Inquisition Agents

Chapter 8: A new beginning

With the abomination out of scene, the town filled with unnatural silence. A few moments before, the clamour of battle was thunderous. Now, there was only calm. Soldiers tried to help the unconscious Dalish and wounded villagers. The agents still stood before Harralan's body, while catching their breath. Fenrraor was the first to come back to reality, turning to Malan.

- Where's my sister? - he asked with urgency.

The mage looked to the inn, and, before he could say a word, the hunter was already heading there. The agents followed him, while the king stayed to give orders to his soldiers.

When Fenrraor opened the inn's door, a swift arrow grazed his ear and stuck into the wood. In front of him, a paled and sweaty elf was holding a bow with flickering hand. She couldn't barely keep her feet on the ground, but a group of women and children were hiding behind her. When the Dalish saw Fenrraor, she dropped her weapon and ran to him.

- Eshara! - he said, hugging her tightly.

When the agents reached the inn, they found the siblings still holding each other. Oerik had to explain the villagers that they were no longer in danger, as the refugees were still trembling and wondering what was happening. Malan started to heal Keaton, who sat down with an exhausted looking. Fenrraor pulled his mask down to talk with Eshara.

- Are you alright? Tell me you're not hurt. - he asked her with concern in Elven language, touching his sister's face as seeing her for the first time in years.

- I'm okay, brother, but you look terrible. - she smiled at him with tear-bright eyes.

With both hands on her cheeks, he lovely kissed Eshara's forehead and hugged her again.

- I thought I was about to lose you... - he whispered.

- Worry no more. I was sure I was going to see you again. - she said while hugging his brother and looking to Malan, who gave her a sweet smile.

Like a storm, the next to come in was Alistair. He headed to Kesla Mullin, the inn's matron. She indicated the king that Gaia was on the first floor, still being treated by the town's doctor. Kesla was still talking when Alistair rushed upstairs. The agents, who also heard about their friend, followed him. The inn's rooms were full of injured, and people coming and going to help them all. There was another room at the end of the main corridor, quite separated from the rest. Alistair was there, arguing with an aged woman.

- I have to see her! - he yelled.

- Please, sire, wait here until she's stable. Her wound is pretty serious and we need all the space to work.

- What do you mean by "pretty serious"? Is she dying? Let me in, right now!

Keaton took Alistair by his shoulder, as the poor lady was about to be ran over by the king.

- We're as worried as you about her, but bothering the doctor won't make Gaia recover any faster. - he said.

The lady entered the room again and closed the door. Alistair turned around and gave a hard punch to the wall.

- If I'd just came sooner, none of this would have happened... - he complained with his head down.

- She's strong. I'm sure she'll make it through, you'll see. Why don't you take off your armour and get rid of all that blood? I bet she'll be glad to see you when she wakes up, and with your current appearance you'll only make her worry about you. C'mon, we'll stay here until you come back. - Oerik said in his best mood, trying to convince none other than the king.