Esmeralda and the cost
Esmeralda – the old hag – looked at the items displayed on her conjured table. She slowly raises her cloudy light green eyes and examines the three before her.
'All related, two curses binding them all.' She thought for a long moment. 'Too much trouble.' All the items before her disappeared along with the table.
She smiled broadly at the Stronghoods. "I can't help you."
Her voice was a mix of cracking wood and ancient death and Sonia and Angelica both winced.
Michael cleared his throat.
"Ma'am please. What can we give you in payment?"
"Michael! We haven't even said…"
"Quiet Anabel!"
Anabel's eyes went wide but she shut her mouth like it was a spring loaded trap and said nothing more.
"We are willing to meet your demands in this."
Esmeralda's ancient head swung back and forth. Her brittle white hair staying in place like odd, spun, cotton candy.
"Those curses are strong. I can't do anything against them, and I do not wish to contend with the one that put them on you."
She smiled broadly, her black teeth gleaming in the dim like black water in the noon day sun. "Your payment is mine – a consultation fee."
Anabel bristled but said nothing after a stern look from Michael.
"We don't want you to deal with them. We want our relative found."
Esmeralda narrowed her eyes, the irises bobbing about reading Michael's aura.
'Both truth and lie. Danger weaves through him as if it were a weed trying to choke a thriving neighboring plant. They all reek of danger.'
She set back. Her eyes moving over Sonia. "I will take the young one for this. And I will only find the relative – you have to retrieve them yourself."
Sonia whimpered but Angelica and Tomas bot hushed her.
"How can we retrieve her of we can not even find her?"
She looked into Michael's eyes and he shivered – it felt like her gaze slithered through his soul.
"I can sell you a Golem as well." She cocked her craggy head, and warts seemed to slant to the side. "That can come out of your consultation fee, but the girl stays with me for 15 years."
Sonia whimpered again and just as Michael was about to agree the five of them fell on their faces in silent agony – the Tortoise Mark and the Silent Moment taking effect in the most inopportune moment.
Esmeralda narrowed her eyes and leaned forward. 'Marked as well?' Her eyes went wide. 'By that old Tortoise?'
As they recovered they heard her brittle dead voice. "I will need both of the young females. They need to work and live here.."
"ABSOLUTELY NOT!"
Anabel's voice rang over the clearing. Michael closed his eyes in frustration. Before anyone else could react Esmeralda smiled and leaned back in her chair.
"Very well. Leave my mountain."
The Stronghoods were physically pushed and they all ended on their butts at the foot of the mountain.
Esmeralda quietly watched as a Serpent Clan spy moved quietly through the trees. She nodded.
"It is not just that old enchantress, her protégé has a hand in this as well. When they come back I will need to increase the time to 30 years – Varric's temper is far worse than Elsa's.
Varric looked up as Marcus entered the audience chambers. He stopped before him and took a knee.
"Rise and tell me what you have."
Marcus rose and nodded respectfully. "My Lord. The spy watching the Stronghoods has reported. They have sought out the sorceress on Blackcrest Mountain. They want her to help them find Lady Ardyn."
Varric's head cocked to the side and he narrowed his eyes – the temperature dropped dramatically and many found it hard to breathe.
"What did Esmeralda say?"
"She asked for both daughters for 15 years."
Varric smiled, venom dripped from exposed fangs as he leaned back in his throne and tried to force calm. "The Old Hag is as greedy as ever." Even as Varric spoke the room became more and more uncomfortable as his power rose and more pressure was exerted on everyone present – he again fought for control, his mind on Ardyn.
"Watch them Marcus. We may need to act quickly. They will not lay a finger on my queen!" His words reverberated over the chamber and many fought to maintain balance.
He ignored it all – his control gone.
Marcus bowed deeply and left immediately.
Varric's power hummed around him as he thought about the fools who refused to listen to him. "I am sorry my love, they force my hand with this – your family wants to die, and I will have to oblige them."
His silver eyes flashed with a liquid fury, Ardyn smiling flashing cross his mind and strengthening his resolve.