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Griffin's Walk	By : Anesor Category: +A through F > Dragon Age (all) > Dragon Age (all) Views: 2489 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: The Dragon Age world, plot, and their characters aren't mine but belong to Bioware. I get no money for writing this fiction.

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Denerim, Fort Drakon
Alistair MacTheirin:
The rooftop of Fort Drakon was crawling with nobles, foreign ambassadors, their flunkies, and their guards... and they were only slightly less dangerous than darkspawn. The only good thing about the darkspawn was that no one would object if I stuck a sword in them.
Some people at this event would be greatly improved if I did that.
Trinna was speaking to the Tevinter ambassador and elder Orlesian one. Neither were people I wanted to be near. Domitius, with his almost palpable feel of magic and his ring glowing of lyrium, made me want to smite him just on principle.
Bastian, the usually subtle Orlesian ambassador, was angry when he arrived and Domitius taunted both him and the Grand Cleric. I didn't need to watch their wordplay. Trinna not only had sangfroid, but she enjoyed it.
Instead, I returned my empty cup to servants and sought others more pleasant than the ambassadors. I liked Bann Teagan, and we could speak about real things like training, building, and crops. Even Karward made comments about the continuing shortages of quality materials due to wars elsewhere.
Queen Anora spoke to Banns and Arls in ones and twos, but did not approach Trinna or me. The sound of some explosives from Orzammar echoed from the harbor, and the crowd moved closer to the wall to watch the race start.
Soon, the Tevinter ship with all the oars outpaced the rest, and surged out of direct view. The race would require time for racing ships to return to view, even from this height.
The Grand Cleric and the woman representing Starkhaven were in a deep discussion. They rebuffed the Antivan ambassador Rythen, who wore a blindingly white costume with copper accents; she noticed my observation.
I couldn't exactly run away when she came in my direction.
“You do not appear very comfortable with the company, Warden.” Rythen took a deep breath from the embroidered sachet hanging from her wrist.
A small cloud of powder floated toward her face and I could smell the aggressively cinnamon scent. “I am more used to fields and Deep Roads.”
I tried to discreetly blow it out of my nose, remembering Zevran's tales of poisonings. I didn't think any wanted me dead, but that didn't stop the repeated urge to sneeze.
When cloth touched my hand, I couldn't ignore the way my eyes watered and head ached. I used the pure white cloth. “Thank you.”
Standing closer, I could see Rythen's pupils were tiny and eyes a little glazed.
“Some of the scents I favor are more difficult to acquire of late. I may name this scent the 'Perfumed Spring.' Wouldn't that be an auspicious name?”
I wasn't sure if the ambassador was joking in using the name of a famous Antiva City brothel. “Spring would be a different to me, perhaps lilac or the like.”
“Wouldn't the scent of money be a more popular scent among the Merchant Guild, Ambassador?” Arl Eamon looked in good health with a much younger lady on his arm who wore Orlesian styled clothing. This time he didn't chide me.
The miss with painted and perfect face, tugged on his sleeve. “The ambassador is wicked, wicked woman. Surely she knows about the brothel. Her business interests include some very fine wineries in Antiva.”
Eamon said, “Of course she knows, my dear. She also knows how the royal court is so conservative about mentioning these little realities.”
That Eamon escorted an Orlesian almost young enough to be his granddaughter was disturbing. With his son Conner in the Circle, I'd thought Eamon's younger brother would inherit. When I looked at Teagan, he looked disgusted.
Rythen laughed. “That establishment is very profitable. Any wise merchant would appreciate such a worthwhile investment. Younger men like Ser MacTheirin and older nobles like Arls beat a path to those doors.”
I raised my hand to deny that kind of entertainment.
Eamon's companion spoke in an innocent voice. “I am sure merchants like you are awaiting them with open... arms”
“The nice thing about merchants is that customers know exactly what the evening's entertainment will cost them, not rings.” Rythen's expression remained amused even as her opponent sputtered.
Eamon's companion had a fine ring, one placed as an engagement ring. It had been years since Eamon's wife died, but between this alliance with an Orlesian and the... entertainer at his party, I wasn't sure what to expect from Eamon.
A horn echoed, to warn of the approach of the ships, and the audience moved back to view the finish line. I would have to admit the single ship was far in the lead.
Looking across the roof, I saw the Magister bowing to other guests' applause.
The congratulations were officially premature, but a second ship came into view in a few more minutes and wasn't moving quickly enough to catch the leader. Aside from a dragon or his ship running aground, the race would be for second place.
Soon Trinna joined me by the wall with a slight smile. “Here, have a souvenir of the race.”
She handed me a cast copper toy of the oared boat. The metal was the pure copper of recent casting and about half the size of her fist. The detail was amazing, right down to the rows of oars, still with plugs of poured metal scissel that supported the thinner parts and should be trimmed before display. A suggestion of the waves under the hull matched the strain in the sail.
It was a masterful casting and made me painfully aware of how rarely I had seen the like in Ferelden.
“He brought dozens.” She held up a second one. “The Antivan ambassador threw hers down and stormed out. She expected to win again, but his Cuprum Currents matched her favorite jewelry too.”
No one else seemed near for the moment. “Eamon's engaged to an Orlesian, for the second time.”
Trinna frowned, remembering the more foolish Isolde.
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A/N: Challenge words are sachet, sangfroid, and scissel. Thanks to my beta reader who has been kind enough to read this and point out stupid flubs. Any typos that remain are not intentional... Reviews or a PM to let me know what you think would be very appreciated.
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Griffin's Walk