Sisters of Tevinter

Black Wings

    "Can you tell me what happened while I was... gone?" 

     Leliana rounded the chamber, kneeling to rifle through the line of long metal chests in the back. "After you vanished, Alexius used the mages to tear open the Breach. It has spread everywhere, all through Thedas, as if they very sky became diseased. A legion of demons spring forth every day- all in service to the Venatori under direction from their Elder One." The Nightingale fished a longbow and a quiver of arrows from the chest. "They've taken Orlais, somehow they organized the assassination of Empress Celene." She tossed a belt of daggers and pouches to Kaisen. 

      The rogue wasn't even looking at her, she was mumbling to Cassandra, her gaze vacant and exhausted, like a child's after a long day outside. She was still so young...

       It was Bull who caught the belt, slinging it over his shoulder. His body language said 'I'll take care of it.' Jor gave the mercenary a grateful nod, too sick to dwell on the thought. "Where are we?" 

       Leliana shook her head and ran her finger over the bowstring. "Some kind of palace. A base of operations for the Venatori. After Alexius drew the demons from the Breach... No one's seen him since. He barricaded himself in his chambers." 

        "Then that's where we need to go." Jor's voice was steel and ice. "Which direction?"

        "The east wing." Leliana fell into step beside her. Despite her condition, the Nightingale's movements were fluid. 

          "We find Alexius, take his amulet and end this." Then everything will be fine. She glanced around at her companions. "...Is everyone okay with that?" 

          Dorian folded his arms. "I have no complaints."

          Cassandra nodded, supporting Kaisen, who was just coming fully awake. She blinked, as if waking from a dream. And then she smiled. "Jor." 

          It tore the scholar's heart from her chest. "Hi, Kaisen." Her voice was weak. 

          The Crow leaned her head on Cassandra's shoulder, grinning at Jor in a way that didn't seem quite right. "You finally showed up. I knew you weren't dead. I knew-" Her expression crumpled like parchment held to flame, her body shook with silent sobs. Cassandra wrapped an arm around the rogue's waist, murmuring quietly to the young, emaciated assassin. 

        Dorian looked pained. He glanced at Jor. "We should hurry." 

       The scholar swallowed the lump in her throat, nodding and turning away. "Let's go." 

        The ragged group of warriors trudged their way along the halls. Kaisen had stopped crying suddenly, now she was giggling softly at something Cassandra had said. The Seeker was stoic, carefully holding the girl's weight against her side. Evidently she had told no jokes. 

         They descended the stairs of the tower and wound their way through another line of hallways, Jor took a turn and Dorian caught her arm, smiling ruefully. "Other way, darling. We've gone that direction." 

        "Right," the scholar sighed, feeling dizzy. She turned to scout ahead along the opposite passage. Leliana melted into the shadows, trotting silently beside her, her lilac cowl loose. A few wisps of graying strawberry hair had escaped. 

         Aware of the Nightingale's presence, Jor felt a little safer. She bounded along the stone without a sound. Leliana was ahead of her now, Jor felt more than saw this. She heard the telltale whisper of a bowstring being drawn as they came to an open doorway flooded with sunlight. 

         They stepped out onto a high balcony, stairs leading down on either side. A legion of guards paced the perimeter. At least eight. Three of them were hunched and hooded, leaning on staffs of twisted onyx. A shimmering rift of emerald air glittered over the courtyard, promising danger as it swirled with mist. 

          Jor stepped into the light as she backed into the hallway, holding up a fist. 

         Bull, understanding, moved forward, surprisingly quiet despite his bulk. Cassandra set Kaisen down gently against the wall. The assassin was still giggling softly to herself, wringing her hands. Dorian placed himself in front of the girl, bracing his staff against the floor. 

         "On my signal. Bull, Cassandra, the guards. Dorian, I need you to rain hell. Don't let them focus on our tanks." Jor punched Bull's arm. "Don't be stupid. Leliana, can you cover me?"

         "Can I," the Nightingale said with a smile, drawing the bowstring to her cheek, training an arrow on the yard below, hands steady. 

          "Alright." Jor melted into the fragments of clouded sunlight and green fog, easing down the stairs. The rift thundered dangerously, her mark burst into green flame. The guards turned to face the massive chasm of magic in the air. 

           Jor fell to one knee and willed herself to become visible again with a few well timed movements in the light. "Now!" She thrust her hand towards the rift as demons began to form around it. 

           Bull came barreling down the stairs with a shout, driving his stolen battle axe straight through one of the Venatori's helmets. Lightning and flaming embers rained from the balcony. One of the Venatori dropped instantly as lightning illuminated the inside of his eye sockets and screaming mouth. 

            Jor tore her connection of energy with the rift with a snarl, gritting her teeth against the pain. This one was strong, Different from the others. Cassandra charged past her with a roar, matching blades with the clashing of steel as the Venatori ran to meet her. An arrow whizzed past Jor's ear, burying itself deep into the chest of the first dreamer that clawed for her. 

             A Terror shrieked, tearing from the ground in green ripples at Bull's feet. He stumbled back with a guttural growl, regaining his balance. 

             A shriek to rival the demon's rattled Jor's bones, and it was laughter. Kaisen appeared as if from thin air, planting a boot on Bull's shoulder, scooping up her daggers from the belt he carried and vaulting over his horns, sending him reeling forward as she leaped into the air. 

           The Crow flipped head over heels and came down hard on the Terror's skull, knocking it to the ground as she sprang at one of the Venatori fencing with Cassandra. She was still laughing her high laughter, her movements easy and uneven as she danced between the blades and slit the soldier's throat. 

         Jor drew a dirk in her left hand, dancing out of the way of another dreamer, slamming her boot into its back as she paced in a circle around the demon. It lunged for her, hissing. An arrow plunged through its cloaked head. Thank you. Jor smiled wryly as she turned back to the rift. 

        Something slammed heavily into her back, knocking her feet out from under her. She gasped, rolling aside on the cobblestones. A heavy armored boot slammed down where she'd been just a moment before. A behemoth was bearing down on her, shrouded in ink black armor. "Long reign the True Race," he growled from beneath his spiked helmet. He swung a heavy stone maul down over Jormungandr's head.