Breaking Point: Chapter 1

“Why are we doing this again?” Zevran asked as he looked down a dark corridor of the dungeons that lurked below Arl Howe’s bedchambers.

“Because that’s what we do, save the idiots from the other idiots,” Merlissia joked as she leaned up against the cold stone walk beside him. “Plus, we might win favor with the Queen… doesn’t that sound like fun?”

“Besides, you said it would be easy, sneak in and out no one would be the wiser,” she mocked as he shook his head side to side.

“Ugh,” Leliana groaned as she rolled her eyes.

“I mean, because it’s the right thing to do,” Merlissia corrected herself with a playful wink to the red head beside her before focusing on the matter at hand.

They had been making their way through the estate slowly, acting as servants as they passed each room. But now they were in the bowels of Arl Howe’s hell, the floors were grated providing easy access to the sewers. Dried blood clung to the walls, old and fresh. There was no need for disguises now.

Quickly she glanced back to see Leliana following close with Morrigan not far behind, stopping just short of running into Zevran.

“We should be getting close,” Zevran whispered as he looked deeper into the hall, there were 3 rooms left.

“And you know this because?” Leliana questioned in an annoyed tone.

“Because we’ve gone through all of the rest,” Morrigan snipped quietly.

“Shhh,” Merlissia shushed as she rounded the corner. “…But she is right,” she agreed with a quick smile.

There was a quick click and Merlissia twisted quickly to the side as she felt a quick burst of air fly by her. A soft grunt echoed in her ear as she looked back to see a gash crossing Zevran’s bicep as he held Morrigan off to the side.

“This is why we agreed I would lead for this,” Zevran scolded as he looked over the gash on his arm.

“Yes, yes assassin we know, you’ll catch all the traps,” Morrigan said as she turned to walk around Zevran when they heard another sound.  

Within seconds a dark smoked emerged around Merlissia, quickly filling the small passage with the thick smoke.

“Zev, the door,” Merlissia ordered as she grabbed Morrigan and pulled her away from the thick of the gas.

In a minute, Zevran had the door open and was pulling the girls into the room and shutting the door behind him. For a while, they remained in the entry of the room coughing as they tried to clear the gas from their lungs.

“What now? It will be a while before the gas dissipates,” Leliana said as she leaned back against the door.

“We wait,” Zevran said as he heard shuffling inside the room.

Holding his hand up he turned, searching over the room for any sign of life. When he saw nothing he turned back to see Morrigan stumbling forward.

“Morrigan!” Leliana called as she reached out trying to catch the witch. Quickly she glanced over to Zevran as she felt her own knees begin to shake.

“Well this is certainly a turn for the worse,” Zevran said as he glanced at the two as he wondered how Morrigan would be affected so easily when she was the furthest away, but perhaps Leliana and his pasts kept them better prepared for such traps. But then his mind traveled to their fearless leader who was in the middle of the smog.

“Morrigan, hang on I’ll get you out of here.. you’ll be able to spend some time with that old woman you enjoy so much,” Merlissia joked as she looked around the room for some other way out. “Zevran stay with them while I take a look around,” she insisted as she reached her arm back pulling out her sword.

After rounding the corner, she leaned up against the wall, willing her knees to hold out until she found a way out. Focusing her mind she pushed off the wall and began looking for a way out. In the corner, she saw a small window, surely they could fit through there.

Quickly she turned, eager to tell her friends that she had found their exit. She pinched the bridge of her nose trying to keep her focus just a little longer. She only took two steps when she heard footsteps behind her. With a practiced spin she swung her sword, listening to the heavy clang as she saw another guard closing in on her.

It only took a few strikes before her sword slipped from her fingers, ringing as it crashed to the ground as she fell to her knees.

“Ahh, now what do we have here?” a familiar voice called from corner.

Looking up she saw his black eyes peering down at her. Squinting as she tried to stop the room from spinning.

“Hmmm on your knees… where you belong,” he laughed as he walked up to her as the guard pressed his sword against her throat.

“Howe,” Merlissia spat bitterly.

“That’s Arl Howe… What fun I will have with you… and your friends,” he said all but whispered as he ran his fingers along her jaw. Laughing as she spat on his boot. Shaking his head as he laughed, he paused as he tightened his fist seconds before punching her in the face.

She had straightened back up to show the small bead of blood trickling down her lip as Howe crashed the pommel of his dagger along the side of her head, knocking her unconscious.

With a quick nod the guard scooped her from the ground and threw her over his shoulder before they proceeded to walk back towards where she had come.

“What is taking her so long?” a woman asked nervously.

“Maybe she found a way, perhaps?” a man asked.

“Maybe she ran into some unwanted company,” the woman insisted.

“Smart girl,” Arl Howe chirped as he walked into view.

Immediately the two pulled out their weapons, ready to strike.

“Uh-uh-uhhhhh… I wouldn’t suggest that,” Howe said shaking his head as the guard to his left stepped to the side, giving them a direct view of their fearless leader’s unconscious form slung over the shoulder of a broad guard.

“That’s what I thought,” Howe laughed as he motioned for his men to tie down the others.