King & Lionheart

The Interstate

"Teagan, c'mon," August took a few steps back. "I don't wanna hurt you. We know each other."

Teagan's eyes glazed over, not looking in any particular direction.

"Now!" Connor roared. Teagan drew a knife. August retreated. Teagan gave chase.

And Leliana pulled the trigger.

A crossbow's bolt buried itself into the center of Teagan's back, the man freezing in place. Tabris blinked.

"Where did you get the crossbow?" she asked Leliana, the cloister sister readying another bolt.

"I brought it with me from Lothering. Did you not see me carrying it?"

Tabris shook her head with a shrug, watching Teagan fall flat on his face.

Connor stood there, quiet, staring down at Teagan's body. Then, his face twisted, letting out a cry and holding his head.

"Mom? Mom, what's going on?" the voice of a normal little boy came through, looking up to Isolde with pleading eyes.

"Connor," Isolde's lower lip trembled, opening her arms to embrace him. Stroking his hair, her grip tightened, Conner's hands shaking as they slowly lifted to touch her. But, as soon as he came, he left. With the force too great for such a young boy to possess, he launched Isolde away from him, rolling on the marbled floors, letting out a groan of pain.

"You won't live to regret this," the demon growled, rushing a hand over the fire blazing behind him, fizzling it out. Contorting his body to fit up the chimney, he began to crawl, disappearing somewhere in the castle.

"Teagan!" Isolde crawled to his side, bleeding from the head, hands shaking around the bolt. "We- we have to help him."

"Move," August all but shoved her out of the way, straddling the Bann to get a good grip on the shaft. With a hard yank, Teagan woke with a yell of pain, blood spreading quickly over his clothing. August held his hand over the wound, palms glowing green. And, just like that, the wound was sealed closed.

"Careful," he warned the Bann, helping him stand. "I don't know how much internal damage that caused."

"Oh, I imagine there'd be something of the sort," Teagan groaned, holding his middle section. Isolde let out a sigh of relief as she stood as well.

"I'm so thankful you're okay. I don't- I don't know what I would've done if you-"

"We need to do something about Connor," Teagan interrupted her. "Why didn't you say something sooner? About him having magic, or-"

"They would've taken him away," Isolde ground her teeth. "He's my only son, Teagan, you know I can't just... let magic take that from me."

"Still," Teagan's jaw clenched. "By keeping this quiet, Redcliffe will take decades to repair the damage."

The tears continued to stream down Isolde's face, shaking her head.

"I know. I'm sorry."

"You can be sorry some other time," August stepped forward, staff hovering just over his back. "We need to do something about Connor."

"He's just a little boy," Isolde's face went cold.

"Look," Tabris held out her hands with a huff. "There has to be a way to fix this without killing him. August, please tell me you know some whack magic mumbo jumbo to fix this."

"I don't," August bit his cheek. "But I might know someone who does."

He exhaled.

"Wait here- I just hope he's still alive."