You have been captured by Solas. As your friends vie to reach you and free you from your entrapment, you attempt to make Solas see reason, while using your connection to the Stone to imprint magical clues.

Tears streaking down their faces, your friends stare after you through the indigo fire until you and Solas are out of sight. Onlookers emerge to gape and wonder. Finally, the flames dissipate.

Silverio scoops Halani and Barden up, hefting each of them over a shoulder, and darts forward, bounding in large strides.

‘It’s too late,’ Halani weeps.

‘No, I won’t accept it.’

‘Put us down – you’ll go faster,’ Barden voices.

Silverio lets them drop gently, crouching momentarily, and then quickly resumes his sprint. He veers around a corner into an alleyway. He circles in place, searching, frantic, eyes wide in horror as he breathes hard. The other two catch up to him, panting.

‘They’re gone,’ breathes Barden, ‘Solas and…’ his voice cracks and he stops.

‘This can’t be happening!’ cries Halani. ‘It can’t.’

‘I’ve failed to protect—’ Silverio clamps his mouth with a hand as his vision blurs further and he falls to his knees, a sob escapes his lips. Halani and Barden kneel beside him and the three weep into each other’s arms.

Barden is the first to pull away. ‘Look at us, sodding crybabies. We are strong, we are crafty and resourceful. We mustn’t lose hope.’

‘We might not know where Solas took our friend,’ says Halani, nodding her agreement, ‘but we have allies. They can help us.’

Silverio wipes his eyes with the back of his gauntlet. ‘You’re right.’ He places a hand on his heart, ‘but it hurts to be separated from the Otherworlder.’

‘It does,’ Halani says softly, ‘I feel pain in me too.’

‘I feel like my world is breaking into chaos all over again,’ Barden expresses.

‘There is an emptiness inside me that can only be filled by our friend whom we all hold dear.’ Lifting one knee and placing a foot on the ground, Silverio rises. ‘We will find where Solas went. We will find our friend.’

The three of them march back to the location where the meeting with the Divine had taken place. Silverio bangs on the door and the guards admit them. They stride towards Leliana, whose expression changes as soon as she sees their tear-stricken faces and clocks your absence.

‘Tell me everything.’

***

Solas pulls you along the long passage that seems to drag forever. You vaguely remember reading how for humans the Eluvian crossroads seem longer than for elves. 

When you left your friends, Solas had rounded a corner and bound your hands in front of you. He divested you of your weapons, though you still wear your ring and amulet. Now he pulls you along to make it go faster as he navigates from Eluvian to Eluvian, muttering ancient Elvhen words to bypass the security and traps he himself undoubtedly laid there. 

He speaks little except to instruct you.

Finally, you emerge into a Thaig. Cool air blows in from somewhere. Solas drags you into what looks like a sitting room and sits you down at a table. He leaves for a few moments. You stare at the open door, considering your options.

‘You would be wise not to try that,’ he calls out to you from the other room as you stand. 

You curse under your breath and sit back down. Solas returns and places a plate of food before you. You blink at it before you laugh mirthlessly.

‘Eat,’ he instructs. ‘We have much to discuss. I need you in shape to share all you know.’

You narrow your eyes at him. ‘You assume I will cooperate.’

‘You will,’ he asserts, with confidence and arrogance.

You fight the urge to roll your eyes. You decide to tell him exactly how you’ve always felt about him and his story arc.

Continue reading The Otherworlder 3: Entrapment

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