Sisters of Tevinter

Snacks

   "Fucking finally." Kaisen sank against the chill windowsill beside a small table laden with rich foods. Bull was tucked into an alcove in the shadows, his arms folded across his chest, waiting watchfully in the quiet hall. 

   He slid her a glance, smiling slightly. He looked tired. "Hey, red." 

   The Crow popped a whole chocolate strawberry into her mouth. "Hmph." 

   "How's the party up there?" 

   "Mnegh," Kaisen muffled, rolling her eyes. 

    "That bad, huh. Jor okay?" 

    "I'm great thanks," the assassin said, swallowing. Bull scoffed. "What're you doing down here in the dark anyway?" Kaisen asked. 

    "Security detail. Out of public eye." He smiled ruefully, an ugly gloved hand gesturing to his horns. 

    Kaisen winced. "Qun." 

    "Qun," the mercenary agreed softly. 

    Wordlessly, the Crow offered up a bowl of spiced nuts. Bull smiled slightly and took a handful, gaze trailing idly along the wall sconces. Despite his relaxed stance, the assassin could see he was on high alert, listening intently to the sounds from upstairs and keeping an eye-- well, his eye on the exits. 

  "Huh. These are really good." The qunari took another handful, looking slightly bolstered. 

  Kaisen laughed. "Say what you want about Orlesian parties, but the food is always decent." 

  "You murder a lot of kings at stuff like this?"   

   "Just the one. The rest were queens." Kaisen grinned. "Though once there was this really shitty jester." 

   Bull gave a discordant wheeze that bounced off the stone archways, his usual cheer and amused little smirk returning slightly. "Tallis." He shook his head. 

   "I still take it as a compliment."

  "Good." The qunari took the bowl from the Crow's lap, settling more comfortably against the stone. "I'd be insulted if you didn't."

   "The Inquisition has nerve to come here after all the trouble they've wrought," someone hissed, striding past them, boots clicking on the stone. The companions fell silent.

   A woman chortled, a hand pressed to her dark hair as her hideously pink dress dragged like a carcass on the floor. "Did you see who the Inquisitor brought as her personal entourage? An elven manservant, a dwarf lord and a Qun animal. It sounds like the beginning of a joke." 

   The man scoffed. "The woman has eclectic taste. I'd guess they were consorts and slaves. If they're anything more she's playing with fire. You can't expect loyalties like those to last." Their voices were fading. 

   "The beast had his appeal. A mercenary? I wonder if he speaks as easily as he walks-- if he can speak at all. Such swagger. Desperate for a mate, no doubt." 

   Kaisen twirled a fork over her fingers expertly as she watched the nobles pass, her spine taut with poise and expression dangerously cool. "...Want me to kill them for you?"

  Bull rolled his good eye. "Easy, red. It comes with the territory." Though something an awful lot like hurt had crossed his features, a disquieted nausea. It made Kaisen want to put a knife through every noble tongue within a hundred miles. 

   "Hm." The Crow settled for stabbing her fork into the small platter of winesoaked mushrooms, her gaze still following the shadows in the hall. She hated mushrooms almost as much as she hated royalty.