Inquisition Agents

Chapter 12: True intentions

Rushing in the direction of the scream, the agents emerged from a thicket of trees. They were halfway up a steep hillside. Ahead, there was an outcropping of rock just a bit higher than where the group was on the hillside, at the top of a switchback trail, but on the other side of a treacherous-looking, washed-out gorge. There was a leather-armored Orlesian on the outcropping, in cover, a crossbow in his hands. On the trail below him were the bodies of more genlocks and more blight wolves. At the bottom of the trail, Keaton could see a knot of darkspawn in cover. Before the warrior could set an strategy, the genlocks emerged as one and charged howling up the trail. One fell, a crossbow bolt in his eye, but the others surged on. A scream was heard again. Behind the Orlesian, a young boy was trying to protect a little girl, who was frightened to death. Obviously, those were Ser Blaker and the Neruda children, Hana and Joseph.

- Hurry, they won't survive the genlocks without your help! - Alenka yelled.

Ser Blaker and the children were in a defensible position, an outcropping ringed by rock. The small area had a narrow entrance, wide enough for only one combatant at a time, but no overhead cover. The agents were waiting for Keaton' strategy, but the warrior was overwhelmed by the situation. Gerald approached him and put a hand over the warrior's shoulder.

- Go now, I'll cover you with my bow from here and buy you some time. - the minstrel said.

Keaton smiled, with a confident expression again on his face.

- Alright! Fenrraor, you're the fastest here. Try to cross the gorge through the shortest way, but don't wait for any of us: that soldier needs reinforcements right away. Dazkar, Oerik, follow Fenrraor as fast as you can. I'll descend the hill and run around to the base of the trail. It'll take longer but I'll make sure we won't have any genlock surprise attack. Once I see the path is clear, I'll get those bastards' rearguard. Keep them alive until we get there, Gerald.

Everyone nodded, and then split up as the warrior said. Fast as the wind, Fenrraor ran through the gorge easily, while Gerald managed to kill another genlock that was running to Ser Blaker. The minstrel had already missed a couple of arrows due to the darkness and the rain that was pouring down again. Once with the children, Fenrraor charged his bow and joined Ser Blaker's defence of the outcropping. Meanwhile, Oerik and Dazkar were struggling to cross the gorge, as the soil was becoming mud due to the recent rain. The genlocks were almost on Ser Blaker's position, when suddenly, Joseph shouted.

- Hana, no!

Fenrraor turned around to see three blight wolves surrounding the kids. Before he could even react, the Dalish saw the girl stretching out her little hands and yelling. One of the wolves was pushed away, as Dazkar did with the genlocks hours before. However, that magic was too much for the kid, whose nose started to bleed. Her brother hugged her to protect her from the imminent attack. With lightning speed, Fenrraor threw his bow and pulled out his twin light swords. Just before the second wolf jumped over the children, the Dalish entered the scene kicking the beast out the outcropping edge, directly to a cliff. The third wolf tried to bite Fenrraor, but he dodged the attack and stabbed the beast's back with no mercy.

- Are you hurt? - he asked the children.

However, they were looking away with a terrified expression. Ser Blaker had dropped the crossbow and was fighting with his sword the genlocks that had already arrived. There were at least a dozen of them, so Fenrraor didn't hesitate a second and joined the fray.

Both Dalish and Orlesian managed to keep the children safe during a few minutes, but the enemy was persistent. Fenrraor was relieved once Keaton appeared from the genlocks rearguard and smashed two of them with his broadsword.