The Winter's Queen [Magus AU]

[Tethras Clan]

Zevran gives Caver a bland look. "Obviously," is all he says however. "Helene," he adds, returning his focus to the oracle.

[Carver Amell]

Not obvious to me, recruit. And no back-talking!

"We'll use Wynne's place as a headquarters. When you're done with the body, I want you there and resting for the next mission, understand?" 

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene looks at Zevran. "Yes?"

[Tethras Clan]

Zevran shoves the items into her hands, the part of his brain that would care about Helene's feelings washed out by grief and rage.

~There are a half dozen wraiths or ghosts or something along with the zombie. At least that many, they're hard to spot,~ Varric lies easily. ~We're going to have to pull back and come up with a better plan. Find some clerics or the like that were in Preacher's Way.~

"No," Zevran says simply to Carver. Now that W- the body is done being... processed, he takes the simple but very well crafted cold iron dagger Wynne had and begins to separate the head form the body. It's a small comfort, but at least the manner of her death meant that it barely bleeds.

[Carver Amell]

"Belay that. We're all turning back. There's at least half a dozen wraiths in our path, we're not equipped for that. We're going to need to find another way in." 

[Tethras Clan]

Zevran tenses, breathing going ragged for a moment as his knuckles turn white around the dagger hilt. "We're less than sixty feet, can't we- what if we go around the back? We can't just..." he grits out.

[Isabela]

"Against a half dozen wraiths? Are you trying to get us all killed?" Isabela cuts in. She winces a little hearing how the words sound, but pushes on mercilessly. "We go back. We regroup. We scry, as soon as the Oracle can manage again. We find a back door." 

[Tethras Clan]

Zevran starts to snap back, starts to yell at her. Then he looks at her. Really looks at her face. He shudders, once, twice, then nods curtly. "Yes. miss- pirate captain lady," he says, voice uneven. "Sorry, that should be aye-aye, shouldn't it?"

[Isabela]

Isabela stares at him dumbly for a second. Jokes? Now? 

"Damn right, swabbie," she says, after a minute. "Let's go." 

I wonder if Varric can help me drug him, get him out of here.

[Tethras Clan]

Zevran finishes decapitating... the body and stands. "Do... did we find any oil?" he asks a bit numbly.

~Helene should be able to summon fire elementals. A couple of small ones should do the trick,~ Varric suggest soberly. ~After that, we can withdraw."

[Isabela]

Helene can, it turns out; they take a moment to set the fire in motion, then flee the scene before the undead it attracts can catch them, letting the elemental draw their fire as they retreat to Wynne's. 

Isabela falls into step beside Carver as they walk, putting a hand out to grab his wrist. He frowns at her, but she puts a finger over her lips and nods toward Zevran. Carver doesn't lessen his frown, but he does keep quiet, letting her pull him into a slower pace to create some distance between the two pairs of walkers. 

"Varric," she says quietly, when there's enough space to talk privately. "Help me drug him?" 

[Tethras Clan]

Wait, what now? Why would- ah. Fuck. That sounds like a bad plan. ~Ask her why.~ he sends to Carver. Actually. Wait a moment, let me try... Stay close,~ he says just before darting out of Carver into Isabela.

~Can you hear me?~

[Isabela]

She doesn't answer; he can't see much from inside her body, can't hear her thoughts, but there's still eerie green flickers, like green candlelight, all around. That's probably a no, then. It's no different than being inside a wall. 

[Tethras Clan]

Damn. Alright, fine. Just as quick, he's back in Carver. ~Looks like it's just you I can do this with. Alright, go ahead and ask her why she's going to do it.~

[Carver Amell]

You can't see why? "To get him to sleep?"