Much to Amelia's dismay, when her master, an odd man of a mage (that's all she could ever chalk him up as despite every evidence to the contrary) uttered those words, the lifelong apostate knew it meant that utter misfortune was imminent. He had a knack for speaking up about such things as if it was a simple change in the weather.
"My, but isn't the rain just dreadful today?"
That time, her family received news from the grapevine that King Cailan had died at Ostagar at the hands of the darkspawn.
"The wind is terribly dry. Drink water my dear."
Said darkspawn began to invade Fereldan, their hordes razing down nearby villages prompting Amelia's fearful parents to send her away to travel with their peculiar mage guest and if he had to, take her, a fledgling mage, to the Circle, where she would at least have walls, Templars and other mages as extra protection.
"The night skies have been clear and quiet as of late. It'd be a waste to enjoy them if you were locked inside the tower."
That very night, her master cheerfully informed her that the templar guarding the boat that led to Kinloch Hold, had denied him access to the tower. The hairs on the back of Amelia's neck bristled as she tried to sleep in the inn later in the evening, for the magic they sensed emitting from the fortress was nothing, but foreboding and ominous. Later, at the tail end of the Fifth Blight, she learned of what happened in the Circle Tower. It was one of the few times she truly thanked the Maker for his intervention.
But the Maker, and no other power in Thedas could ever explain her master's presence. She had many questions, but he laughed and answered none of them. They traveled together as a pair, mostly unimpeded as long as he was around. Very few people seemed to register her master's existence and if they did, were wary of challenging it. The older she grew, the less he began to remain in her life. He deftly taught her the ways of the magi, "borrowing" books from various Circles for her to eagerly consume and he gave her light praise in the form of "Good enough for this world."
Eventually, he faded out of her life altogether, only reappearing when he fancied, and disappearing just as quickly. She found herself mostly alone, struggling in a cruel world where her magic could only get her so far. Regardless, Amelia kept learning and moving. Templars and other mage hunters did not rest so neither did she.
Kirkwall was probably where things began to go downhill. And if not that, then it was the Breach, that damned hole in the sky, vomiting demons as if it had too much to drink the night before. Before she knew it, there were more templars than she could feasibly wave her staff at and even more scared, but determined rebel mages breaking away from the Chantry and their Circles and into the world beyond the walls they grew up in.
She heard news and confirmed that many were congregating to Redcliffe, thanks to the Monarchy being sympathetic to their plight. However, as templars got hold of this information, they began to choke off known routes to the Arling. Suffice to say, as many mages were able to escape safely, many also were left behind to their fate.
Amelia didn't really want to help. It had always been safer to work on her own or on a strictly transactional basis. However, cowardice was trumped by the sudden urge to do something when she came across a small group of magi, some no younger than ten years of age, led by a bearded fellow in academic robes who was trying to fend off a group of templars.
The apostate appeared, a flame of righteous fury to help strike the final blow.]
🌹✨
We'll make it to Redcliffe if we leave early in the morning.
[It was the first thing she said to the other mage long after she moved the bodies and burned them as was tradition.
The apostate hadn't talked much after setting up a small campfire and sharing some of her travel provisions. Her vivid green eyes darted about as she also prepared some wards so that they could escape notice. It was already dangerous traveling alone and being in a group didn't lower those odds.
She sat, cross-legged, staff at the ready, and finally, her shoulders sagging from exhaustion. It had been a long day.]
I'll drop you off there and then I'll be on my way.
[It was hardly Gale Dekarios' first time outside the Circle Tower— he had been sent forth as an agent or ambassador of the Circle more times than he could count over the years, but the world he now found beyond the walls of Kinloch Hold was nothing like the one he remembered. The breach that had sundered the sky was certainly part of it, but there was far more to it than that.
He had never been hunted before, but for the sake of the youngest mages that were in his care, he could not let his uneasiness show. Some of them hadn't seen what lie beyond the tower in years, not since their initial arrivals, and one or two had even been young enough that they could not remember what life might have been like outside of Kinloch. To say that they were overwhelmed was putting it kindly— and for all Gale himself worried about what may lie ahead of them, he would do his utmost to remain composed, for them. Even the young adults among their number looked to him for guidance, as an example, and he would not let himself betray that trust.
There were only a handful of them— six, not counting himself. Without the apostate that had appeared to lend her aid, their number might have been smaller still. He, too, feels the weight of the day, the weariness setting into his back and shoulders, but he has remained beside the campfire while the rest of their assembled group have begun to doze off. He looks up when she speaks, returning from burning the bodies they were both responsible for— a thought he does not relish, though they had done what was necessary.]
I must thank you again.
[He bows his head slightly, determined jaw set.]
We had known the road to Redcliffe would be dangerous, but with so many but young apprentices...
[His brow furrows as he trails off. He and the other more experienced mages among their number would have been worn down sooner rather than later, their attention divided between defending themselves and keeping their charges safe.]
[There's a slow nod of understanding as she hovers one hand over the campfire to release a small pulse of flame to keep it alight.]
It's been chaotic ever since the death of the Divine from what I heard on the road. Not to mention the tear in the sky, but we all have enough trouble on the ground as it is.
[She won't ask the how or why they left the Circle. Close and unspoken guesses could fill in the blanks and as a fellow mage, Amelia knew what was at stake for them. Things would never be the same because they couldn't be. Kirkwall had been a catalyst, but the death of Divine Justinia and the pandemonium caused by the templar and mages had reached a boiling point that overflowed into southern Thedas. Amelia had been able to grow into a relatively independent mage; even if it kept her on the run, at least she knew what freedom felt like, but now it was even more contested. She would not be able to outrun any of this.
Her hair, which had been in a tight braided bun had loosened at some point. She gives up on keeping it in place and undos the braid itself by running her fingers through it. Red strands gleam in the light of the fire as she continues, her voice low and hushed.]
It's better that they have somewhere to go rather than remain at the Circle. With the way the templars are acting, I wouldn't be surprised if they resorted to their own Right of Annulment without the formalities.
[There's a quiet shudder from a small elven girl who was laying on her side nearby, as if in response to the grim possibility. Amelia gives her a short glance and then turns her gaze back to the campfire.]
I don't think the disarray will stop at Redcliffe. But it should be an improvement for them than anywhere else. And hopefully, it'll be one for you as well.
[The disappointment in his voice is immeasurable, and his lips pull into a tight, worried line as he looks over his sleeping charges. The youngest of them had chosen to bed down nearest to where he and their new guide now sat, a human boy who looks as though he could stand to grow into his ears, sound asleep thanks to the deep exhaustion brought on by travel.
Gale clasps his hands together between his knees, his gaze somber as he raises it to look towards Amelia.]
It remains in name only, now, and soon, not even that. The Circles that have not yet broken soon will. The Grand Enchanter herself has been forced to flee.
[He's sure rumors were flying every which way regarding the divide, but what was happening within the walls of those mage towers was even worse than most knew, in many cases.]
Were you on your way to seek shelter at Redcliffe, yourself?
Well... [She pauses, thinking about how much she was willing to disclose. They were all apostates now, but it never meant instant camaraderie before during her travels and she wasn't eager for it to be the case here. On the other hand, there's little benefit to keeping any cards close to her chest.]
No. Not exactly.
[There's a pause.]
I've been an apostate since I was a child. This was ever since the Fifth Blight, you see, so I've always been on the move.
[It was strange, thinking about how that particular calamity was not that long ago in retrospect. But she was older now and this age delivered on its namesake, filled with violence and upheaval, some of which she was both directly and indirectly involved in.]
I was initially making my way towards Amaranthine. But I might rest at Redcliffe before I go and make sure your charges remain unscathed.
[She feels for them, she really does; having been thrown into a frightening world as it burned around her as an apostate was what drove her to step into the prior fight.]
[There is a visible shift in his expression when she states how long she's been an apostate; not shock or disapproval, but a muted and potentially grim understanding. There were many who would rather die than be taken to the Circle, and given their nature in addition to the tales that they inspired across the land, he could hardly blame those who chose to hide, instead.
For some of the young ones in his charge, the Circle was the only home they had ever known— and for the most part, it was the only one he truly remembered. Some memories of his earliest years remained, those spent with his mother in Highever, but his talents had begun to make themselves known at an early age. He had been taken to Kinloch Hold before he had yet seen eight summers.
He reaches for his waterskin, pouring some of its contents into a tin cup and holding it out to her in offering.]
In that regard, I suppose all this upheaval has changed little for you, though perhaps it is harder to avoid attention than it once was, given that mages are out in droves— many of them taking actions that I'm not convinced help our cause.
[Desperate times, desperate measures. A tale as old as time.]
I hope you will take at least a day or two to rest once we arrive, if you can. I don't know that there is any way to truly convey the depth of our gratitude, but you would be guaranteed safety within the walls while there.
[Amelia lets out a huff of breath and a nod at his remark about other mages. Seasoned apostates like herself, knew how to survive using measures that would either help them remained unnoticed or use their gifts to their best advantage without having to resort to said desperate measures. The same couldn't be said for other mages, especially in these chaotic times.
She accepts the tin cup of water, swirling its contents around before taking a sip.]
It'll be a supply run and a way to pick up new rumors and information if nothing else. I think I heard something about an Inquisition being established and—
[She stops talking rather abruptly, but it's not because there's any danger. Rather, she's mulling something over, something she knows she's forgetting and...]
Ah.
[And then she looks at Gale with a completely straight face.]
[The change is so sudden that it startles a partial smile out of him— small, but the first genuine smile he's given all day. There wasn't much to be cheerful about these days, and though he had made it a point to set an example for his juniors, his usual optimism had shone through as determination instead.]
It's Gale. In your defense, we were rather preoccupied, what with fighting off templars and seeking safety.
[Introductions had fallen by the wayside. His mother would have disapproved, he's sure.]
Were the circumstances different, I would have been a touch more attentive regarding manners. I don't believe I caught yours, either, embarrassing as it is to admit.
[She repeats his name to commit it to memory. In fact, she repeats it several more times, muttering under her breath and counting fingers to do so.]
Alright then. I'm Amelia.
[Amelia Eva Steinbeck. She had never completely gave up her full name; it held with it her past life in the small Fereldan village, proof of her family and the care bestowed onto her. But as an apostate it was too heavy; it was information that could be used to track her down.
One name was enough.
She shifts her legs and proceeds to stand up.]
It's getting late. Get some sleep and I'll keep an eye out until dawn.
[He echoes her with a firm nod of confirmation; first names were often all anyone got or gave, especially among mages. The families they came from rarely mattered, at least here in Ferelden, and for apostates it was often a matter of safety.]
You'll need rest, as well.
[She's more than capable, she's more than proven that, but even the most capable mages can suffer from exhaustion.]
We'll take it in turns. You ought to sleep some before we depart in the morning. Neither of us can afford to be dead on our feet.
[The toss takes him by surprise, but he is able to catch it between his hands, even if he fumbles with it for a brief moment before he exhales, giving her a small, rueful smile as he uncaps the flash he's been given.]
Much appreciated. It's been an especially long day. Every bit helps, I assure you.
[Given what apostates go through in order to survive, he's sure she hardly needs reminding of that last bit.]
I don't mind taking the first watch. I— don't know that I would be able to sleep just now, anyway. Rather a lot on my mind, unsurprisingly.
[She nods again, this time with some understanding and sympathy.]
Well, since you insist... Far be it from me to tell you to not be a gentleman.
[Time to settle down then; the apostate won't unpack her bedroll and instead, spreads out her cloak and uses her pack as a pillow.]
Keep an eye out for any lights or smoke. We may come across some more mages setting up their own camp, random travelers, or at worst, templars who have forgone sleep to keep on hunting. If it's that last one, wake me up even if I grumble.
[It may very well be a vain hope; templars are everywhere they turn these days, and even considering the relatively short distance between Kinloch Hold and Redcliffe, templar sightings had become more and more frequent the deeper they ventured into the hinterlands. He is grateful for small mercies, especially that the journey was able to be made within a few days with so many young charges.]
It's not my first time traveling beyond the tower; you'll not need to worry about my jumping at shadows, at the very least. Should I see anything even remotely suspicious, I will prioritize our camp's safety. Let us hope the templars have also tired.
And I guess we're stuck together for the time being.
[And she closes her eyes almost immediately. Though her body remains tense and alert, Gale's presence and the guarantee of someone watching their backs was reassuring in a way she usually couldn't afford to indulge in. But there's still the next day to contend with...]
✨🎆✨
[When dawn breaks, Amelia is already up, smothering the remains of their campfire, and making a headcount of the young ones. Despite her brusqueness, the children seemed to be in awe of the apostate that had come to their rescue. And thus they readily listen to her instructions to line up so she can check their supplies.]
... And it's important to stay hydrated for the rest of the trip. We're near a brook, but we want to keep moving so make do with what you have left. This is the most traveling any of you done, so don't be surprised about the blisters on your feet. We can heal those when we get to Redcliffe.
[She's in the middle of brushing and tying back the hair of some of the girls while the boys keep an eye out or gather their belongings. One of them, who is a raring to go, raises a question:]
"Miss Apostate? When do we know we're at Redcliffe?"
[Amelia finishes the braid of the last girl and picks up her pack and staff as she responds.]
There are several signs. The windmill, the roar of the waterfall... But I wouldn't be surprised if the arl's soldiers, bearing his coat of arms, are there at the entrance to keep a lookout for us. Isn't that right, Gale?
[Morning comes, and Gale is quietly grateful for how thoroughly the brusque apostate has thrown herself into making sure their hastily assembled group makes it safely to Redcliffe. Breakfast is a brief and hurried affair, travel rations eaten hastily while breaking camp; they cannot afford to stay in one place for too long, and while Amelia assists some of the younger girls, Gale has put himself to work helping some of the older students in packing away bedrolls and some of the more unwieldy supplies.
He had just paused to reach for his own staff when their rescuer asks for his input, and he looks up before giving a careful smile, one that he has long practiced to be able to wear in front of the younger mages in times of distress in order to help maintain calm, level-heads.]
Exactly right. It's been some time since I visited Redcliffe myself, but the windmill is unmistakable, and the walls protecting the town are something to see themselves. When we're close, you'll know.
[Another of their charges, a young boy of about ten, looks a little pale even as he eagerly shoulders his pack, uneasy but anxious to leave.]
"You don't think any of the Arl's soldiers will try to turn us over to Templars, do you? What if things have changed?"
[Gale feels a pang of sympathy for the boy deep in his chest, but is warmly firm in his answer, shaking his head.]
Had anything changed, Grand Enchanter Fiona would have found a way to let us know. The Arl of Redcliffe has declared the town a safe refuge for mages.
She'll keep that remark to herself. Cynicism isn't motivational and to keep these young spirits up, they need all the hope they can get until they reach village.
When everything is packed up and all mages accounted for, Amelia immediately organizes the group.]
Younger ones in the front with Enchanter Dekarios.
[She only just guessed about that detail. He was a very skilled mage based on yesterday's encounter, holding out against the templars even when he was nearly drained.]
The oldest of you, hover in the middle or the back with me so we can keep the youngest moving along or pick them up if they start to tire.
[To Gale, she says:]
When we get to Redcliffe, it's probably best you do the talking with any acting authority figures. Knowing my luck, I end up starting more fights when I speak plainly.
[The remark is one he, too, had considered and kept to himself. While he has always considered himself an optimist, he is not without caution, and is very aware of the reality of their situation— and the likelihood that things could change at any time.
For now, Redcliffe was the best place for them.
The younger mages are quick to follow direction, eager to get to relative safety, and Gale offers their apostate aid a tight smile of thanks that does not quite reach his tired eyes— naturally, he remains worried, as anyone would be.]
I would be glad to handle any diplomatic endeavors; my background at the Circle might earn me the tiniest bit of favor with the Grand Enchanter, but I don't intend to lean on it. We are all of us apostates now.
[The Circle no longer remains, and seemed unlikely to return. Not anytime soon.]
Good to know, however, who to consult when it comes time for a more direct approach.
[There are times in which Amelia thinks she should be a more hopeful person, an unwavering optimist that could face hardship with a warm smile.
Well, as her friend Berna would put it, she could at least cheer the hell up. But she's Orlesian and in Orlais, smiles are weapons in of itself.
And so without remarking any further, the newly formed party begins the last leg of their journey. It's quiet at first; fear and caution blankets the younger mages, some with their eyes darting around with some paranoia. But within the next hour, with nothing but the chirping of birds and the bubbling water becoming louder, the children slowly relax, and begin to speak amongst themselves (they keep their volume low after one pointed glance from their apostate guide.)
Amelia will take a boring walk over more confrontation, but there is slight unease at how easy it seems. She's always on edge that way. Soon enough, the sound and sight of the water mill of Redcliffe is well within their sights, but before they approach the entrance, the apostate stops, frowning.]
Wait.
[She points to the gates where there's a lack of guards and inside the village, sounds of shouting and confusion.]
Where are the arl's men...?
[And then even more confusingly, there appears to be another party approaching the gates in a different direction. Amelia recognizes the suits of armor the soldiers are sporting and her eyes widen as she motions them to hide behind the trees and bushes, out of sight.]
[The quiet does not sit well with him, not with the way the Hinterlands have been dotted with mages and templars and militia alike these last several days, not to mention bandits looking to take advantage of the chaos. That uneasiness continues to grow until the walls and the water mill come into view, and even as Amelia makes her observation, he looks to her with a furrowed brow, his expression communicating that he, too, finds this to be supremely odd.]
I've never known the gate to be left—
[He doesn't get to finish his thought before the sounds of approaching hoofbeats and men in armor riding on horseback begin to approach from the east, and he swiftly turns to help herd his charges into hiding. Well-taught, most of them are already in motion before he says a word, and he steers one of the youngest by her shoulders as he crouches down behind the cluster of trees that would serve as their shield, exhaling as he observes the incoming caravan.
Denerim. There's no mistaking the crest, and as one rider in golden armor emerges from the crowd to ride ahead towards the open gate, he feels his breath catch.]
Amelia sputters and swears under her breath, crouching even lower. The current Arl of Redcliffe and the king were related, yes, but something of utmost urgency must have occurred for him and his entourage to come down to the village. Was it a meeting with the Grand Enchanter? But there were no Redcliffe guards and there was confused chaos coming from within.
Before any of the children can speak up and ask, she puts a finger to her lips, trying to listen in on the Denerim soldiers after the king gives his orders.]
"You heard his Majesty. We'll take a few men and make our way to the castle. Do you understand your position?"
"Understood! We are to calm the populace and contain them within the walls for the next several hours. No villagers or apostates can leave until King Alistair speaks with the Grand Enchanter and the Tevinter Magister!"
[Green eyes widen at the mention of Tevinter and one of their magisters at that. She meets Gale's gaze just for a second to see if he's feeling the same way as she does, overwhelmed with the new information and its implications. She sucks in a breath and continues to listen.
The soldiers that remain behind after the king rides on ahead begin to organize and chat amongst themselves as they secure the gate.]
"Right sort of mess this is..."
"Letting in Vints into Ferelden? I know the mages are desperate, but his Majesty is too generous if you ask me and look where it's got us."
[Ever on the alert, Amelia sharpens her focus on the soldiers and the gate, trying to consider their options amidst all the newer factors. Tevinter's involvement in Ferelden mage politics does not sound promising and based on her past experience, there's only one group she knows of and has confronted its members in the past that would stir up trouble in this specific instance.
Venatori.
Shit.
The sneaky and treacherous bastards would try to prey on the desperate mages of Ferelden. And although the Denerim soldiers were securing the village, she wouldn't be surprised if one of them tried to slip away and...]
Gale.
[She points to what has just caught her gaze. One "soldier" approaching the gate. His armor looks somewhat ill-fit as if he rushed to put it on and his helmet completely covers his face, muffling his voice as he awkwardly greets the others, making an excuse that the king sent him back.]
The name itself sent ice through his veins, a reaction that had been ingrained in him since his youth despite the fact that he was actually more open-minded than most people were like to be— as an academic as well as a mage, it was impossible not to be curious about the history and politics of the Imperium, where mages were said to rule, but the role Tevinter had played in Ferelden's own history and certain well-known practices meant that dealings with the people of the Imperium was, to say the least, frowned upon.
He exhales, his breath a low hiss. The southern mages were desperate enough in these trying times that he could see them being taken for an easy mark, and unfortunately, those who would exploit them might well be right.
He listens to every word they can possibly overhear as intently as possible, but he still responds immediately upon Amelia's bid for his attention, following her gesture and giving a firm nod of confirmation the moment his gaze falls on the soldier in question.]
Stands out a bit, doesn't he.
[Without question, a suspicious figure.]
I'll do one better.
[A few arcane gestures are all it takes to summon a spectral orb that hovers before them, roughly the size of his fist, and he nods towards the "soldier" Amelia had pointed out to give the eye its directive— the orb starts in the suspicious figure's direction, fading from view entirely just after it emerges from the trees, allowing it to do its work unseen.]
[Amelia holds her breath as Gale summons his orb and has it follow their suspicious soldier. She exhales softly, frustrated. Redcliffe was supposed to be a reprieve for them, but instead the unknown factors are standing in her way.]
If he is what I think he is, there might be an outside contact.
[Their "soldier" has somehow made it past, having been given the excuse to pick up supplies and make sure no outsiders can move past him. His pace is study as to not arouse suspicion while the real soldier's eyes are on him.]
Do you know about the Venatori?
[Her voice is low, but she's starting to shift her position, hand gripping her staff on her back.]
[Gale's expression darkens, though his focus never wavers, his concentration on his spell remaining even as he notes Amelia reaching for her staff beside him.
Good. They should be ready, should anything go further awry.]
Tevinter mages who have very strong opinions about returning to the old way of things.
[It is, to say the least, a gentle and generous description. The group is still fairly new, but quickly gaining strength and influence. There were plenty of southern mages who didn't give it much thought, didn't think it concerned anyone beyond the Imperium's borders, but Gale is certain he knows better.]
Don't be too hasty. Pursue if necessary, but we should be able to monitor from a safe distance— for a time. You handle yourself well, but I don't believe tangling with a potential Venatori agent will behoove either of us, not to mention our charges.
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sunfloras2025-06-04 06:42 pm
the wandering witch
Much to Amelia's dismay, when her master, an odd man of a mage (that's all she could ever chalk him up as despite every evidence to the contrary) uttered those words, the lifelong apostate knew it meant that utter misfortune was imminent. He had a knack for speaking up about such things as if it was a simple change in the weather.
"My, but isn't the rain just dreadful today?"
That time, her family received news from the grapevine that King Cailan had died at Ostagar at the hands of the darkspawn.
"The wind is terribly dry. Drink water my dear."
Said darkspawn began to invade Fereldan, their hordes razing down nearby villages prompting Amelia's fearful parents to send her away to travel with their peculiar mage guest and if he had to, take her, a fledgling mage, to the Circle, where she would at least have walls, Templars and other mages as extra protection.
"The night skies have been clear and quiet as of late. It'd be a waste to enjoy them if you were locked inside the tower."
That very night, her master cheerfully informed her that the templar guarding the boat that led to Kinloch Hold, had denied him access to the tower. The hairs on the back of Amelia's neck bristled as she tried to sleep in the inn later in the evening, for the magic they sensed emitting from the fortress was nothing, but foreboding and ominous. Later, at the tail end of the Fifth Blight, she learned of what happened in the Circle Tower. It was one of the few times she truly thanked the Maker for his intervention.
But the Maker, and no other power in Thedas could ever explain her master's presence. She had many questions, but he laughed and answered none of them. They traveled together as a pair, mostly unimpeded as long as he was around. Very few people seemed to register her master's existence and if they did, were wary of challenging it. The older she grew, the less he began to remain in her life. He deftly taught her the ways of the magi, "borrowing" books from various Circles for her to eagerly consume and he gave her light praise in the form of "Good enough for this world."
Eventually, he faded out of her life altogether, only reappearing when he fancied, and disappearing just as quickly. She found herself mostly alone, struggling in a cruel world where her magic could only get her so far. Regardless, Amelia kept learning and moving. Templars and other mage hunters did not rest so neither did she.
Kirkwall was probably where things began to go downhill. And if not that, then it was the Breach, that damned hole in the sky, vomiting demons as if it had too much to drink the night before. Before she knew it, there were more templars than she could feasibly wave her staff at and even more scared, but determined rebel mages breaking away from the Chantry and their Circles and into the world beyond the walls they grew up in.
She heard news and confirmed that many were congregating to Redcliffe, thanks to the Monarchy being sympathetic to their plight. However, as templars got hold of this information, they began to choke off known routes to the Arling. Suffice to say, as many mages were able to escape safely, many also were left behind to their fate.
Amelia didn't really want to help. It had always been safer to work on her own or on a strictly transactional basis. However, cowardice was trumped by the sudden urge to do something when she came across a small group of magi, some no younger than ten years of age, led by a bearded fellow in academic robes who was trying to fend off a group of templars.
The apostate appeared, a flame of righteous fury to help strike the final blow.]
We'll make it to Redcliffe if we leave early in the morning.
[It was the first thing she said to the other mage long after she moved the bodies and burned them as was tradition.
The apostate hadn't talked much after setting up a small campfire and sharing some of her travel provisions. Her vivid green eyes darted about as she also prepared some wards so that they could escape notice. It was already dangerous traveling alone and being in a group didn't lower those odds.
She sat, cross-legged, staff at the ready, and finally, her shoulders sagging from exhaustion. It had been a long day.]
I'll drop you off there and then I'll be on my way.
no subject
He had never been hunted before, but for the sake of the youngest mages that were in his care, he could not let his uneasiness show. Some of them hadn't seen what lie beyond the tower in years, not since their initial arrivals, and one or two had even been young enough that they could not remember what life might have been like outside of Kinloch. To say that they were overwhelmed was putting it kindly— and for all Gale himself worried about what may lie ahead of them, he would do his utmost to remain composed, for them. Even the young adults among their number looked to him for guidance, as an example, and he would not let himself betray that trust.
There were only a handful of them— six, not counting himself. Without the apostate that had appeared to lend her aid, their number might have been smaller still. He, too, feels the weight of the day, the weariness setting into his back and shoulders, but he has remained beside the campfire while the rest of their assembled group have begun to doze off. He looks up when she speaks, returning from burning the bodies they were both responsible for— a thought he does not relish, though they had done what was necessary.]
I must thank you again.
[He bows his head slightly, determined jaw set.]
We had known the road to Redcliffe would be dangerous, but with so many but young apprentices...
[His brow furrows as he trails off. He and the other more experienced mages among their number would have been worn down sooner rather than later, their attention divided between defending themselves and keeping their charges safe.]
no subject
It's been chaotic ever since the death of the Divine from what I heard on the road. Not to mention the tear in the sky, but we all have enough trouble on the ground as it is.
[She won't ask the how or why they left the Circle. Close and unspoken guesses could fill in the blanks and as a fellow mage, Amelia knew what was at stake for them. Things would never be the same because they couldn't be. Kirkwall had been a catalyst, but the death of Divine Justinia and the pandemonium caused by the templar and mages had reached a boiling point that overflowed into southern Thedas. Amelia had been able to grow into a relatively independent mage; even if it kept her on the run, at least she knew what freedom felt like, but now it was even more contested. She would not be able to outrun any of this.
Her hair, which had been in a tight braided bun had loosened at some point. She gives up on keeping it in place and undos the braid itself by running her fingers through it. Red strands gleam in the light of the fire as she continues, her voice low and hushed.]
It's better that they have somewhere to go rather than remain at the Circle. With the way the templars are acting, I wouldn't be surprised if they resorted to their own Right of Annulment without the formalities.
[There's a quiet shudder from a small elven girl who was laying on her side nearby, as if in response to the grim possibility. Amelia gives her a short glance and then turns her gaze back to the campfire.]
I don't think the disarray will stop at Redcliffe. But it should be an improvement for them than anywhere else. And hopefully, it'll be one for you as well.
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[The disappointment in his voice is immeasurable, and his lips pull into a tight, worried line as he looks over his sleeping charges. The youngest of them had chosen to bed down nearest to where he and their new guide now sat, a human boy who looks as though he could stand to grow into his ears, sound asleep thanks to the deep exhaustion brought on by travel.
Gale clasps his hands together between his knees, his gaze somber as he raises it to look towards Amelia.]
It remains in name only, now, and soon, not even that. The Circles that have not yet broken soon will. The Grand Enchanter herself has been forced to flee.
[He's sure rumors were flying every which way regarding the divide, but what was happening within the walls of those mage towers was even worse than most knew, in many cases.]
Were you on your way to seek shelter at Redcliffe, yourself?
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No. Not exactly.
[There's a pause.]
I've been an apostate since I was a child. This was ever since the Fifth Blight, you see, so I've always been on the move.
[It was strange, thinking about how that particular calamity was not that long ago in retrospect. But she was older now and this age delivered on its namesake, filled with violence and upheaval, some of which she was both directly and indirectly involved in.]
I was initially making my way towards Amaranthine. But I might rest at Redcliffe before I go and make sure your charges remain unscathed.
[She feels for them, she really does; having been thrown into a frightening world as it burned around her as an apostate was what drove her to step into the prior fight.]
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For some of the young ones in his charge, the Circle was the only home they had ever known— and for the most part, it was the only one he truly remembered. Some memories of his earliest years remained, those spent with his mother in Highever, but his talents had begun to make themselves known at an early age. He had been taken to Kinloch Hold before he had yet seen eight summers.
He reaches for his waterskin, pouring some of its contents into a tin cup and holding it out to her in offering.]
In that regard, I suppose all this upheaval has changed little for you, though perhaps it is harder to avoid attention than it once was, given that mages are out in droves— many of them taking actions that I'm not convinced help our cause.
[Desperate times, desperate measures. A tale as old as time.]
I hope you will take at least a day or two to rest once we arrive, if you can. I don't know that there is any way to truly convey the depth of our gratitude, but you would be guaranteed safety within the walls while there.
1/2
She accepts the tin cup of water, swirling its contents around before taking a sip.]
It'll be a supply run and a way to pick up new rumors and information if nothing else. I think I heard something about an Inquisition being established and—
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Ah.
[And then she looks at Gale with a completely straight face.]
I don't know your name whatsoever.
[IT'S BEEN HOURS AND SOMEHOW.... rude....]
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It's Gale. In your defense, we were rather preoccupied, what with fighting off templars and seeking safety.
[Introductions had fallen by the wayside. His mother would have disapproved, he's sure.]
Were the circumstances different, I would have been a touch more attentive regarding manners. I don't believe I caught yours, either, embarrassing as it is to admit.
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[She repeats his name to commit it to memory. In fact, she repeats it several more times, muttering under her breath and counting fingers to do so.]
Alright then. I'm Amelia.
[Amelia Eva Steinbeck. She had never completely gave up her full name; it held with it her past life in the small Fereldan village, proof of her family and the care bestowed onto her. But as an apostate it was too heavy; it was information that could be used to track her down.
One name was enough.
She shifts her legs and proceeds to stand up.]
It's getting late. Get some sleep and I'll keep an eye out until dawn.
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[He echoes her with a firm nod of confirmation; first names were often all anyone got or gave, especially among mages. The families they came from rarely mattered, at least here in Ferelden, and for apostates it was often a matter of safety.]
You'll need rest, as well.
[She's more than capable, she's more than proven that, but even the most capable mages can suffer from exhaustion.]
We'll take it in turns. You ought to sleep some before we depart in the morning. Neither of us can afford to be dead on our feet.
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That's fine then. In that case...
[She rummages through her pack that was placed next to her and fishes out a vial of...]
Lyrium potion. It's not much, but you should replenish yourself.
[And she tosses it. Catch it, Gale!]
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Much appreciated. It's been an especially long day. Every bit helps, I assure you.
[Given what apostates go through in order to survive, he's sure she hardly needs reminding of that last bit.]
I don't mind taking the first watch. I— don't know that I would be able to sleep just now, anyway. Rather a lot on my mind, unsurprisingly.
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Well, since you insist... Far be it from me to tell you to not be a gentleman.
[Time to settle down then; the apostate won't unpack her bedroll and instead, spreads out her cloak and uses her pack as a pillow.]
Keep an eye out for any lights or smoke. We may come across some more mages setting up their own camp, random travelers, or at worst, templars who have forgone sleep to keep on hunting. If it's that last one, wake me up even if I grumble.
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[It may very well be a vain hope; templars are everywhere they turn these days, and even considering the relatively short distance between Kinloch Hold and Redcliffe, templar sightings had become more and more frequent the deeper they ventured into the hinterlands. He is grateful for small mercies, especially that the journey was able to be made within a few days with so many young charges.]
It's not my first time traveling beyond the tower; you'll not need to worry about my jumping at shadows, at the very least. Should I see anything even remotely suspicious, I will prioritize our camp's safety. Let us hope the templars have also tired.
a little time jump
[Amelia yawns as she and lays her head down.]
And I guess we're stuck together for the time being.
[And she closes her eyes almost immediately. Though her body remains tense and alert, Gale's presence and the guarantee of someone watching their backs was reassuring in a way she usually couldn't afford to indulge in. But there's still the next day to contend with...]
[When dawn breaks, Amelia is already up, smothering the remains of their campfire, and making a headcount of the young ones. Despite her brusqueness, the children seemed to be in awe of the apostate that had come to their rescue. And thus they readily listen to her instructions to line up so she can check their supplies.]
... And it's important to stay hydrated for the rest of the trip. We're near a brook, but we want to keep moving so make do with what you have left. This is the most traveling any of you done, so don't be surprised about the blisters on your feet. We can heal those when we get to Redcliffe.
[She's in the middle of brushing and tying back the hair of some of the girls while the boys keep an eye out or gather their belongings. One of them, who is a raring to go, raises a question:]
"Miss Apostate? When do we know we're at Redcliffe?"
[Amelia finishes the braid of the last girl and picks up her pack and staff as she responds.]
There are several signs. The windmill, the roar of the waterfall... But I wouldn't be surprised if the arl's soldiers, bearing his coat of arms, are there at the entrance to keep a lookout for us. Isn't that right, Gale?
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He had just paused to reach for his own staff when their rescuer asks for his input, and he looks up before giving a careful smile, one that he has long practiced to be able to wear in front of the younger mages in times of distress in order to help maintain calm, level-heads.]
Exactly right. It's been some time since I visited Redcliffe myself, but the windmill is unmistakable, and the walls protecting the town are something to see themselves. When we're close, you'll know.
[Another of their charges, a young boy of about ten, looks a little pale even as he eagerly shoulders his pack, uneasy but anxious to leave.]
"You don't think any of the Arl's soldiers will try to turn us over to Templars, do you? What if things have changed?"
[Gale feels a pang of sympathy for the boy deep in his chest, but is warmly firm in his answer, shaking his head.]
Had anything changed, Grand Enchanter Fiona would have found a way to let us know. The Arl of Redcliffe has declared the town a safe refuge for mages.
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She'll keep that remark to herself. Cynicism isn't motivational and to keep these young spirits up, they need all the hope they can get until they reach village.
When everything is packed up and all mages accounted for, Amelia immediately organizes the group.]
Younger ones in the front with Enchanter Dekarios.
[She only just guessed about that detail. He was a very skilled mage based on yesterday's encounter, holding out against the templars even when he was nearly drained.]
The oldest of you, hover in the middle or the back with me so we can keep the youngest moving along or pick them up if they start to tire.
[To Gale, she says:]
When we get to Redcliffe, it's probably best you do the talking with any acting authority figures. Knowing my luck, I end up starting more fights when I speak plainly.
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For now, Redcliffe was the best place for them.
The younger mages are quick to follow direction, eager to get to relative safety, and Gale offers their apostate aid a tight smile of thanks that does not quite reach his tired eyes— naturally, he remains worried, as anyone would be.]
I would be glad to handle any diplomatic endeavors; my background at the Circle might earn me the tiniest bit of favor with the Grand Enchanter, but I don't intend to lean on it. We are all of us apostates now.
[The Circle no longer remains, and seemed unlikely to return. Not anytime soon.]
Good to know, however, who to consult when it comes time for a more direct approach.
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Well, as her friend Berna would put it, she could at least cheer the hell up. But she's Orlesian and in Orlais, smiles are weapons in of itself.
And so without remarking any further, the newly formed party begins the last leg of their journey. It's quiet at first; fear and caution blankets the younger mages, some with their eyes darting around with some paranoia. But within the next hour, with nothing but the chirping of birds and the bubbling water becoming louder, the children slowly relax, and begin to speak amongst themselves (they keep their volume low after one pointed glance from their apostate guide.)
Amelia will take a boring walk over more confrontation, but there is slight unease at how easy it seems. She's always on edge that way. Soon enough, the sound and sight of the water mill of Redcliffe is well within their sights, but before they approach the entrance, the apostate stops, frowning.]
Wait.
[She points to the gates where there's a lack of guards and inside the village, sounds of shouting and confusion.]
Where are the arl's men...?
[And then even more confusingly, there appears to be another party approaching the gates in a different direction. Amelia recognizes the suits of armor the soldiers are sporting and her eyes widen as she motions them to hide behind the trees and bushes, out of sight.]
Those are... They're from Denerim.
[Looks like the monarchy is in town!]
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I've never known the gate to be left—
[He doesn't get to finish his thought before the sounds of approaching hoofbeats and men in armor riding on horseback begin to approach from the east, and he swiftly turns to help herd his charges into hiding. Well-taught, most of them are already in motion before he says a word, and he steers one of the youngest by her shoulders as he crouches down behind the cluster of trees that would serve as their shield, exhaling as he observes the incoming caravan.
Denerim. There's no mistaking the crest, and as one rider in golden armor emerges from the crowd to ride ahead towards the open gate, he feels his breath catch.]
Is that— King Alistair?
[Apparently, all roads lead to Redcliffe.]
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Amelia sputters and swears under her breath, crouching even lower. The current Arl of Redcliffe and the king were related, yes, but something of utmost urgency must have occurred for him and his entourage to come down to the village. Was it a meeting with the Grand Enchanter? But there were no Redcliffe guards and there was confused chaos coming from within.
Before any of the children can speak up and ask, she puts a finger to her lips, trying to listen in on the Denerim soldiers after the king gives his orders.]
"You heard his Majesty. We'll take a few men and make our way to the castle. Do you understand your position?"
"Understood! We are to calm the populace and contain them within the walls for the next several hours. No villagers or apostates can leave until King Alistair speaks with the Grand Enchanter and the Tevinter Magister!"
[Green eyes widen at the mention of Tevinter and one of their magisters at that. She meets Gale's gaze just for a second to see if he's feeling the same way as she does, overwhelmed with the new information and its implications. She sucks in a breath and continues to listen.
The soldiers that remain behind after the king rides on ahead begin to organize and chat amongst themselves as they secure the gate.]
"Right sort of mess this is..."
"Letting in Vints into Ferelden? I know the mages are desperate, but his Majesty is too generous if you ask me and look where it's got us."
[Ever on the alert, Amelia sharpens her focus on the soldiers and the gate, trying to consider their options amidst all the newer factors. Tevinter's involvement in Ferelden mage politics does not sound promising and based on her past experience, there's only one group she knows of and has confronted its members in the past that would stir up trouble in this specific instance.
Venatori.
Shit.
The sneaky and treacherous bastards would try to prey on the desperate mages of Ferelden. And although the Denerim soldiers were securing the village, she wouldn't be surprised if one of them tried to slip away and...]
Gale.
[She points to what has just caught her gaze. One "soldier" approaching the gate. His armor looks somewhat ill-fit as if he rushed to put it on and his helmet completely covers his face, muffling his voice as he awkwardly greets the others, making an excuse that the king sent him back.]
Keep an eye on that one.
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The name itself sent ice through his veins, a reaction that had been ingrained in him since his youth despite the fact that he was actually more open-minded than most people were like to be— as an academic as well as a mage, it was impossible not to be curious about the history and politics of the Imperium, where mages were said to rule, but the role Tevinter had played in Ferelden's own history and certain well-known practices meant that dealings with the people of the Imperium was, to say the least, frowned upon.
He exhales, his breath a low hiss. The southern mages were desperate enough in these trying times that he could see them being taken for an easy mark, and unfortunately, those who would exploit them might well be right.
He listens to every word they can possibly overhear as intently as possible, but he still responds immediately upon Amelia's bid for his attention, following her gesture and giving a firm nod of confirmation the moment his gaze falls on the soldier in question.]
Stands out a bit, doesn't he.
[Without question, a suspicious figure.]
I'll do one better.
[A few arcane gestures are all it takes to summon a spectral orb that hovers before them, roughly the size of his fist, and he nods towards the "soldier" Amelia had pointed out to give the eye its directive— the orb starts in the suspicious figure's direction, fading from view entirely just after it emerges from the trees, allowing it to do its work unseen.]
Let's see where he goes, shall we?
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If he is what I think he is, there might be an outside contact.
[Their "soldier" has somehow made it past, having been given the excuse to pick up supplies and make sure no outsiders can move past him. His pace is study as to not arouse suspicion while the real soldier's eyes are on him.]
Do you know about the Venatori?
[Her voice is low, but she's starting to shift her position, hand gripping her staff on her back.]
If he starts to run, I'm going to jump him.
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Good. They should be ready, should anything go further awry.]
Tevinter mages who have very strong opinions about returning to the old way of things.
[It is, to say the least, a gentle and generous description. The group is still fairly new, but quickly gaining strength and influence. There were plenty of southern mages who didn't give it much thought, didn't think it concerned anyone beyond the Imperium's borders, but Gale is certain he knows better.]
Don't be too hasty. Pursue if necessary, but we should be able to monitor from a safe distance— for a time. You handle yourself well, but I don't believe tangling with a potential Venatori agent will behoove either of us, not to mention our charges.
[Well. His charges, he supposes.]