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Chapter 1 - Harrowing
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It was a calm friday morning and the weather was indicating that a strong storm was about to pass over Ferelden. Mina, Perrin and Marco were sitting on the pier of Circle Tower. The sun was shining while Mina was reading a book. Marco had been swimming and fishing most of the time they spent outside as Perrin was laying on a stone that was surrounded by water, sleeping. Suddenly Mina dropped her book and asked out loud;
Mina: I wonder where Casey is...
The sudden question woke Perrin up who flinched and fell into the water. This brought a slight smile on Mina's face that quickly faded as Marco was laughing out loud. Perrin dragged himself a shore and coughed two times before answering to Mina's question.
Perrin: Who knows? The guy does as he pleases when he pleases. If you really want to know, I can get you the information. I've been doing some ''favors'' to certain ''parties'' so they could easily get me the information as they owe me.
Mina, for the first time for a long time, looked interested and her eyes sparkled with both happiness.
Mina: Could you really do that?
Perrin: Yeah, sure. I'll get back to the tower and start looking for person who might know what's going on.
Perrin runs behind the tower and enters the tower via their concealed entrance. He then starts searching for people who might know Casey's whereabouts, starting from the first floor library. Nine hours pass and once Mina and Marco were sleeping in their hideout, one of the stone walls open and Perrin rushes in with an elf mage. He then wakes Mina and Marco up.
Perrin: You never guess what I found out! I heard from this fella here that they're holding Casey's Harrowing right now.
While speaking Perrin points at the elf who entered the room with him who immediately blushes and runs back to where they came from.
Perrin: Shame that he is so shy. He seems like a nice guy. Still, I got a map which shows the secret passageway to the top floor. They apparently hold Harrowings there.
Perrin guides them to the one of the corridors of the cellar. He then makes a gesture with his hand that stops Mina and Marco who were following him when they reach a crossroad. Perrin turns to them both and forms words with his lips ''Sentineels guarding the corridors. We must proceed silently''. The trio passes the sentineels who walk by without noticing them. Soon they reach a highlighted wall which Perrin touches and repeats elven words that were scribbled on the map. Soon, the wall fades and reveals a stairway that leads straight up. They climb up for 20 minutes and reach the top floor.
Perrin: Shhh.... Stop moving
They stop behind a wall on the eastern side of the circle shaped room. Between the tiles are narrow holes that they can hear and see what happens in the room.
In middle of the room a mass of people has gathered. Perrin could identify five of them. There was first Enchanter Irving (head of the circle), Knight-Commander Greagoir, Uldred and in middle of them is Casey floating on air.
Uldred: The wards are still working. He shouldn't be moving for a while.
Greagoir: He has twenty minutes left until... Well, we shouldn't speak of it.
Irving: Don't get ahead of yourself, Greagoir. He can still complete the Harrowing.
Mina squeaks quietly when Greagoir unseathes his sword and puts it on Casey's neck. Marco then pushes all Perrin and Mina back to the staircase. Perrin stumbles on stairs and screams for a moment.
In the top room, Uldred raises his eyebrows and looks at the wall where the three of them were looking at the crowd from. As he gazes there, Casey twitches.
Irving: Don't lose your focus, Uldred!
The kids return to their hideout and go to sleep without saying anything, horrified of the events that happened on top floor.
Meanwhile in fade:
( background music:
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)Casey wokes up in a forest surrounded by crooked trees, thinking where he is and notices a one way path that leads deeper into the forest. He then gets up and starts walking the path to the heart of the forest.
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End of the chapter.
