serindrana - Scattered Coin :: D is for Deniability [Athenril ABCs]

26th January 2012

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Scattered Coin :: D is for Deniability [Athenril ABCs] →

[In tonight’s installment, Hawke and co make an appearance. I’ve deliberately left Hawke’s gender unmarked, though I did make the choice on class, and Bethany is around (for reasons extending beyond Bethenril tendencies). Carver, I do love you! Just not right here, not right now. I hope you understand!]

D is for Deniability

Night at the Gallows is a strange thing these days, with all the fires that burn on stone floors, kindled with whatever the refugees can find and whatever the guard and the templars feel magnanimous enough to toss aside. It’s not the last night that Athenril will find herself here, she’s sure, but it will be the last for a fortnight or more.

That’s how long she expects it to take to settle in these Hawkes.

Nice name, Hawke. Brings to mind birds of prey, with nasty claws and keen eyes. She’s never seen one up close herself, but she’s heard stories. She hopes the name is a good omen. It’s certainly better than Amell, with Gamlen still dragging his feet and his sister looking as if the aid of a smuggler is deeply… unfortunate.

But the older one is prickly, which is to say nothing of the broad-shouldered ginger that trails after them like a stray dog. Hawke steps in front of Athenril, and Athenril raises a brow, saying nothing.

“We’re sneaking off of this island,” Hawke says.

“Yes.” Athenril moves to step around the warrior, but is stopped by a matched step.

“I thought the agreement was that you would pay the bribe to get us in.”

“And I have.”

“Bribes,” the ginger one says, “usually have some effect.”

“And they have.” Athenril looks for argument from the younger Hawke, but Bethany is toeing at the ground, arms over her chest, trying to look as if she doesn’t hear a thing.

She likes her, even if she seems a little naive.

“Well?” Hawke presses.

“Well,” Athenril says, “the templars and guards do need to keep up some illusion of deniability.” She sees the gap and strides past Hawke again, leading the small group down another flight of stairs. That’s all Kirkwall is, endless stairs and paths that tend to go nowhere much at all. This one, though, will end with a small dinghy that she’s sure one of them at least will object to. But the harbor is at rest tonight, and the trip easy, and it’s the quickest way.

“If,” she continues as she takes a corner and hears Hawke’s steps quick to keep up, “they see us leave, then there’s a risk that somebody might object. If they simply… forget to watch a certain part of the Gallows dock, however, and a few people slip through, well then- just an unfortunate mistake.”

She turns once they reach where the stone drops off. “The thing to know about Kirkwall, ladies, is that there’s quite the demand for blind eyes. Go through official channels and you’ll never get anywhere. Skirt them a bit, and you’ll get everywhere.”

Aveline scowls. “That’s-“

“Useful,” Athenril interrupts and steps aside, gesturing to the dinghy. “Now- Hawkes don’t mind the water too much, do they?”

Tagged: scattered coin athenril hawke bethany hawke aveline gamlen leandra kirkwall gallows alphabet meme dragon age alphabet meme dragon age