There and Back Again Ch. 174

Aedan told the story of waking from a dead sleep to find themselves under attack; he and Zevran fought off two Crows before emerging to see me fighting with another one. And clearly one had attacked Alistair, but he'd managed to kill him before being cut down by another.

"I wonder why none of them attacked you in your room, your Grace?" I asked; Aedan had yet to speak to Fergus, though I doubted that would be able to last in the face of the attack.

"I can guess," Fergus replied, his tone wry. "There was water leaking into my room, and I asked the captain to switch me to a different one. I assume they hadn't realised and thought I was someone else. Which tells me they didn't know what I looked like..."

"Where did they even come from?" I interrupted. "How did half a dozen Crows get on this boat in the first place?"

"They were passengers," the captain explained sheepishly. "I've looked at all the bodies, and they were all paying passengers. I assume this is why my bosun left us in Ostwick -- he must have known that he'd booked Crows onto my ship. I assure you, if I'd had any idea..."

Fergus assured him we didn't blame him for the attack; I wasn't sure I was feeling as generous, but chose not to say anything.

"How many casualties?" Zevran was asking.

"Three dead crew, two dead guards, six dead Crows." The captain was matter-of-fact about it. "Probably would have been more, but they managed to lock your other guards in the cargo hold so they couldn't assist."

"And one guard who's evidently a traitor," Fergus growled in my direction. "And you knew she was, and still allowed her to accompany us? Trusted her to protect me?"

I flushed. "We...well, we'd been told she was spying on me for you. Maybe. My source wasn't exactly reliable." Why did Flemeth lie to me? I'll be sure to ask her, if I ever see her again.

"Clearly." His furrowed brows made him look rather intimidating. "I don't spy on my vassals, Steward."

I cleared my throat. "And from what I can gather, she wasn't with the Crows by choice. She defied them and tried to help me -- it was the best I could do to keep you safe at that moment."

"She's being kept down in the cargo hold where the guards can keep an eye on her. I questioned her briefly about the Crows. After Avanna hired her, the one she spoke of -- Mateo? -- took her sister in Highever," Zevran explained. "They are holding her hostage to force Dera's cooperation -- or so they told her. Me, I have my doubts -- the sister is likely dead."

I rubbed my eyes sadly, feeling tears prickle. I turned back to Fergus. "Anyway, we didn't know for sure -- and it seemed the best way to find out was to see what happened when we were around you."

Fergus swung his irate gaze over to Aedan. "We? You knew about this?"

Aedan scowled right back. "You haven't exactly been shy in expressing how you feel, your Grace. It wasn't an unreasonable assumption."

Fergus looked about to argue back, but I'd had enough. "This is not what we're here to talk about -- at least, it better not be what you dragged me away from Alistair for."

Both men sat back looking embarrassed. "No," Aedan assured me. "Sierra..."

He trailed off, seeming not to know what to say next.

"Cara mia," Zevran took over. "Alistair's injury...it's not good, yes?"

I nodded, tearing up again as I flashed back to Alistair's clammy, too pale skin.

"Wounds to the stomach...they are risky, bella. The poultice stopped the bleeding, but it won't help if something inside was damaged."

My heart dropped into my stomach.

"He needs healing," Aedan took over. "Mage healing. Without it..."

"You think he's dying," I whispered, horrified. The hold on my tears let go, and they started rolling down my cheeks. "We don't have a mage with us."

"We need to find one." Aedan's tone was firm. "Captain, how far are we to Wycome?"

"We could be there in a few hours, if we risk sailing in the dark. I wouldn't normally recommend it -- but I know these waters, and in an emergency..."

"Ferelden's only prince lays dying. I'd say we could call that an emergency." Fergus' tone brooked no argument.

The captain paled. "Prince? That's...you...No one told me!" He took two handfuls of his thin hair and pulled, almost comically. "I'm a dead man. Please, your Highness—" He turned to me, pleading. "I didn't—"

Fergus saved me from having to respond. "I know, Captain. We were trying to keep a low profile."

"I...I'll get the rest of the crew up. We'll get to Wycome by dawn, I swear it." The poor man looked faint as he stumbled towards the door and let himself out.

"That still doesn't solve our problem, amore mio," Zevran said once the door was closed again. "There's no Circle in Wycome."

Fergus nodded. "The closest is Ansburg, I think."

"What about Ostwick?" I asked. "Isn't there a Circle there?"

Aedan nodded slowly, but his expression remained skeptical. "Four days by ship, if we're lucky with the weather, and I doubt the captain -- or the other passengers -- will be agreeable." He turned to me and took my hand. "I swear to you, we will find someone. If we have buy and founder horses to go to Ansburg and use the Right of Conscription, we will. As soon as we dock, Zevran and I will go. We will find a mage, no matter what it takes."

Tears still flowed down my cheeks, but I squeezed Aedan's hand as though my life depended on it. "Please," I begged. I reached for Zevran with my other hand. "Please."

"I promise, Sierra. Whatever it takes. He's going to live."