Dragon Age: Coexist

Wedding Bells and Noble Yells

It was a trio of animals that'd made their debut in the Alienage this time, setting their eye on each woman they would force upon them, and giving a taunting grin at the men who even dared to think of stopping them.

Jaiden gritted his teeth at the shemlen, and gripped my hand tighter than he had before. "Brother," I said softly, "Please don't start anything. Maybe we could get them to leave with just words." Mother had taught us both the art of persuasion.

Soris shook his head. "Maybe if you were human. We could pay them, perhaps?"

Jaiden shook his head. "They're nobles, they have enough money as it is. Besides, we only have a few silvers. Father just paid Tavish this morning."

I inwardly cringed. I didn't like hearing the Knight Commander's name. "We have to try."

Soris frowned at me. "Why are you so bent on talking to them? Use that Walking Bomb spell you're always going on about. Tiberias could clean them up."

My lips twitched into a smile at the thought of killing those animals with such a satisfying spell. "As tempting as that is, I can't do it. Besides, you know what happened when mother died. Everyone suffered because of me."

I was referring to the aftermath of the artificial lighting storm. The guards had come to investigate after the templars left, but there was no evidence to be found. Everyone was honestly oblivious to the guard's accusations, which was irrelevant, anyway; they were innocent, whether they remembered what happened or not. The only thing that they could recall was the crimes that the nobles had committed. Of course, they didn't care about that.

These facts didn't stop the nobles' surviving and vengeful family members from making everyone's lives even more miserable, though. It was only two years ago that they'd stop their tormenting.

I felt guilty for my involvement in that, and, even though I didn't like most of them personally, I would not be the one to cause my people pain, yet again.

"Fine," Jaiden began, "But we have to do something. We just can't stand here and let them treat our women this way!"

I nodded. "Let's just go over there, and see what's wrong. If they get out of hand, I'll kill them."

"Zetheria," Soris said gently, "It wouldn't be best that you do anything to draw attention to yourself. If they see you casting magic again, the spirit might not make them forget this time. And also, you're beautiful. You'll be the first one the shems try to take."

I frowned at Soris. "By the Creators, Soris, I know not to do anything stupid in front of them! I'll use my rogue skills. They'll have weapons, won't they? They always have weapons. Mother taught me how to disarm my opponents. We'll be fine." I then let go of their hands, and walked ahead.

With each step I took, I heard mothers telling their daughters not to fight, and just let them do whatever they wanted to do, so that they could come home safely. When I got close enough to the nobles, I heard a loud slap, given by the leading savage in the front of the pack. It was a man he'd slapped, and he'd cowered in fear once he was struck. All the men I saw were cowering in fear. I stared at the scene in disbelief, eyes wide. Men! Cowering in fear! Of nobles! This I had never seen, not in all of my nineteen years of living.

I didn't understand why everyone was so afraid. Maybe I was the stupid one; maybe my mother had raised me foolishly by allowing me to be unafraid of anything, let alone humans. They were to be hated, not feared. The only thing that should be feared was the temptation of submission. I believed that wholeheartedly.

I stopped walking, and watched. The leader began to talk someone I knew. Darla.

I squinted my eyes, as I was too far away to see clearly enough to accurately identify anyone. I walked a few feet toward the group.