Siblings of the Inquisition

Chapter One

Having been raised in the Free Marches and outside the influence of the Qun, Kaaras Adaar didn't know what it truly meant to be Qunari. In his teens he read the Qun, of course, but ultimately decided it was not for him. The Qun was dangerous in a way, an infectious type of religion he wanted nothing to do with. He accepted who he was, happy even though his family was forever labeled as Vashoth.

The family lived quietly in shunned acceptance until the day Kaaras' father came back early from an annual hunting trip. He'd found a baby, a baby for Maker's sake, abandoned in a hut he'd come across and decided he couldn't just leave the poor thing all alone. Many thought it strange for Qunari to raise a Human, yet Kaaras fondly remembers how his mother wholeheartedly took the child in as one of their own: feeding her, clothing her, giving her an education equal to his own. His parents loved her, just as much as they loved him, and that was all that mattered.

As they grew he and Mikela became inseparable. They were troublemakers, causing chaos wherever they went—even more so after it was discovered his little sister had the gifts of a Mage. She had just recently turned ten and they were playing in the woods near their home when they came upon a bird's body. Mikela loved animals, got along with them well, so the sight of this brought his little sister to tears. Kaaras deduced it had fallen out of its nest while learning to fly and the mother had just left it there. A burial would give it peace, he thought, and was just about to suggest the same to his sister until he noticed the bird—chirping, flapping it's little wings—was alive and well cupped in her palm. He stared, confused and bewildered by the sight as a teary-eyed Mikela gently stroked the bird's feathers before helping it fly to a nearby low-hanging branch. Their return home was eventful, to say the least, once Fallon and Deirdre learned what had transpired in the woods. They were accepting but frightened for what this discovery could mean for their daughter's future. Even before the rebellion began Mages were not wildly accepted, yet, their parents readily took to teaching Mikela about her gift, helping her to control it while nonetheless making sure she kept it secret from everyone but their family.

Much to the disdain of their parents, the siblings joined the Valos-Kas Mercenary Company when Kaaras was eighteen and Mikela fifteen. They worked to provide for their family and each other, making a name for themselves over the years that followed as capable and resourceful soldiers. Everyone knew that you either hired both or neither at all, a package deal. Kaaras came to be the protective older brother as Mikela blossomed into a young woman, glaring at anyone who so much as looked at her and promising a swift beating to any who became interested. But Mikela was loyal, not just to him and the rest of the Company, but also to herself and the work she did. His sister's motto was to never mix business with pleasure, because it tended to always end up disastrous (he wished he could say the same for himself).

The siblings biggest job came when they were hired to provide protection at the Conclave, as a neutral party to stand between the Mages and Templars.

~{X}~

"I can't believe we're actually here. I've never seen so many Mages in one place."

Kaaras chuckles, amused at the look of wide-eyed wonder on his sister's face. "You've never seen this many Mages period."

"Don't be a jerk." The huffed breath she exhales lifts a few strands of blonde hair out of her eyes and his fingers twitch. "I swear," she mumbles after a moment, tucking the strands behind her ear. "You are more obsessed with my hair than I am."

"Am not!" he splutters, suddenly defensive. Maker, she knows him all to well.

"Sure, sure." Mikela pats him on the arm reassuringly, her smile teasing. "Whatever you say, big bro, whatever you—"

It all happens so quickly, too fast for Kaaras to even comprehend, when the room explodes in a mass of smoke and rubble. People are screaming, groaning, crying out in pain. With a groan he lifts himself off the floor. The sight of Mages and Templars alike running for their lives immediately kicks his protective instincts into overdrive. Kaaras finds his sister on the floor, unconscious but breathing. Her hair is even more of a mess now and there's a cut above her right eye that's bleeding. She blinks awake just as he's lifting her into his arms.

"Put me down," she grumbles. "I can take care of myself. I don't need—"

Another explosion rocks the building and then someone is shouting. He recognizes it as the Divine's.

He pushes Mikela towards the exit. "Go. Get out of here."

"What, no! I'm not leaving here without you."
Her blue eyes are hard and he growls. Sometimes he hates her stubbornness.

"Yes, you can. Save yourself."

"But—"

"Mikie, for once in your life do as I say!" His sister startles; he's sure she can see the frantic desperation in his grey eyes. "Please," he begs. "The Divine's in trouble. Let me do this. Save yourself and I'll find you after. I promise."

Tears streak down her face as Mikela nods.

Tightening her shoulders she murmurs a spell and disappears before his eyes.

Kaaras then moves forward into the chaos. He can barely see through the clouds of dust and rubble, but he can still hear the voice of the Divine. He follows it, shocked when he turns a corner to see Justinia floating about a foot off the ground. In front of her is a clouded figure with glowing eyes; the sight sends shivers down his spine.