Inquisition Agents

Chapter 17: Sense of death

- He won't survive... I shouldn't had to... - the white-haired mage regretted.

Levi put his hand over Dazkar's. She was scared and pale. Everything she was doing in order to cure the Orlesian soldier was in vain. Amputating his arm happened to be worse than the infection. Her hands were trembling while holding the blood stained bandages.

- You did what you had to. You couldn't leave this man to his fate... - Levi sighed and then looked at Dazkar. - You had the courage to risk your own life to give him a chance to survive. If someone can save him, that's you.

Dazkar slightly smiled and thanked the Tevinter's compliment. Levi was trying to cheer her up, or at least make her feel ease. He was no doctor but the Orlesian's condition was no good. They needed Dazkar to be focused and have no doubts if they wanted the man to make it for another day.

The soldier had passed away minutes ago. The agents were treating him at an improvised cot outside a Dalish settlement. They had arrived there guided by Loranil, the chief hunter, who had been arguing with the Keeper of the clan since then. None of the agents were allowed to enter the camp.

- I said no. We're not going to help someone involved with this worthless war, much less an Inquisition led by a herald of Andraste.

The Keeper didn't talk in Elven language this time. The elder grey-haired elf wanted to make sure the agents understood his words. He hadn't even looked at them so far.

- Keeper Hawen... - Loranil began to protest.

- If I may say so, master Keeper - Oerik interrupted while bringing out a necklace from inside his vest. -, we might be members of the Inquisition, but we're also friends of your people. We'd already helped another Dalish clan, as this token demonstrates it. We found this man fighting against a horde of living corpses right outside this camp, and we're aware of the war situation. Isn't staying here dangerous enough for your clan? If you accept our help, we can escort you out of this area. But we need you to heal the soldier, please. He might tell us why the corpses are rising against the living.

The Keeper took the pendant Oerik handed him. He inspected it, but his expression didn't change.

- This doesn't prove anything to me, dwarf.

Neither Oerik nor Loranil could reply, as the rest of the Dalish hunters appeared in that very moment asking abruptly for help. Behind them, Fenrraor and Keaton were carrying the red-haired pirate by her arms. She could barely walk on her own.

- Brisa! - Dazkar exclaimed while standing up and rushing to her friend.

She could notice that both Keaton and Fenrraor were hurt as well, so she approached the Dalish to substitute him carrying the pirate. When her eyes crossed his, a sweet smile of relief appeared on her face. Levi, who was already replacing Keaton to help Brisa reaching another cot, sensed something in Fenrraor and Dazkar's look. Oerik noticed a hint of bitter sadness on Levi's face, which made the dwarf think about the mage's true feelings for Dazkar.

- It-it's just a scratch... - Brisa giggled, but she was short of breath.

- It's not that serious if she's still joking. - Fenrraor chuckled while sitting down near the cot where the pirate was being lied on.

- You're burning with fever, Brisa! - Dazkar stated with a hand on the Rivani's forehead.

- Were you sick before we left Haven? - Levi asked.

- The sickness... - the Orlesian soldier suddenly said before coughing and passing away one more time.

The agents were lost for words; not even Brisa was able to joke then. Oerik, who was still arguing with the Keeper, also heard that. They all were aware then that the pirate might had been infected by the same sickness they were trying to cure the soldier from. A sickness they didn't know nothing about, only that eventually made the infected pass away. Brisa hold her breath, with true panic on her green eyes. Dazkar began to pull medical tools out of her bag, desperately hoping to find something useful to heal her friend. Levi knelt down to help her while giving her some magical treatments suggestions. Fenrraor looked at Keaton, who was sweating and panting a bit. The hunter was aware of the warrior's good shape, so Keaton wasn't just worried for Brisa. Something was wrong with him, but Fenrraor couldn't ask. A young elf from the clan then approached them and knelt down to auscultate Brisa. The boy didn't have Dalish marks, which indicated he wasn't still considered an adult by his clan.