Chapter Text
“You know there was probably a much easier way to do that, Rook.” Varric said, taking a seat at the bar and grabbing the drinks in front of him. The Venatori on the ground groaned.
“The Venatori don't deserve easy,” Rook replied leaning back against the bar. The sound of metal piercing leather and short screams rang out as the Cult members went still against the wood floors.
“I couldn’t agree more,” Bishop said, wiping the blood from her lochs and adjusting her bun. She took a seat next to Varric and took a sip from one of the cups in front of him.
“Jeez you kids are ruthless; reminds me of some the elves I ran with back in Kirkwall.”
Rook huffed a laugh and swirled their ale in the mug. “Well, we got the information we needed. Your detective is in Dumont Plaza.”
“That’s not far from here, but we should meet up with Harding first.” Bishop said, after finishing her drink in a few quick gulps.
“Do you know her?” Rook asked, setting their cup down.
“No,” Bishop said wiping her mouth, “I’ve never even seen her. Heard of her though. She not really part of the Shadow Dragons she’s more of a freelancer from what I understand.”
“You’ve spent all this time in Minrathous, taking risks, and climbing the latter and yet Varric has better contacts than you.” Rook crooned, pushing off the bar.
Bishop rolled her eyes, “What Tarquin and-,” she caught herself. “Whatever Tarquin and The Viper do to get us the information I need, I don’t care.”
“Alright you two,” Varric interjected, stretching once he got up from his stool. “That’s enough we have a ritual to stop.”
Varric walked towards the door suppressing a sigh, as he listened to the sound of quiet scuffling behind him.
I’m getting too old for this.
Rook hadn’t been in Minrathous long, but they were starting wonder how Bishop could stay in a place like this. It was a dreadfully dreary place. It was wet. The air was stale and heavy, and it carried far too many scents. The streets were too tight, and the sun was too far away. Even the sounds were different. The sounds of people talking and hundreds of footsteps against the cobblestone was familiar, but the dull buzzing of the magic in the air was driving them insane.
They glanced over at the Archons palace, hovering above the city. Bishop had explained that this particular Archon was regarded as fairly unremarkable. How he tends to stay inside these days and how very few people are seen in the palace other than the Templars and attendants.
A person who lives in a place that nice by themselves are always unremarkable.
Bishop and Varric led the way to where Harding was supposed to meet them. The city was too whindy for them to get their bearings. Thankful Viago never let them bid on jobs in this place. It would’ve have taken them days just to get a grasp on the streets.
A woman near the fountain that overlooked the city mumbled words in what Rook assumed has some version of Tevene, holding up a dish with a few coins in it. Rook grabbed a fist full of coins and placed them in the dish. They smiled and nodded at the women as she chocked back a sob.
Bishop whistled grabbing their attention. Rook whipped around and the women gasped. She began scrambling away as people started to scream and run. The ground shook and the lights from the palace scanned the city. Green tears began to appear in the sky and guttural growls started echo though the streets.
The Ritual had started.
“I thought you said that we had more time!” Bishop shouted as the three ran through the streets. Trying to remember the quickest way to Harding and Dumont Plaza, while factoring in the now destroyed paths and demons flooding the streets.
“I said it was soon!” Varric called back. “If he had left a note ten years ago we wouldn’t be looking for a detective, would we.” Bishop rolled her eyes. She wanted to give him a snippy reply, but the Venatori had other plans.
“The Venatori will be Victorious!” one called.
Rook ran ahead of her and managed to get out a “Watch this.” Before kicking the warrior in chest with both feet, knocking him off the side of the cliff.
Bishop bit back a laugh. It was a cruel way to kill someone, but it looked too odd to take it seriously. She glanced over at the other cult members who didn’t look as confident as they were moments ago. Two crossbow bolts embed themselves into the chest of one of the mages. Bishop dashed forward using her blades to fend of the rouge that appeared behind Rook.
“Rook! Pay attention.” She growled, twisting her blades into the cultist. “You’re a Crow for fucks sake.”
“Oh please,” Rook said as they used their shield to knock another member off balance. Bishop tore her one of her blades the body in front of her and flicked it. The two Venatori fell with one of her two blades embedded in them. “I know you have my back.”
Bishop huffed. She retrieved her weapons and gave them a quick wipe.
I need to have a word with Viago.
An arrow whizzed through the air taking out the last mage, as it impaled the back of her head.
“Whoa Bishop!” Rook called, “You’ve been holding out on me. When did you get enchanted arrows?”
“I didn’t,” Bishop said peering down the hall of crumbling bridge in front of them.
A head of red hair appeared from behind a pillar as Lace Harding made her way towards them.
“I’m hurt you didn’t assume it was me Rook,” Harding said given them a quick jab with her elbow. “Besides enchanted arrows don’t really work. Dagna had me test out a few during the Inquisition. Though maybe Jar-of-Bee arrows weren’t the best ones to try and make first.”
“Did you say a Jar-of-Bees? Why would anyone want that?” Rook asked.
Harding went to answer, but the sound of another explosion cut her off. “I’ll tell you more about it later, but right now we need to get moving.”
“Our detective is in Dumont Plaza.” Bishop said, shifting her legs as the ground rumbled.
The Archon’s Palace lights shifted on a market area; red bolts of magic shot towards it. Before they could reach the ground a solid dome of white appeared, covering the area and forcing the bolts to dissipate.
“Which is right around there.” Bishop added, “We need to get moving.”
“Let’s hope your contact is as good as keeping herself alive as she is at finding your old friends, Varric,” Rook added.
“Oh, trust me kid she is.” He said nodding at Harding as she led them towards a path further into the city.
Bishop slid down the rubble. She felt her teeth grind against each other. Things were getting out of hand. Demons running through the streets, the Venatori were no doubt using the chaos to their advantage and the city was falling apart. She ran ahead using boxes as cover. She panted as quietly as she could. There will be a lot to do in the coming weeks. The Shadow Dragons would need all hands-on deck. She peered around the edges of the crates and saw a few demons and cultist on the beach.
Maybe after this they’ll put me back on missions.