The Hornet's Nest: Part 14

Even as she told herself she was determined to fight, Caolinn’s first instinct was to flee. It always had been, when she found herself in a tight situation. In the past, though, she’d so often been working alone, and the outcome had affected only herself. Now, she was flanked by two asura, with a wounded Lightbringer behind her, and a dozen Nightmare Courtiers preparing to attack. This time, she wasn’t going to have a choice.

Caolinn was already reaching for her daggers when Darr turned to her, a grin on his face. “I think this calls for a degree of teamwork, don’t you?”

“What did you have in mind?”

Darr nodded towards Nairne. “Get her out of here. Amber and I will take care of this rabble.”

Nairne was already starting to protest, but she didn’t get far. Not only was she in no condition to fight, but the moment she started to speak, the Courtiers attacked. Amber and Darr launched themselves forward, creating a flurry of spells and weapons that was clearly designed to create the biggest distraction possible. Caolinn drew back, feeling a little guilty at her sense of relief, and grabbed Nairne’s arm. “They’re better equipped for this than we are. Time to get out of here.”

Together, they began to circle the outer edge of the camp. Caolinn glanced back only once, seeing Amber flitting in and out of invisibility, and Darr surrounded by an army of clones. The Courtiers were clearly frustrated, trying to break past at every opportunity, but the two asura had woven a wall of defence that was virtually impenetrable.

“Arrogant little creatures,” Nairne said, as she staggered and caught herself against the twisted vine wall of the camp. “Always thinking they know best. The Nightmare Court might crush them.”

“They might,” Caolinn said, hauling Nairne upright again, “but I don’t think they will.”

They were halfway across Venomblight when more movement appeared by the gates. There was no sign of Torwen, but other Courtiers were gathering, leaving their guard posts to join the fight. Reinforcements, then. Caolinn almost smiled. She had a feeling the battle wasn’t going their way.

She and Nairne shrank into the shadows, letting the Courtiers pass. “The Order will be here soon,” Nairne said, which sounded more like a fervent prayer than a certainty.

“Will they?” Caolinn asked. “Mala, Hixx, the others – all those on your list – they really are loyal Agents?”

Nairne gave a soft snort. “I knew you had to be the one who’d taken my list. Not very subtle about it, were you?”

“Neither was your hiding place.”

“I never expected anyone to raid my office – I suppose I should give you credit for boldness, if nothing else.”

Caolinn caught Nairne’s shoulder before she could set off again. “If Hixx and the rest weren’t Inquest spies, why all the secrecy? What was that list all about?”

Nairne turned to her. “I’m almost tempted not to tell you. It’s none of your business; why shouldn’t you stew in your own curiosity? Rescue or not, we’re never going to trust one another if one of us doesn’t take the lead, though, are we?”

Caolinn wasn’t sure ‘trust’ was something she and Nairne would ever share, but she shook her head. Maybe spilling a few secrets would be a good place to start.

“The names on the left were simply Agents who’d requested reassignment. There was nothing nefarious about that.” Nairne looked away, ostensibly studying the movement of the Courtiers hurrying past their hiding place, but more likely lost in distant thought. “The ones on the right were the Agents I was bringing in to replace them.”

Anticipation prickled Caolinn’s scalp. “And?”

“And they were all part of my mission in Orr, the one Darr so spectacularly botched.” Nairne’s voice was sharp. “Our team was broken up after the mission; our superiors thought it best if we all got a bit of distance from that disaster. I’ve spent years searching for a way to bring us all back together. Only when I became a Lightbringer did that finally seem possible again.”

“So why all the secrecy?”

“Because no-one else in the Order approves. We’re not supposed to form bonds like that – Order Agents are trained to work alone.” Nairne shook her head, looking pained. “Maybe it was a bad idea dragging up the past like that, but my team and I had always felt closer than most Agents. If anyone else found out, I knew they’d separate us again, but if we all joined the Chantry individually, at different times and in different roles… Perhaps no-one would notice.”

Caolinn tried not to let her dismay show. Nairne’s story was so desperate, almost pathetic. The Lightbringer wasn’t hatching some dangerous scheme. Instead, she was stuck living in the past, haunted by a mission that had defined her entire career, and utterly destroyed Darr’s.

If Caolinn was honest, she agreed with their superiors: Nairne’s team were better off kept apart. That wasn’t her decision to make, though, nor was it her place to worry about Nairne’s ghosts. Those, the Lightbringer would have to deal with on her own.

The sound of fighting still drifted from the middle of the camp, but the way to the entrance was now clear. Caolinn got to her feet, urging Nairne on, feeling for the first time as though she was the one in charge. Better if Nairne’s team didn’t see her in this state – she’d never regain her authority as a Lightbringer otherwise.

They’d reached the gates when Caolinn stopped again. Nairne had spoken of trust, but that still seemed a very long way away. “Why did you recruit me? Why let me into the Chantry at all?”

Nairne pulled a wry smile that made her bruised face twist. “Everyone deserves a chance, especially someone with skills like yours. Are you really asking why I didn’t share my secrets, though, even when I brought you to Mount Maelstrom? I wasn’t about to tell anyone what I was planning, let alone some scrawny newcomer… but you’re right, there was more to it than that. I thought you were a spy amongst spies.”

“I was.”

“Not working for Torwen, or even Darr.” Nairne shook her head. “I thought you’d been sent by the Master of Whispers.”

Caolinn absorbed that for a moment. “Do you know who the Master is?”

“Of course not. No-one does. That isn’t the point, though. The Master spends as much time keeping an eye on the organisation as he or she does looking beyond it – or I would if I was them, anyway. I thought you’d been sent to find out what I was up to, and decide whether I was fit to keep my position.”

Caolinn felt a fresh surge of dismay, though it wasn’t really aimed at Nairne. Such distrust, such paranoia – this was what the Order of Whispers bred. She might not have known all Darr’s secrets when they worked together, but at least she’d never believed him capable of spying on her. They’d trusted one another to get the job done; in fact, they’d almost been friends.

Nairne’s mouth twisted. “This isn’t the life you signed up for, is it? The Order of Whispers does a great deal of good in this world, Caolinn… but I wouldn’t blame you if you’re having doubts.”

Caolinn didn’t reply. Venomblight’s gates were clear, and the sound of fighting behind them had died away. “You need to get out of here. I’m going back to check on Darr.”

“He’s more than capable of taking care of himself,” Nairne said, but she nodded anyway and started limping towards the gates. “I’d thank you for saving me, but that would just be embarrassing for both of us. I expect you still have unfinished business here, anyway. Try not to die.”

Caolinn turned back to the camp. Unfinished business, yes. The battle might be over, but Torwen had to be here somewhere. She couldn’t believe he’d go down easily, and she was certain he wouldn’t flee without confronting her first.

She flitted back across Venomblight, keeping to the shadows, all her senses alert. She’d almost reached the cages again when she finally abandoned her secrecy. The camp was littered with fallen Nightmare Courtiers, some dead and some disabled – and a small, lone figure stood over them, watchful and wary, a smoking pistol in one hand.

“Where’s Darr?” Caolinn asked as she got closer.

Amber didn’t look up from her survey of the Courtiers, as though she expected any one of them to leap back to their feet and attack. “Securing the perimeter. He’s going to rendezvous with the Order at Gorlois Spine afterwards. I told him there’s no-one left, but he wouldn’t listen.”

No-one left? “What about Torwen?”

“Oh, well.” Amber gave a thin smile. “I suppose he’s still lurking somewhere. I don’t think he has any intention of facing us, though.”

“You, no – but what about me?”

Amber peered at her, a thoughtful look overtaking her grey face. “Do you really want that? The Order of Whispers will find him, if you let them. You never have to see him again.”

Caolinn thought of Rata Sum, of those last hours of chaos before Torwen’s spell had truly taken hold. “Would you have been content to never see Zurra again, to leave her to the Peacemakers?”

After a moment’s silence, Amber shook her head. “There are days when I think that would have been the sensible option… but no, I wouldn’t have been ‘content’.”

“I can’t be left wondering what happened to him,” Caolinn said. “I need to see it with my own eyes.”

“And end his life with your own hand?” Before Caolinn could reply, Amber shrugged. “I’m not passing judgement. Just… think carefully, Caolinn. There are some decisions you only get to make once.”

Caolinn nodded, watching as Amber made a final circuit of the fallen Courtiers, ensuring they were truly out of the fight. A moment later, she lifted her pistol in salute, then shadowstepped away.

Caolinn stared after her, nothing but the sound of the wind in her ears. Torwen had to be here somewhere, even if he’d chosen to avoid the fight. With Nairne and the asura gone, he’d surely show himself.

It was time to end this.