"You didn't just leave me," Riona snapped. "You knocked me out and left me for the Ebon Vanguard to find. You left me to pay the price for your crimes."
Now it was Dougal's turn to look at the table. Five years ago, he and Riona and the others had all been in Ebonhawke, members of the Ebon Vanguard. They weren't very good at soldiering, and all of them talked about various schemes to get them to Lion's Arch, to Divinity's Reach, to anywhere but within a city besieged by the hated charr.
Then Dak found the map-the map to the original Ascalon City. A map that showed the towers and streets of that ancient human city from the times before the Searing and the Foefire, before the devastation of the charr. A map that showed the royal castle of King Adelbern.
And, most of all, showed the royal treasure vault and inventoried its contents.
Dak had found a treasure map and Jervis suggested they go after it. Marga asked why they should wait, and Vala and Dougal agreed. Riona, alone among them, said it was a bad idea, that they would be put to hard labor if they were caught, or slain by the charr if not, because Ascalon City was in the heart of the charr territories.
So Marga hit her over the back of the head one night when they were scheduled to go on patrol beyond the battlements. Marga and Dougal then loaded her into her bunk and told the commander she was ill and left her there. And they left Ebonhawke and never came back.
"When your patrol didn't return, the Ebon Vanguard came for me," Riona said, filling in the blanks on the table. "I didn't tell them what was going on, and they didn't believe me. I took the blame. They put me at hard labor in the quarries for two years before even considering reinstating my position. And they never let me patrol beyond the walls."
"And you're with the Vigil now," said Dougal, looking away as the carnival swirled around them.
"I served my tour. I left. I looked for a purpose. I found one with the Vigil and I came here, to Divinity's Reach. I've been here a year, and in all that time I never tried to hunt you"-she almost said "down" but brought herself up short-"out…" she finished.
"And the Vigil wants me. Why?" Dougal returned her glare. Her accusing eyes still hurt to look at, but it was clear he was going to have to learn to live with it.
"You survived Ascalon City. The others?"
"Dead. Dak, Jervis, Marga…" The locket felt heavy around his neck, like a stone. "And Vala. Dead in Ascalon City."
"And yet, you survived," said Riona, smiling. It was not a friendly smile. "Why am I not surprised?"
Dougal stared back into the angry eyes and said, "We were wrong. I apologize on behalf of the dead. Now you need me. Why?"
Riona bit her lip. "I need you to promise you won't run when I tell you," said Riona, and her expression softened just a bit.
"Would you believe me if I did?"asked Dougal.
"No," said Riona, "but I need you to promise anyway."
Dougal thought a moment, then said, "You need something in Ascalon. The Vigil needs something in Ascalon. You need someone to go there."
"Are you going to promise?"
"I don't understand how you ended up with the Vigil," said Dougal. "Their leader is-"
"I know what their leader is," said Riona. "I was looking for a purpose. For a chance to change myself, to change the world. I found it there."
"Riona," said Dougal, leaning forward, dropping his voice as if sharing a confidence. "They think they can defeat the Elder Dragons."
"Don't worry, they aren't asking you to fight a dragon, Elder or otherwise."
"Then what are they asking me to do?" Dougal took a pull on his ale.
"Go to Ascalon City," she said.
Dougal looked over the rim of the glass. "And do what?"
"That we'll talk about once we get to Lion's Arch."
Dougal thought for a moment and said, "I'll need a sword."
"You always were a horrible swordsman," said Riona.
"I've gotten better," said Dougal.
The two sat there for a moment, each daring the other to break the silence.
"Fine. Finish your drink," said Riona. "I'll get you a damned sword."
They returned their glasses to the vendor and weaved their way through the crowds. Riona kept shooting Dougal looks as if she anticipated him to melt away into the masses of carnival-goers.
Dougal had to admit that he considered escaping, ditching her in the bustle of the festival, recovering the Golem's Eye from its precarious hiding place, and quietly heading for some small village far from Divinity's Reach. Although Riona's offer was intriguing, the idea of returning to Ascalon City was insane. He had barely escaped with his life before. But the chance to make good on previous failed promises…
"A new shipment came in from Claypool," said the merchant, a squat man who, despite being surrounded by sharp blades, was in severe need of a shave. "Finest kind, fresh from the forge."
Riona's brows bunched up. "You must be kidding. Look at that pocking. The grip wobbles. And the edge isn't even true."
The merchant gave an irritated shrug. "You're not expecting Seraph quality, are you? And the really good stuff all gets shipped out to those Ebonhawke soreheads."
"What do you mean by that?" said Riona, her eyes narrowing.
"Ascalon is dead and buried," said the merchant. "Let the charr have it: it's blasted and filled with ghosts, anyway, from what I hear. Sending men and supplies to Ebonhawke-supplies we can use here at home to fight centaurs and bandits, mind you-is a waste of money. Good gold chasing after bad."
As the merchant spoke, Dougal noticed Riona's visage grow darker and her hand drifting to the grip of her own sword. "This will do nicely," he said quickly. "Pay the man, Riona."
"I'd rather-" started Riona, her jaw clenched.
"Pay the man," said Dougal. "Let's move on."
The two walked away from the merchant, Riona muttering, "That traitorous moron! And this is what people think of us in Divinity's Reach."
"Ebonhawke is far away, like Orr and the dragons," said Dougal. "You can understand if they worry more about centaurs raiding their caravans and bandits robbing their fields. You're right about one thing, though." He flicked the blade back and forth a few times. The other pedestrians watched him cautiously as he executed some textbook moves. "This blade is miserable."
"Told you," said Riona.
"Most modern blades are. Modern human blades, anyway." He sheathed the sword. "Such is life in our dragon-haunted times."
Someone called out Dougal's name from behind him.
"Now what?" said Riona, but Dougal saw a green face flickering among the crowds, a verdant arm raised overhead.
He smiled and shot a glance at Riona, who scowled at the approaching newcomer. The fact that the sylvari's appearance frustrated Riona made him feel even better. And Killeen looked fully recovered from her sojourn in the crypts beneath Divinity's Reach.
"Riona Grady, member of the Vigil, may I present-" he began.
"Killeen, born of the Cycle of Night," she said, holding out a hand in the human fashion.
Riona scowled and nodded, leaving the hand unclasped. "It is good to meet you, Killeen of the Night, but I am afraid Dougal and I have business to discuss-"
"Would you like an ale?" Dougal broke in. "There is a tent not more than twenty feet from here that does a passable brown lager."
The look Riona shot him would have slain a devourer at ten paces, and Dougal allowed himself a smile. New sins for her to be angry about might help heal the old.
"It's very nice," said Killeen a little later, sipping the ale. "Is that butternut squash in the mix?"
Dougal shrugged amiably while Riona, leaning back in her bench, kept her arms crossed. She said, "I don't know many sylvari." From her tone it was clear that she would prefer to know one fewer.
"And I don't know much about the Vigil," said Killeen, "other than they are a group made up of members from many races, nations, and guilds. They are dedicated to resisting the depredations of the Elder Dragons by force of arms. Are you hiring Dougal to fight dragons?"