough to dissuade any but the most stubborn of troublemakers. More practical clothing would be more welcome for a simple meal, however, than her warden armour. She rummaged through her pack until she found something suitable, and began the process of removing her armour. Once satisfied with her attire, she left her room, the door closing with an audible click.
Kirsa descended the stairs to the main floor and looked around. Neither of her companions, it seemed, had arrived yet, so she took a seat at the bar with one free stool on either side of her. Considering the tension on the ride over, Kirsa thought it wise to keep Maggie and Vanasha somewhat separated, for now.
Maggie slipped onto one of the stools next to Kirsa, looking sour and somewhat distracted. She was wearing a simple leather vest over her shirtsleeves and had a small knife with her. If not for the expression on her face, few would be intimidated by her present appearance. Maggie gestured to a barmaid. “A pint of the strongest ale you have, please,” she said. The barmaid took her coppers with a polite nod.
Kirsa glanced around the other patrons. “I wonder where Vanasha is.”
When Maggie seemed to not respond, Kirsa turned back to look at her. It might have been the lighting, but Maggie seemed to be red in the face, even a little blotchy. Kirsa wondered whether she should say something about it, but the other woman did not seem to be in any mood to chat.
Still, Maggie glanced over at Kirsa and replied, “Primping, I suspect, or sending messages back to Tevinter about what she saw at Weisshaupt, if she hasn’t done that already.” The barmaid slid a pint of ale over to Maggie, and she took a long draft. “I don’t know about you, but I don’t plan to sleep on this journey while Vanasha takes watch. Assuming she deigns to share the watch with us.”
Kirsa chuckled at the last comment. “She will probably claim she needs her beauty sleep. Just as well, I suppose.”
Maggie smirked. “I trust you will be ready to fight with me, if it comes to that. Though I hope the Vint will behave herself and not get in our way.”
Kirsa looked up at the stairway leading back up to their rooms, as Vanasha appeared, sweeping down the stairs into the room in an elegant purple silk wrap gown. The tables near the stairs had hushed, momentarily, distracted by the noblewoman’s entrance.
Their companion didn’t see them at first, but when she caught sight of them, she smiled widely, and was met with their complete disinterest. Vanasha looked momentarily crestfallen, but it was such a fleeting moment Kirsa couldn’t be sure. The smile faded to something more polite as she made her way over to them.
“Ladies.” Vanasha greeted them, as she slid into the stool next to Kirsa and waved her hand towards the bartender
“Thanks for waiting for me, ser.” Vansha said to Kirsa, before turning to order. “A pint of the strongest ale you have, please, for them both. And a glass of red wine for myself, sir,” she said, as she pulled a few coins from her purse and slid them onto the bar to show she was good for it.
Kirsa saw Maggie roll her eyes, but the other woman said nothing.
The bartender looked over Vanasha’s shoulder with a squint, then turned to get the three drinks poured. Still, Kirsa eyed Vanasha and frowned. She didn’t mind the noblewoman ordering for her, and certainly didn’t mind her using her own coin to do so. The ‘strongest’ ale in the house might not have been her first choice, however.
“That’s mine! You can’t have it!” A male voice shouted, located from behind them.Kirsa turned, curious what the ruckus was about.
“Oh, some entertainment with our drinks, courtesy of the rabble.” Vanasha said at Kirsa’s right.
Two men--one wearing a cloak, one not and heavily bearded, was all Kirsa could really see across the room. The cloakless one leaned across the table, both gloved hands grasping at the closed fist of the other.
“Ger’off!” the cloaked man demanded, standing to shove the other off him. Chairs and table crashed to the ground. A punch was thrown.
The delicately inclined, their robes thick and ornate, scrambled away from what appeared to be an impending brawl. Kirsa observed the giant of a man door guard they’d passed on their way in heading intently towards the fray. Moments later, after bopping one on the head right smart, he half pushed them both out the front door. In the quiet, one of the bar maids scurried to right the furniture.
“Sorry about that,” The bartender said, bringing her attention back round. “Here’s your drinks, ladies.”
Kirsa took a tentative sip, made a face at the strong bitter taste, and placed it back on the table.
Maggie seemed to ignore the new drink, for the moment, at least, in favor of the one she was already nursing. However, Kirsa noticed that that pint was already half empty.
Out the corner of her eye, Kirsa saw Maggie toss back the remainder of her first serving of ale, then almost slam the mug back onto the bar. She reached for the second serving -- the one provided by Vanasha -- sniffed it. Her face turned sour, presumably not from the ale, but because of who had purchased it. But she then she took a swig of it anyway.
Vanasha picked up her glass, making a show of enjoying the bouquet before taking a sip. She twisted her mouth. “Great nose. Too bad about the taste.” She tapped the wooden table, then took another swallow.
----------------
Vanasha drained her third glass of wine and then twirled the stem of the it between the three fingers of her right hand.
“ah.” Vanasha said in enjoyment. “Tha’ was dish.” She frowned as she plopped her wine glass down.
“Dishus. Pah!” Vanasha exclaimed, waving her hand at the glass. Whether to dismiss her effort or the glass, Kirsa wasn’t sure.
Vanasha leaned back and slid from the bar stool. Her gaze slid over the room and fell on the doorman. She smiled slyly as she padded toward him.
Kirsa frowned. Both her comrade and the mage woman had drank to excess and she was out of her element that such an occurrence would happen on a mission. Vanasha neared the doorman and seemed to try to be dancing with him. Kirsa couldn’t hear what Vanasha was saying, but she heard the doorman’s response.
“I’ve no time to tip ya, miss. Move along.”
Vanasha pushed her luck, and put her hands on his forearm, tugging on him. Very swiftly, his hand whipped out and grabbed her by the elbow. Shortly, the man marched Vanasha back over to the two Wardens as the mage struggled petulantly.
“All I wanted was-” But the doorman cut her off.
“Perhaps your friends want to take you on a walk so you don’t embarrass yourself, lady.” And dumped her next to them. Vanasha rubbed her elbow frowning at the doorman.
She nodded in agreement with the bouncer, eying her companions. “Yes, let’s go for a walk. Some air will no doubt do you both good.”
Vanasha’s expression changed suddenly to that of mild alarm, then she leaned onto Kirsa’s shoulder and whispered.
“I think dat is a good idea.” She hiccuped and held a hand to her stomach. “don’t know if I’ll keep the wine down,”
Kirsa fought off her urge to shake off the woman off in disgust, but managed a shrug. She eyed her mostly full mug of ale with distaste. One of them needed to keep her wits about her. She left it on the counter, and stood to escort both her companions outside.
“Fine,” said Maggie. “This ale isn’t worth the trouble of drinking it, anyway. It’s disgusting.” As she rose from the stool, her foot caught on one of its legs and she stumbled into Kirsa, who caught her with a slight frown.
What has gotten into these two? Kirsa wondered silently. Magdalene usually held her drink better than this, and Vanasha struck her as someone who was familiar with handling the effects of wine. She steadied Maggie, and directed both of them outside.
Vanasha trailed behind Magdalene, but managed to step lightly enough to be ahead of Kirsa. The trio walked a bit down the main street in no specific direction, most of the buildings being closed for the day’s work now that the early hours of darkness. Turning left by association of avoiding a carriage, they happened upon a small park. There was only one street lamp to light the small green square, and it flickered as a breeze picked up. Vanasha put her arms upward and out and made a grand show of taking a deep breath. She spun.
“This is my country!” She called out, before stumbling, but ignored the miss step. “Doesn’t it smell wonderful?” She turned to Kirsa, smiling.
Kirsa fought a bemused and subtle smile. The woman was acting a fool. Walking next to Kirsa, Maggie muttered something under her breath, of which Kirsa caught only the words ‘dung’ and ‘Vint.’
Kirsa came to a stop a few feet from the mage, and looked around. Upon closer inspection, this park looked a bit overgrown. A flower bearing tree had dropped them to the ground at least a week before, and there was the hint of rotting sweetness to them attracting gnats. A stone bench, a bit chipped in places, was also present. Vanasha went to grasp her arm and she pulled her arm away before the mage could do any childish tugging.
Her tone was wry with only a hint of annoyance. The walk hadn’t been all that bad. “We’re out here because of you, and now you’re playing around. If you’re feeling better, perhaps we can return and get some sleep.”
Vanasha frowned. “What is it with you two? I’ve been polite, always, and attempted to be friendly,” Vanasha covered her mouth to hide a hiccup then waved her hand at Magdalene. “If I was not provoked.”
Vanasha went to put both hands on her hips, missed, then covered the miss by wiping at her skirts. She ended up crossing her arms and raising her chin, her body language indignant. Maggie snorted quietly at the display.
“What is it then? You have a thing against mages?”
“I-” Kirsa began, but Maggie spoke over her.
“You are not a mage,” Maggie said, her tone derisive. There was the barest edge of a laugh to her tone, as if she could not take Vanasha’s statement seriously. “You are a viper. You come to our fortress and you manipulate our commanders,” she spat, taking heavy -- though not steady -- steps toward Vanasha. “And you pretend to be a friend, as if a slaver like you could be any such thing.”
Kirsa sighed. “Can you two just cool off?”
Maggie ignored her, instead stepping nearly toe-to-toe with Vanasha, and shoved her backwards. “What do you really want?” She shoved again. “Why are you here?”
Vanasha managed to stay upright, putting her arms out to balance herself in alarm, almost forced to sit on the bench just behind her. When the danger of falling seemed to have passed, she puffed her chest. Arms stiff and straight down at her sides, hands clenched, she glared.
“An outrage!” Vanasha shouted, nostrils flared, eyes wide. “Such a violent selfish prig. You judge me and my way of life when your people were doing the largest mass blood magic sacrifice since the Magisters entered the Golden City?!”
She cast her chin haughtily, then sniffed in disdain, but continued in dark tone. “No leg to stand on, judging me. If I’m a viper, you’re a pestilent tick.”
‘Just what we need,’ Kirsa scoffed to herself. The two other women were drunkenly challenging each other, looking like they were about to come to blows. She rubbed her hand across her face. ‘Dirt and spit.’ Maker knew, maybe a brawl was what the two needed. She shook her head.
“What does that say about you then,” Maggie snarled, “if you would use a blood-sucker for your own ends? You are using two Grey Wardens to further your secret schemes, are you not?” Her shoving had opened space between the two women, which Maggie now closed once more. “You are worse than a viper. You are a leech. You suck the life out of good people and leave nothing but husks behind when you are finished.”
Vanasha leaned in, their faces close together. “At least I won’t die miles away from anyone who ever loved me surrounded by filth and darkness.”
Maggie’s face changed. Gone in an instant was the edge of contemptuous humor she’d had, replaced by a snarl of fury. Before Vanasha or Kirsa could react, Maggie pulled her fist back and hurled it straight into Vanasha’s face.
Vanasha stumbled back only to be tripped by the stone bench, falling flat backwards. A long moment of silence on the mage’s part made Kirsa step forward to check on Vanasha. Leaning over her, a gulping gasp followed by coughing assured her that the mage was fine. Kirsa straightened as Vanasha’s hand came to rest on the diadem on her forehead.
A wave of dizziness struck Kirsa so strongly her hand reached out to find the wall of the building near the park for support.
Maggie, though, stumbled backward as if she’d been hit over the head. She managed to stay on her feet for a few tenuous steps, before she lost her footing entirely and landed hard on her back with a pained groan.
“Well well, look at this.” a male voice behind Kirsa spoke. Startled, Kirsa reached for her bow before realizing she’d left it back at the tavern.
Another piped up. “Looks like the ladies decided to do our job for us.” It sounded like yet one more laughed.
Kirsa shook her head, regaining what little clarity she’d lost to the mental assault, sliding her dagger from her boot in the process. Then turned.
“Leave. You are not wanted here.” Kirsa ordered, recognized the bearded clocked man from the earlier bar brawl. However, she didn’t honestly expect the three, no five, men to back off. She stepped back up towards Vanasha and Maggie. “Ladies, this would be a really good time for you to snap out of it and be the adults I know you are.”
The group of thugs waved their swords threateningly and approached. One pointed at Vanasha trying to stand up in spite of her skirts. ”Looks like the our bribe paid off. The drug worked. “
The ringleader laughed. “You’re no match for us. Drop your valuables,” He pointed to the stone bench Vanasha was using successfully to pull herself up with,”in a pile there.” He sneered.
“Your clothes too.” another said, leering at Vanasha in her fine clothes.
“And we may let you live.” the ringleader finished.
Behind her, Kirsa heard a whisper of steel against leather, and then Maggie was on her feet. It seemed the woman was cogent enough to ignore her rival for the greater threat against them all. Good.
Kirsa smiled grimly. “No, I don’t think so. Leave, and I may let you live.” She held her dagger at the ready, feeling naked without her armour and proper weapon. She had no chance against all the thugs. She was thankful her companions stopped fighting each other to help, even in their current condition of drunkenness. And what did he say about bribes?
“You’ve joined our party at a bad time, gentlemen.” Vanasha managed to say, slur free. Kirsa hoped that meant she’d sobered up. “Perhaps you should skip this dance before you embarrass yourself.”
The thugs fanned out, one coming close enough to Kirsa for slashing range. Adrenaline kicked in, as did her instincts from hours of training. Both helped her avoid a jab from the fellow’s sword, following it up with a slash from her dagger onto his sword arm. She kicked her boot into the Leader Thug’s abdomen, sending him off balance, then fended off an attack from another thug. He seemed taken aback that she was not falling down drunk like her companions. Good. Her fist connected with the second thug’s nose.
The thug stumbled back and groaned as one hand went to his face, blood streaming over his lips from the likely broken nose. He raised his sword arm and roared, taking a step as if to impale Kirsa on the spot. Just as suddenly, Kirsa watched him come to a sudden stop, dropping his sword, and swooning in place. She grinned, satisfied. Looked like Vanasha was working her magic. She used her advantage to gain a second weapon from where the stunned thug dropped it. She then used it to slash his throat, causing him to gasp for breath, before toppling over.
Another of his friends soon approached to avenge his death. Holding both weapons at ready, she parried his first attack. This one was large, easily strong enough to overpower her. Not deterred by her flashing blades, he thrust his sword at her face. It took both her arms to hold him off, his sword inches from her face. She finally managed to push it away by stomping on his foot, causing a momentary break in pressure. This allowed her to knock his arm away, duck down and use her lower position to dig her dagger into his abdomen through his armour, causing him to grunt in pain. Backing out of range of his sword arm, she again parried a blow from the thug.
Vanasha cried out from beside her, and Kirsa took a brief moment after a successful parry to look. She saw that the mage has been lifted up, legs kicking, arms hugged down to her sides by the third guy.
“Maggie!” But her call was unneeded, for the other Warden had already slid into position behind the man, slashing savagely with her knife into the tendons at the back of his knees. He dropped with an anguished cry, and as Vanasha took the opportunity to roll away from him, Maggie thrust her knife into his neck.
Kirsa spun to put the stone wall at her back so the same would not happen to her. Two of the thugs had disappeared on them. She had little time to wonder if they’d ran at the defense they’d put when she saw the fourth thug. He must have hidden in the shadows and appeared on Magdalene’s heels. Her brief distraction from her duel got her sword arm cut.
Kirsa took an intake of breath from the pain. “There!” she growled, pushing forward with her sword to pierce the leader thug’s shoulder.
A blood curdling scream of horror cut through the warm night air as the man sneaking up on Magadalene threw himself to the ground and started rolling. He shrieked in terror as he did so, although Kirsa could not see what he was reacting so strongly to.
Finally, Kirsa had the upper hand. She managed to hack at his sword arm again, causing him to drop his weapon, slick with blood. She then drove her sword into his chest, causing the leader to curse, then gasp, as her weapon reached his heart. He fell to the ground, lifeless. Even as the thug’s body slid off her sword to the ground, the fifth man was behind him, slamming a club into her shoulder. A sharp cry escaped her as her arm erupted into painful tingles and her hand went numb, causing her to drop the sword.
The club raised once more, aiming at her skull no doubt. At the last moment, she threw herself to the side, hearing the club slam into the stone.
She rolled onto her back to see where the next blow would come from only to see the club ripped from his hand to be dropped on his head. Maggie caught the club and swung it with a snarl into the back of the stunned thug’s skull. Kirsa winced at the sound of wood and metal crushing bone. The thug’s lips moved wordlessly as he stared at her wide eyed, before the life slipped from him and he fell.
Grasping Maggie’s offered hand to haul herself to her feet, Kirsa could see the mage was already at the still living thug’s side. Her hands were pointed in his direction and curved like claws. A glimmering barely there cage appeared round the man. He did little to react, his chest rising and falling.
“Kneel, you filth, or regret it when I make the flames or rats or whatever it is that you feared so much return.” Vanasha ordered imperiously, an edge of danger to her voice.
“I’ll do it, I’ll do it!” The man stuttered, the sound of tears in this voice. “What does the mistress want?” He panted, holding his hands protectively up in front of him.
Vanasha turned her face to the Wardens. “Well, ladies? What do we want to know?”
“For starters,” Maggie said, sauntering over to the pair, looking much more stable on her feet now, despite -- or because of -- the physical exertion. “What is it that you’re after? Why drug us?”
“We’z just skim some of the customers from Charlies. The ones that look easy, made even more so by drink Charlie gives ‘em.”
“You mean drug? I’m not easy to put under the table from a bit of wine.”
“Ya ya, Charlie puts something in the drinks for us. Usually they’re tipping in their cups, go for a walk, we just waggle our swords at them a bit and we get ours. We didn’t know you was mages and fighters, honest.”
“Anything else?” Vanasha pushed her hands closer together and the man looked visibly constricted.
Gasping for a good breath, he replied, “yessum! That’s it! That’s all! I swear to Andraste!”
“Oh, is that all?” The mage turns her head to her companions once more. “Shall I finish him off then?” She asked casually.
The thug let a keening whine escape his throat.
“Are we thugs as well?” Maggie asked. “No. Even a town this small has its own authorities. The chantry, if nothing else. We will call for them.”
“I agree.” Kirsa said. “Call the guards. Or we can take him there ourselves.”
“Really? And what about the Bartender then? Can't let him keep doing this to everyone passing through."
“They may be interested in the bartender’s part in this as well. The proper authorities will see justice done.” Kirsa said.
Maggie nodded in agreement. “Though, I would not be opposed to having a talk with him ourselves, first. To be sure he doesn’t run.” An unfriendly smile flashed across her face as she looked back in the direction of the inn.
“Tsk.” The mage released the spell round the thug, and he collapsed coughing. “By the Spires. I guess we’re sparing your life, little man. Thank the kind hearts of these fine wardens then.”
“Thank ye, wardens.” he rasped.
“You’re welcome. I doubt you’ll find as much mercy from the guards.” Kirsa replied, her brow furrowed in disdain.
And may the next post not take six months.
