Chapter Text
Viago POV - Year 9:36
“Careful, try not to step into shit. We don’t want to ruin your new shoes.”
“Thank you, Teia, how very considerate of you. But I after we're done with this job, I’d rather throw out all the clothes anyway. That smell is impossible to remove.”
Viago was glad to have Teia with him on this contract to Minrathous. Not that the contract was complicated, quite the opposite. They were only supposed to get information on Venatori activity for future operations, at least that was all the Talons of House de Riva and House Cantori told them, before leaving Treviso. One of the rare instances, where the houses' rivalries were put aside.
Even though Teia and Viago made their way through the filthiest streets of Tevinters capital, he still considered it a lucky day. With Teia, he would gladly step into shit and ruin his new leather boots if it meant he could spend time with her. Not to mention he could always get new clothes tailored anyway.
Teia laughed and warmth spread through his body. “You and your vain. But at least this way I get to look at something nice and not all this filth of this trashcan of a city.” She threw her mass of dark locks over her shoulder and looked up to him.
“But enough chatting around. Let's go to this slave market and get the contract done, I really need a bath.”
Viago agreed and desperately tried to think about their job and not of Teia and her bath.
Together they moved through the crowds, stepping over beggars of any ages; malnourished shells of people.
The very first time he came to Minrathous he was shocked to see so much misery, so much hopelessness, but, he thought, at least these people were free. Not slaves. But being a beggar in a city, much less in Minrathous, can’t be much better than being a slave, can it?
The more often he went to Minrathous, the more he ignored these thoughts and these people. He couldn’t help anyway, even if he wanted to.
Teia and him were here to do a job, and the job would be done. And a crow never abandons a contract, however simple or difficult it may be.
The slave markets of Minrathous were open secrets. Not prosecuted by any authority, not officially allowed, but absolutely tolerated. And - the perfect place to get information on the Venatori.
They reached the building where the market was held inside, hidden behind thick wooden doors and guarded by no less than ten people. For the average person they looked like unsuspecting people lurking around, but Viago could see the hidden weapons, the way they regarded everyone passing by and making sure that only people got inside who meant no trouble for the business inside. But still, they would be no match for Teia and him, if it would come to a fight.
Without a fuss from the guards, the doors were opened for them to step through.
This wasn't the first time Viago saw a slave market, but still… seeing these people, humans, elves, quanari and sometimes even dwarves, confined in cages like cattle, with hopelessness and grim acceptance of their fates written across their faces… it made him feel uneasy, to put it mildly. Maybe he felt even sorry for them. But he was an assassin, an Antivan Crow, and there was no space for those feelings in his line of work.
Death was his specialty. Freeing and helping slaves? Not so much.
The hall was lined with cages, some big enough for several people, some where only for one person. Some people were chained by their hands, legs, or even necks, leaving no opportunity to flee.
It was obvious, that all of the “customers” were rich, with all the jewelry they wore on their bodies and the way they clothed. People who were Venatori or with relations to them. Exactly what Teia and him were looking for.
Side by side, close enough for their arms to touch, they went around the slave market, sometimes pretending to be interested in a slave to better listen to conversations nearby that might help them out.
“Don't you dare to fucking touch me, you filthy bastard!”
A high-pitched voice tore through the market. Teia and Viago looked at each other for a brief moment, deciding without words to go to where the commotion was coming from.
Viago was surprised to see a young girl, not older than ten, he estimated, with almost sickly pale skin, long, but dirty blond hair, with bare feet and clothed in nothing but rags, raising her voice and actually standing up to a man. His head was cleanly shaven his clothes were not of the highest quality, but still it was obvious he had money, if he was to buy slaves. His golden eyes shone with fury as the girl stood with balled fists in front of him.
A slave girl standing up, trying to fight against her fate. But a slave, a single child nonetheless, had no fighting chance in this world.
Teia crossed her arms and whispered to him. “That's one courageous girl, I'll give her that.
He simply nodded and watched the situation unfold. It was not in his place to step in, even if he was fascinated by that girls’ courage.
Another man, probably the “seller”, quickly rose to his feet and grabbed the chain which connected to the metal ring around the girls’ neck and yanked it backwards. The girl fell hard to the ground.
“My lord, please excuse this slave’s behavior. She has yet to learn where her place is.”
The bald man kneeled down and roughly grabbed the girls’ chin. Slowly, as if he was examining a piece of meat, he pulled the girls face from one side to the other.
Then, a disgusting smile appeared on the bald man's face. “She is perfect. I will buy her immediately… such nice hair…”. With his other hand he took a strand of her hair and let it glide through his fingers.
The girls’ eyes widened in fear and she went still.
It was over for her, Viago thought.
But then, just as he was about to turn away, the girl said with such determination, such rage Viago has never seen before from a person who was about to be doomed: “Fuck. You.”
The man slapped the girl. Again, she fell to the ground, her upper lip badly split and red blood started to flow down her mouth, her chin, and dropping to the ground. And even then, she quickly lifted her head to spit blood mixed with saliva onto the man’s face.
He wiped the spit away, still smiling disgusting at the girl. “Indeed, she will soon know her place. But I like her spirit, it's quite rare to find slaves with such… fire inside them.”
He stood up and dusted of his trousers.
“Bring her as soon as possible to my house. You will be paid as soon as she is there.”
“But… My lord, please excuse my ignorance, I am just a simple merchant of very special goods, but who are you and where exactly should the slave be brought to?”
The bald man huffed and his nose went up high. Viago was certain that the man was someone who only recently came to wealth.
“My name is Ambrose Forfex. Friend to Magister Livius Erimond. Are these information enough?”
Interesting, Viago thought. So, this so-called Ambrose Forfex had connection to Erimond, a known Venatori.
While the merchant and Forfex discussed the girls value, and where exactly Forfex’ house was located, Viago spared the girl another glance.
Still bleeding, she sat up. Tears now streamed down her face, landing on the dirty clothes she wore and mixing with the drops of blood. But still, the fire inside her eyes roared.
Viago closed his eyes for a moment and sighed.
It’s stupid. I can’t save everyone from this fate. I am an Antivan Crow. This should not affect me.
He felt Teia shift next to him.
“Are you about to do what I think you're about to do?”
He didn't answer immediately, so Teia continued.
“I like her. She keeps on fighting, despite the odds stacked way up against her. She has potential to be a Crow.”
“We're not here for recruits,” he flatly said, but already taking a step towards where Forfex and the merchant still spoke with each other.
Teia laughed. “You've already made up your mind. I'll help you to come up with an explanation for the Talons.”
And so, Viago stepped right next to Forfex, who was a good head smaller than him, reached into his pocket and threw a fist sized leather bag to the merchant, who almost dropped it.
“That should be more than enough coin for the girl. I'll take her with me now.” He tried not to think about potentially wasting money on a frail slave girl, instead of using it to buy new clothes.
The merchant's eyes grew wide as he looked inside the bag and saw it filled to the brim with coins. “Yes, my lord. "At once”, the merchant said, immediately ignoring Forfex and grinning so wide, that his disgusting teeth were visible. V
The girls head snapped up, while Forfex turned to him and breathed in deeply. When his mouth opened to say something, Viago simply held up a hand, not bothering to spare Forfex a glance.
“Whatever you're about to say, shut it. Take your money and buy better clothes instead, Maker knows you need them.”
While the merchant removed the chain from the metal collar on the girls’ neck, said girl stood up fully, barely being half as tall as Viago. Her eyes were the color of light lavender, quite unusual, but not unheard of. She was thin, desperately needed something to eat, a bath and a comb (or maybe even scissors). And new clothes.
Teia appeared next to him and gave the girl a reassuring smile.
“Come”, she told the girl and grabbed her hand tight, but not too uncomfortable.
This situation already caused too much attention on them and they needed to leave.
Teia pulled the girl with her and Viago followed them. He heard how Forfex started to furiously shout at the merchant, but neither he nor the merchant seemed to care.
Even though this trip took an und expected turn, they still got some information, so nothing was wasted.
Well, except for Viagos money, if that girl would die an early death. Or cause him trouble.
They left the slave market and Teia still held the girls hand all the way back to the tavern, where they stayed while they were in Minrathous.
Later that day, after having eaten and letting the girl take a much needed bath, she sat on a chair in front of Viago and Teia, and regarded them with those cautious, lavender eyes, while they shortly explained who they were, without giving too much information.
“You have two options”, Viago said sternly and crossed his arms, “either we let you go, maybe to go back to your family if you have some, or come with us to Antiva. Become a Crow. The choice is yours.”
Teia gave him a quick side glance. Viago, nor any other Crow who just spend and absurd amount of money on a potential recruit, usually doesn’t give them an option on what they want to do with their life. “What Viago didn't tell you - you're determined, courageous. We think you can make it.”
Without a second of doubt, the girl answered.
“I'll do it. I'll become a Crow.”
Viago lifted a brow. “You don't want to go back to your family?”
The girl shook her head, eyes filling with tears, but none spilled over. “No. My family is dead to me. "I’m alone.”
He nodded. “One last thing for today. What is your name?”
For a moment, the girl seemed to think about the question. “Rhia. Just… Rhia.”
Viago and Teia stood up to leave the room. They still had more information to get, and maybe even pay Forfex’ house a surprise visit to get more specific information.
“Alright. Well then, ‘Just Rhia’, welcome aboard. And you owe me new clothes.”