Courtesans - English version

28 To Vabella

Zevran jumped up, the straw under his feet crunching quietly.

"Oghren, I've never been so glad to see your filthy face!"

"Hehehe... I knew I was your favourite!" The dwarf's perpetually breath-laden, drunken voice sounded so clear, you'd think he was the epitome of sobriety. Strangely, Oghren only appeared completely drunk when nothing was happening. But whenever action was needed, like now, his eyes gleamed with perfect clarity. Who knows what caused his perpetual stupor—perhaps boredom more than alcohol.

"Let's not waste time, Oghren!" Morrighan leapt up with eager urgency. "You need to get into the castle and find the... keys..." Her voice trailed off as she gaped at the dwarf, who silently dropped a bunch of keys onto the stone floor of the cell, then another, and another.

"Just for sure, I brought them all. Alistair, your relative's soldiers are incredibly easy prey; they're either asleep or drinking." It was rather disconcerting to hear this from the biggest drunkard of the lot, but none of them argued.

Leliana and Zevran hurriedly gathered the keys, taking turns to try them in the lock, while Alistair stood by the bars, keeping a vigilant watch down the corridor.

"Keep it quiet! We might be watched!"

"They're more likely watching the bottom of their cups," Oghren remarked.

Morrighan gave the dwarf a questioning look. "What exactly did you do to them? How did you beat them all by yourself?"

"I didn't. I drank with them. And I won. Hehe."

Finally, the key in Zevran's hand clicked, unlocking the door. "Come on, there's no time for chit-chat! Let's get out of here as fast as we can!" he urged them.

The group retrieved their confiscated weapons and stealthily made their way down one completely empty corridor, then another. Zevran motioned for silence as he peeked around a corner and spotted mercenaries slumped over the table, their arms hanging limp. They tiptoed past the spilled green bottles and carelessly twisted-left ankles until they reached the main hall, and from there, the castle gate, where the sentry was also snoring at the foot of the wall.

Then they all broke into a run until they reached the nearby forest, which would now provide perfect cover for them. Oghren caught up with them, greeting them with a massive belch.

"That was fun. Though their wine was a bit sour, and they didn't have nearly enough spirits..."

Leliana smiled and shook her head at the old dwarf.

They continued on their way and soon reached a clearing. Dawn was breaking, the first brave rays of the sun chasing away the moths that had been fluttering around them and changing the sounds of the forest. Morrighan led the way, as usual, with Zevran quickly striding after her.

"Don't take it personally, Alistair; that Logan was an incredibly irritating fellow. But now we can finally head to Perubia!" the elf rejoiced.

The knight shrugged.

Morrighan scanned the path ahead. "Why would we go back? We should be looking for..."

Zevran's head snapped up, still stuck on Morrighan's earlier, offhand comment. "Wait, why not?"

Morrighan stopped, hands on her hips, giving the blond elf a puzzled look. "Why would we?"

"But... weren't we planning to go back?"

"Zevran, don't start!" the dark-haired woman waved her hand in exasperation. "I'm saying we should find this so-called new prophet before anyone else does."