Hunt

Chapter 11: Return of the Gods

Lavellan
Ves, Feynriel, and I sat in the kitchen, preparing to find some of our kin with Laran's assistance.

"How many shan lin are there," I asked Laran.

"Besides you three? Maybe twenty. Some are too weak to help you."

"Weak?"

"Maybe they're too old or young. Maybe they're sick. Even pregnancy can weaken you since you're sharing your dormant power with your child."

"Huh, that's interesting. How many can help us?"

"There are four more who would be good candidates that I can sense."

"Four is all we'll need," Ves replied. "Solas'll only be able to awaken a few of his brethren. We should be able to stop them from opening the Black City."

"You don't know for sure?" Feynriel asked.

Ves's nose wrinkled in irritation. "It's not set in stone, brother. I'm not a miracle worker."

"Sorry, Ves. Wasn't thinking."

Ves waved her hand. "We should be able to find the rest tonight."

"I'll go with you to show you where to find them," Laran said. "Until then, training in real life. Let's find Cole and get started."

________________

Everything hurt. Muscles I didn't know I had were pulsing in pain. The bath helped a little. I flopped down on my bed. I imagined everyone else felt the same.

It didn't take long to fall asleep. I arrived in our Fade version training area. Ves and Feynriel were already there. Laran appeared a couple minutes later.

Laran looked around. "Shall we get started?"

We fanned out our senses. Laran gave us instructions on which one to follow. We each took a lead and split up.

My thread took me to the room of a cottage. A young man was sitting on the bed with his back to me.

"Hello," I greeted him. The human jerked up and yelped in surprise. "Oh, Creators! I'm so sorry! Are you alright?"

He nodded. "Just a wounded ego. Who are you?" He had an Orlesian accent.

"I am... was Inquisitor Lavellan, and I need your help, whatever your name is."

"Not a demon. Well that's good. Royce De Liese at your service, milady. How may I be of assistance?"

"Well I don't have time for the short version so you can't freak out." I gave him a summary of what was going on. "Will you help?"

"The grandchild of a god," he murmured. "That moronic Oswald can kiss my big toe. Of course I'll help."

I decided not to question that second statement. "Good. Let's go."

I returned us to the training area. Feynriel was standing with a human woman who might've been thirty or so. Laran has her partner, an elven man who looked a bit younger than me.

"Ves isn't back yet," I asked.

"Not yet," Laran replied.

"Let's hold off introductions until she returns."

A few minutes later, Ves graced us with her presence. Her recruit was in tow.

"Ves, about time you joined us," I said with a smirk.

She scowled and rolled her eyes. "I have never met a denser person in all of my existence."

Her recruit, a short elf, waved awkwardly. "Sorry for the hold up," she said. "Just needed to be sure she wasn't a demon."

Ves narrowed her eyes and flicked them to the poor girl. "Don't compare me with their filth," she ground out. Then she turned to us. "Well, are we going to get on with it?"

"Remind me not to make you mad," I said with a honeyed smile. "I'm Eva Lavellan. Ex-Inquisitor. My lineage is tied to Leaquila."

I turned to Royce. He blushed a little before saying, "Royce De Liese of Orlais. I was supposed to be comte, but that's boring. I don't know who my lineage is tied to, but hopefully we'll figure that out."

Laran went next. Followed by her recruit, Dan'as, a Dalish elf. "I was with Solas," he said. "But this... feels right. I can't explain it. I think I'm supposed to be here." The rest of us nodded. "Oh, you all feel it too! That make me feel sane."

Feynriel went next followed by his recruit, Eloise. "I was part of the mage rebellion in the Free Marches. It's a touch too boring for me now. Hopefully, this'll be a good adventure."

Ves had calmed down for her introduction. Her recruit seemed a little shy. "Hi, I'm G-g-georgie. I grew up in an alienage. I-i'm grateful to leave that life. S-sorry for attacking you, Ves." A sheepish smile crossed Georgie's face.

Ves sighed. "It's alright, kid. Just don't do it again."

"A-a-actually, I'm not a kid. I'm 24 years old."

"Oh, my apologies. I thought you were a little girl," Ves replied. She lacked a malice-filled glint in her eyes from earlier so I suspected she was being serious.

"Well, I mean," Georgie paused. "It's easier to pass as female when you're as small as me. M-m-my mum had a drinkin problem."

"It's okay, Georgie," I said. "Just do you. No one here is gonna care." Everyone nodded.

Georgie blushed a little. "Thanks, guys."

"Now that introductions are over," Laran said. "Let's get you all awakened."

_________________

"You found more than I expected," the sort of spirit used in my awakening told me. She had already finished up with the recruits, and the rest returned to the waking world.

"I'll take that as a compliment." I beamed.

"Looks like the gods of old are returning to this world, in a fashion."

"Yeah, let's hope it's a good thing."

"It will be," she replied.

There was a pause. "If you don't mind me asking, what are you?"

"A spirit," she replied.

"No, you aren't. You're more than a spirit, but not enough to be corporeal so what are you?"

"You're a keen one, aren't you? I'd expect that of my sole descendant, I guess." 

The pieces quickly clicked in my head. "You're Leaquila? Shouldn't you be dead?"

"I think it's time for you to wake up, granddaughter."

____________

I snapped awake in my bed. "What the Void is going on?"

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Solas

It was a long trip back from Dorian's. I had done a lot of thinking. I'd have to kill Eva and her world at some point. Sooner seemed the kinder route. It gave her less time to do something. It gave me less time to second guess my goal. I felt my resolve wavering the more I focused on me missing her. I can't waver. I owe this to the elven people.

When I arrived, I asked the captain if she'd done anything.

"No movement we can see, sir. One of our soldiers is unaccounted for, but he was in our headquarters. It's possible he deserted."

"It doesn't matter. If she's not going to move, then we shouldn't wait for her. Start the process of waking my brethren. Go to Andruil first."

"Yes, sir."

After he left, I caught up on some paperwork before deciding to take my nap.

A/N: Sorry for my absence! It's been a little hectic. I'll try to get back to updating regularly! Just bear with me. -Ren