Denerim Confidential

Chapter 26

As quickly as they could, Juliet and the others pried open the lids of the chambers in the machine. Both of the occupants were Tranquil—one a human woman, the other an elven man—and the elf was recently dead, drained of too much blood for his heart to keep beating.

The woman, however, was alive. Zevran and Naia lifted her out and laid her on a laboratory bench as gently as they could. Without a word, Anders began healing her with a conviction and gentleness that surprised Juliet. Magic flowed from him like a stream, knitting together the cuts on her arms, compensating for the strength that had been taken from her. She didn't think she'd ever seen such a skilled healer work in person. That's not the kind of talent I would have expected from him.

The woman opened her eyes slowly. "Enchanter," she whispered, her voice hoarse and faint. "Am I sick? Senior Enchanter Uldred asked for my help. But I do not remember what I was supposed to do."

Anders' jaw spasmed. "It's all right, Emili. You're sick. You need to sleep. Senior Enchanter Uldred doesn't mind. You should rest now."

Emili's eyes closed obediently, and moments later she was unconscious, her breath even once more.

Anders clenched his fists as he watched his patient's chest rise and fall. "That absolute bastard. The Tranquil can't say no to us. They can't fight back. He probably told her to climb into that awful thing and she ..." His voice cracked. "She was going to die in there, like Avran did. And Uldred didn't care so long as their blood supplied the magic for his little trap."

Juliet swallowed hard and looked over at the machine. "Maker. Where did that thing come from? Did he build it himself?"

Anders looked at her as if she were insane. "Do we care? Let's smash that thing and get the hell out of here before Uldred finds us."

"Or we could find him," Naia suggested. Her eyes were focused on Emili's face. "I think I'd really like to find him and kill him."

"He's a possessed Senior Enchanter with an army of abominations backing him up. We have four guns, two mages, and no help to speak of," Anders said, crossing his arms. "Finding him would be suicide."

"But we still don't know where Alistair and Fenris are," Naia argued. "We're not leaving without them."

"Have you considered the possibility that they're dead?" Anders asked bluntly.

Naia's face darkened. Juliet opened her mouth to back up her partner—but then closed it when the laboratory doorknob began rattling.

Naia, Zevran, and Varric all pointed their guns towards the door. Juliet reached for her magic, her fingers spread wide, and tensed in anticipation of an abomination bursting into the laboratory. But the knob just continued rattling, and something scraped uncertainly against the deadbolt.

Zevran's eyebrows rose. "I believe someone is trying to pick the lock." Slowly, his gun still raised, he stepped towards the door and opened it.

A very surprised-looking man in a blue suit was on the other side. He leapt visibly when he realized Zevran was pointing a gun at his head. "Shit!" he hissed as Zevran pulled him inside.

Anders glared at the newcomer. "Marcus Amell," he spat. "You should probably shoot him. He's one of Uldred's."

Juliet tried to conceal her shock. Amell? That had been her mother's last name. She could even see some family resemblance with this man—same dark caramel skin, same wavy hair. Great. I finally meet some family in Denerim and he's probably a psychopath.

"Wait!" the man said, holding up his hands. "I—I'm here to take down the shield. I'm not with Uldred any more."

"But you used to be. Not a point in your favor," Naia said. Fang didn't move an inch.