A Tavern on the Outskirts of Val Royeaux, Friday Evening

[seeks_truth]

"I believe we have done enough sightseeing," Cassandra said, as she packed her few belongings into a bag. "We should make for the White Spire soon. They should be able to help us divine a way to return you to the island - or at least give them proof that my missives about it have been true."

She took a deep breath, then pulled a small package out of her bag.

"Though first, I have a gift for you. In case this does work, and we return you to Fandom."

[[ for lucille. eta: blood and violence in the comments. ]]

Comments

[crimson_sister]

Lucille did want to return to the island, but she also quite enjoyed Val Royeaux. She had never stayed in a large city before, and she found it exhilarating.

"A gift?" she said, accepting the package. "But you will not return with me?"

[seeks_truth]

"Not for long, if I do," Cassandra said mildly. "I do still intend to return home to Montsimmard."

[crimson_sister]

Lucille had known that Cassandra would return home, and even if she had hoped it wouldn't be so soon, she didn't say anything more about it. Instead she unwrapped the gift.

"A book!" She opened the first page. "Do you know what it is about?" Looking up at Cassandra, she smiled. "This is a beautiful gift."

And one that would remind Lucille about the times they had spent reading together.

[seeks_truth]

"It is a romance between a noble lady and her love, a chevalier - an Orlesian knight," Cassandra said.

She blushed. Somewhat. "I... quite enjoyed it."

[crimson_sister]

"Then I'm sure I will too." She clasped the book with both hands. "Thank you."

[seeks_truth]

"You are welcome," Cassandra said, offering her a small smile and a nod of her head. "But we should be on our way."

She lifted her bag.

[crimson_sister]

Lucille rose too, putting the book in her own small bag and looked at Cassandra. "Is it far?"

[seeks_truth]

"You remember the large white tower at the center of the city, yes?" Cassandra said. "It is there. Though we may have to walk through the city outskirts to get there. We are rather far out."

[crimson_sister]

If it's quite a walk, perhaps we shouldn't linger," Lucille said, casting a final glance around the tavern.

[seeks_truth]

"I agree," Cassandra said. She offered Lucille another small smile. "Are you ready?"

[crimson_sister]

Lucille gave a small nod in reply.

Outside the tavern the street was busy. Lucille thought that perhaps she would enjoy the quiet surroundings that she was used to once she get home. Then she remembered that she was sharing a bubble hut with Ringo, and suddenly saying seemed like a better choice. But she wasn't going to object; she had no reason not to return to Fandom. It struck her that she now thought of the island as home.

[seeks_truth]

Cassandra was more concerned with other matters: specifically, how their choice was between a road that circled around the city, touching on potential danger, or through a side of the city that was likely to be dangerous this time at night.

She frowned, then shook her head, and picked the road leading out of the city. "At least now you can see the lights at night, I suppose."

[crimson_sister]

Lucille took no notice of dangers. "I believe I will enjoy that," she said,
following Cassandra.

[seeks_truth]

They went out through a smaller gate, settling on a small path that turned into a bridge and then filtered through lush, still carefully tended-to greens. But it was quieter, and they left the last of guards behind them after only a few minutes. "I had almost forgotten how quiet it gets here," Cassandra mused. "Even though we are still so close to the city."

[crimson_sister]

"A pleasant contrast," Lucille said. "Not that I minded the noise of the city. Do you think it will be possible to visit again? I'd love to see another play at the theatre."

[seeks_truth]

"Perhaps," Cassandra said mildly. "The path to Thedas was clear, last time I ventured here voluntarily from the island. But I am pleased you have enjoyed yourself here, at least."

Did she hear rustling in the bushes? Perhaps.

[crimson_sister]

"What was that?" Lucille said, turning around. She had heard something, and although she wasn't exactly scared, this was an unfamiliar place.

[seeks_truth]

"Could be bandits or apostates," Cassandra said, unsheathing her sword. "Hopefully this will sway them from the notion of attacking us."

[crimson_sister]

Lucille regretted not having brought a knife, as that was the only weapon she had any experience with. Now she slipped behind Cassandra, hoping her friend would not be outnumbered.

[seeks_truth]

Cassandra did not care if she was outnumbered. If it was twenty to one, it may be a problem, to be sure. But less than that...

"Give us your coin, girls!"

No luck in staving them off, then, as two unwashed bandits came out of the foliage, bearing crude blades. She could hear more rustling in the bush, too. "Stay behind me, Lucille," she said, getting her sword up in the ready position. "You will regret this!" she called to the bandits.

[crimson_sister]

Lucille did as Cassandra told her. She didn't like being this helpless, but there was nothing she could do about it. She watched as two more bandits appeared, and worried that they would be too many for Cassandra.

[seeks_truth]

The first bandit came rushing at her, blade first.

She met him halfway, pushing off with a loud war cry - and hurtling herself in the bandit's face, slamming her shoulder into his nose hard. She smashed the back of her sword over his head, then lashed out with it, striking a second bandit straight in the arm.

The second bandit cried and dropped his weapon, bleeding heavily.

[crimson_sister]

There was something beautiful in how Cassandra moved, in how the blood flowed from the bandit's arm. For a moment Lucille was distracted, but she quickly regained her common sense and slowly moved backwards.

[seeks_truth]

A third bandit struck at her. She caught his blade with her own and kicked him in the stomach.

The fourth was keeping suspiciously to the background. Cassandra peered over the heads of the three bandits she was facing-- and then her eyes narrowed.

That was a mage staff.

"Apostate!"

[crimson_sister]

Lucille remembered what that word meant, but didn't know what one of them could do. She crouched to the ground, watching as a purple mist formed around the staff. That couldn't be good.

[seeks_truth]

A second later, a bolt of pure spirit energy crackled through the air, soaring past Cassandra and the third bandit - the one she was currently pounding down into the dirt with the back of her sword and her fist - and soared straight at--

"Lucille! Down!"

[crimson_sister]

Lucille ducked and threw herself to the side. The bolt shot past her, just, and she could feel her heart pounding. She saw the silhouette of Cassandra fighting the bandits and tried to decide what to do next.

Stumbling a little, she got to her feet and rushed against the mage. Running faster than usual because of her clothes, she had almost reached her when the purple mist began forming again. The mage released a wave of power, which had Lucille fly backwards and land on the ground again.

[seeks_truth]

"Lucille!"

Cassandra extricated herself from the bandits with all due haste. She let out another loud battle cry and launched herself physically at the mage. "Stop, apostate!" she snarled, punching the mage in the face.

Repeatedly.

[crimson_sister]

The mage stumbled and fell to her knees, the spell that had been building around her fading. Lucille's head hurt, no, her whole body hurt, and the adrenaline made her push herself do her feet. She reached for a sword that one of the bandits had dropped, and swung it, without much skill, down on the neck of the stunned man.

[seeks_truth]

The mage was not stunned for long; in fact, her fingers were groping quickly for a knife at her side.

That could mean one of two things: impending assault, or impending blood magic. Either notion filled Cassandra with further rage.

So she punched again. And kept punching. And kept punching.

The mage stopped moving soon enough.

[crimson_sister]

Lucille watched the blood flow from a deep wound in the bandit's shoulder. She felt oddly calm all of a sudden and turned to the next one, who was reaching for his sword. Lucille swung the sword again, and although she lacked precision she still managed to almost sever the man's hand. He screamed.

[seeks_truth]

Cassandra, already covered in blood, yanked herself off the mage. She drew her sword again. "Surrender!" she snarled, pointing it at the nearly-dishanded man's throat.

[crimson_sister]

He let out a helpless whimper, clinging to his limp hand and staring wild-eyed at Cassandra. "Just let us go. Please."

The mage lay unmoving on the ground and blood pooled quickly around the man Lucille had attacked first. The last one was still alive, and he repeated his comrade's plea.

Lucille watched. Cassandra was... beautiful. The blood that covered her armor glistened and Lucille wanted to reach out to touch her with her own blood-stained hand.

[seeks_truth]

"Run," Cassandra snarled, unaware of Lucille's admiration. She was rather more focused on keeping the other girl safe.

Both bandits took the opening immediately, fleeing at high speed.

[crimson_sister]

Lucille took a step away from Cassandra, and watched the bandits disappear. She felt dizzy, both from the attack from the mage and from the adrenaline rush.

"Does this happen often?"

[seeks_truth]

"Unfortunately," Cassandra growled.

She peered down at the dead mage, narrowing her eyes. "He was reaching for a blade," she said, squatting down beside him. "And..."

A strange gem, of some kind? She had never seen something like this before.

[crimson_sister]

"What is that?" Lucille asked.

[seeks_truth]

"I am uncertain," Cassandra said, pursing her lips. "We should take it to the White Spire. Perhaps they will know."

She reached out to pick up the gem, having to root around in some blood and other matter to do so.

When she held it up, it was glowing.

[crimson_sister]

"Is that magic?" Lucille asked. "The glow." Then she felt silly for asking, as Cassandra had just said that she didn't know what the gem was.

[seeks_truth]

"Perhaps," Cassandra said, frowning. "Perhaps it is a weapon. I should--"

That was all she managed to say. There was a large flare of light, and the world around them melted away...

... to make way for the Preserve.

[crimson_sister]

"What..." Lucille began, about to ask Cassandra another question, when the world around them changes.

"I believe we have returned to Fandom."

[seeks_truth]

"Maker!"

Cassandra tried to drop the stone... and then realized she no longer had anything to drop.

"It's disappeared!"

[crimson_sister]

"Oh." Lucille immediately looked in her bag. "The book is still here." Which was reasonable, but it was important to her.