Chapter Text
« Maker, don’t these tunnels have an end? If Jarvia is not behind the next door, I give up!" said Alistair upset.
Fallon and Halani growled together.
« Oh ! Enough of you two! »
« They aren’t growling at you but at what is in front of us », said Ymlaïs. Turning to the rest of the group : « We should take a break. I doubt that Fallon and Halani would grumble like this without reason. And if Jarvia is really close, we will have to get ready ».
Everyone agreed and began to take stock of their equipment.
“It looks bad,” said Wynne. “We have very few healing potions and poultices left ».
« Alistair is the one who emptied the supplies!” accused Leliana with a wink.
« Hey! Maybe it’s because I’m the one taking most of the hits for you! » the young warrior took offense.
« And who falls into most of the traps. » Sten added with his usual stoicism.
« You are the voice of wisdom my qunari friend » Morrigan added with a smirk.
For any answer, Alistair gave his most annoyed glance at the witch.
« They’re not completely wrong » admitted Ymlaïs more quietly before he could say anything. « You should let me do my job and not rush like you do. »
« Like an eager puppy !” mocked Leliana.
« Oh, that was funny! I didn’t knew you were on her side now ! » Alistair answered to her by glancing at Morrigan.
Knowing exactly where it was going, Ymlaïs decided to quickly cut off the catfight and bring the conversation to a more pragmatic level. “Well, the problem remains. If we don’t have enough healing material, we’ll have to concentrate our efforts on the attack. Zevran, if you still have poison vials and a few bombs, we’re gonna need them. What about our lyrium refills? Wynne will have to take care of everybody on her own, but she’s not going to be able to do it without resources. »
« She wouldn’t have to if a certain witch put her pride aside to learn healing spells,” Alistair stroke back.
« I don’t have your appetite for old leashed mages’ lessons, Alistair. And I wouldn’t have to stoop to such extremes if a warrior fool didn’t rush headlong into all the traps that are set in his way. »
« Well, living without a leash did not make you more altruistic, that’s for sure! There are areas where the dog could teach you. »
« Speak for yourself! At least the dog is watching where he is putting his paws! »
« Oh just drop it, the two of you! ». said Leliana by rolling her eyes.
« Technically, my dear, you were the one who started the argument » replied Zevran, handing her a vial of deathroot extract.
« But... I didn’t say anything! Did I say something? »
With a sigh, Ymlaïs turned to Sten and Wynne: an island of wisdom in those moments when the rest of the team looked like a band of carefree kids.
« Why make such a fuss about one person who has already lost her entire clan. I say we go in and cut off her head » the qunari said.
« I doubt it’s that simple, Sten. Otherwise, the nobility would have gotten rid of her a long time ago. »
« I wouldn’t call the journey we had to make to get here “simple” ». Alistair remarked.
« I’m not so sure », said Zevran. « A well-used and skillfully contained subterranean threat can well serve the ruler’s interest: the Carta keeps the poor people under its control and prevents them from rebelling. Morevoer its leader can serve as a scapegoat to attract the attention of the common people or nobles when the need arose. »
« Except that this time the scapegoat became a real threat ». Said Ymlaïs. « It also means that she had the means. We can’t go back to refueling. Jarvia must have already heard of our presence, we can’t give her time to reunite her troops. »
« If she has any left », Zevran replied with a smile.
« We’ll see… »