Hunt

Chapter 7: Blood

Lavellan
After a couple more days riding through the wilderness, we found it. The front gates had been sealed, and the path beyond was overgrown. Other than that, it was still lovely just like my dream. I hopped off from my horse and used my magic to force the gates open.

Cole and I walked across the courtyard and approached what seemed to be the main body of the castle. I tried pushing the doors open but had to resort to magic once more. I expected everything to be covered in dust and any fabrics in tatters. This was not the case. Everything seemed very maintained for an abandoned ruin. There seemed to be a rather large vial sitting on the altar in the middle of the room.

"I'll bet you three coppers this place isn't abandoned," I whispered to Cole.

"It's not," he replied. "They're all around us. Watching."

I sighed. "Lovely."

"They want you to drink from the vial."

"Why does everyone want me to drink weird shit? First Feynriel's weird goo. Now, these guys. Let's not forget the Well. Now, I have voices in my head, and an ancient goddess stalking me."

"You hold the last piece of her."

"That's... that's just great."

Left with not much of a choice, I march over, grab the vial, uncap it, and down the contents. At first, I felt fine. Then, I started to get very ill. A warm wave passed over my body, and the feeling dissipated.

"How do you feel," Cole asked.

"At first, sick, but I'm fine now."

"Then, you passed their test."

"Was it poison?"

"Not enough to kill you."

"Wow. You and I need to have a sit down about this."

There was a shudder in the air surrounding us. It seemed to shift, and several figures appeared around us. It was like looking at a reflection on a fogged mirror. The fog dissipated quickly, revealing the figures to be elves. They started chattering amongst themselves.

"Cole, what's happening?"

"They're deciding if they should let us live."

"Oh, that's nice." I wished I never got out of bed.

"What is your name, shemlen?" The oldest looking male addressed us.

"Lavellan, sir."

"One of the wanderers, then. How did you survive the poison?"

"Uh, believe and you'll achieve? Or it could be the same way I survive everything else, which is blind luck."

"You walk with a spirit-turned-human. Is this 'blind luck' as well?"

"Ah, yes?"

"Perhaps is has more to do with the latent effect of the shan lin."

"The blood of the what?"

"The blood of the gods. That which is the source of your being, isenath."

"I'm related to the Evanuris?" I frowned. I was out of my element.

"No, they are pretenders who assumed roles beyond their abilities and thus fell due to their shortcomings. You house the blood of the true gods. This is not in question. The item in question is which god you call your sire? You seem ignorant of their existence, so an answer from you is not required. The blood can tell us all we need to know."