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Krem didn’t anticipate how difficult it would end up being trying to find someone who would at least hear him out. Selling a mercenary company was never usually this hard, especially in times like these, but he kept getting passed by while he waited around the Chantry building in Haven. He knew better than to try to talk directly to the big faces of the Inquisition, the Commander, Seeker, and Spymaster having very distinct looks, on top of looking extremely annoyed any time he saw them walk past. Hell even their chief diplomat looked pretty harried whenever she exited the building. He hadn’t seen the Herald of Andraste themselves yet, but Krem figured that the Herald had to be out leading aid missions like the Chargers had heard.
“Excuse me!” he called out to someone who looked like a message runner, only for them to keep going right on past. He barely suppressed his disappointed sigh at once again getting ignored in the bustle of Haven. He figured he could try to follow someone around until he got an audience but also knew that wouldn’t really endear his company to the Inquisition.
“Are you alright?” A kind voice asked from behind him. Krem turned suddenly to see a young woman, an elf to be specific, dressed in the clothing that most of the Inquisition’s scouts would typically wear. Next to her stood another elf, but this one dressed more similarly to the Commander’s men. The two of them together obviously had to be siblings though, even though their face tattoos were very different, all of their other features were so similar, they probably joined the Inquisition together. Krem hadn’t heard of many Dalish elves joining the very Andrastian religion, but he also figured that the chaos was probably something the Dalish were interested in stopping as well.
“I’ve got a message for the Inquisition, but I’m having a hard time getting anyone to talk to me,” he explained. She stepped closer, obviously interested, while her brother seemed to be having a hard time trying to not roll his eyes. Krem decided he would focus on the woman instead.
“What’s your name, soldier?” she asked, willing to hear him out.
“Cremisius Aclassi, with the Bull’s Chargers Mercenary Company. We mostly work out of Orlais and Nevarra. We got word of some Tevinter mercenaries gathering out on the Storm Coast. My Company Commander, Iron Bull, offers the information free of charge. If you’d like to see what the Bull’s Chargers can do for the Inquisition, meet us there and watch us work,” Krem delivered, trying to convey his confidence. He knew they could easily dispatch the mercenaries, but he wasn’t entirely sure that the Andrastian organization would be so keen to pay for a service they could probably convince some weird fanatics to do instead. The elven siblings shared a look, and the brother took over next.
“What should we know about your commander?” he asked, crossing his arms, looking extremely skeptical. His sister obviously looked like she was hiding a smile behind her fist at his actions.
“Iron Bull? He’s one of those Qunari. The big guys with the horns? He leads from the front, he pays well, and he’s a lot smarter than the last bastard I worked for. Best of all, he’s professional. We accept contracts with whoever makes the first real offer. You’re the first time he’s gone out of the way to pick a side,” he answered honestly, staring down the man, waiting for him to make some judgmental comment about mercenaries.
“But what can your Bull’s Chargers offer the Inquisition? We obviously have a fighting force of our own,” the man followed up with.
“We’re loyal, we’re tough, and we don’t break contracts. Ask around Val Royeaux, we’ve got references. Best of all, we’re not a bunch of untrained farmer’s sons,” Krem said, daring the man to argue with that. The woman at least looked very amused by his answer. She cut in before her brother could continue.
“Why did your commander want to send us this information?” She asked curiously.
“Like I said, he wants to pick a side for the first time. Iron Bull wants to work for the Inquisition. He thinks you’re doing good work,” he said. Being entirely honest, Krem thought so too, and was glad his prodding and nagging had at least gotten Bull to agree to his idea of a test run at the Coast.
“We’ll consider your offer,” the brother said, cutting in again. Krem could only nod in agreement.
“I appreciate that. We’re the best you’ll find. Like I said, come to the Storm Coast and see us in action,” Krem said, satisfied that he finally found someone to pass the message on. Hopefully the scout would get it to the hands of the Spymaster, or even the warrior could tell the Commander about it.
-
Thankfully, fighting Tevinter mercenaries was always satisfying for Krem, maybe it shouldn’t have been, considering his country of origin, but he didn’t care enough to dig into that particular piece of his past. He just appreciated there being one less shitty slaver in the world, as most mercenaries who worked for Tevinter ended up being slavers at some point. He was just hefting his warhammer back into place over his shoulder as Bull called out.
“Chargers, stand down!” the Qunari yelled. “Krem! How’d we do?” he asked, making his way over to where Krem stood.
“Five or six wounded, Chief. No dead,” he reported happily, standing at attention.
“That’s what I like to hear,” Bull said, smiling at him. “Let the Throatcutters finish up, then break out the casks,” Krem nodded, and before heading out couldn’t resist bringing up his annoyance as he saw the siblings from Haven begin to approach Iron Bull.
“Shame the Herald couldn’t come, I’d have figured they’d appreciate bashing in some ‘Vint skulls with us,” he said, crossing his arms as the siblings reached them. Iron Bull just chuckled at that and gave Krem a bit of a look. The brother looked visibly more annoyed at Krem’s comment while his sister was visibly trying to hold back some giggles.
“I’m sure the Herald appreciated it plenty, Krem, now go take care of the casks, we should celebrate!” Iron Bull said, clapping Krem on the shoulder. He shoved playfully at his commander and headed back to check in with the rest of the crew.
He saw the siblings had been followed by a few others, who were now seeming to check in with each other away from the Chargers. Probably just an available scouting team, but it didn’t quite make sense that they’d have a mage with them, or the warrior brother if they were supposed to be sneaky. Krem couldn’t judge them though, the Chargers had a colorful crew as well. Overall, it seemed to Krem that none of the folks in charge had decided to take up the Charger’s offer. He could only feel a little disappointed by that, but tempered that by being glad that the siblings at least came and could report back favorably for the Chargers. Krem turned his attention to assessing how bad some of the injuries were and finding the casks. He returned right as Iron Bull had sat down, the siblings remaining standing.
“I assume you remember Cremisius Aclassi, my Lieutenant,” Bull said. Krem nodded back to the siblings, suddenly realizing he never actually caught their names at all.
“Good to see you again. Throatcutters are done Chief,” he said, reporting back to Iron Bull.
“Already? Have ‘em check again. I don’t want any of those Tevinter bastards getting away. No offense, Krem,” Bull joked, and Krem knew that if Bull still had two working eyes, he would have winked at the end there.
“None taken. Least a bastard knows who his mother was. Puts him one up on you Qunari, right?” Krem snarked back, before turning to signal the group to double check and ensure there wouldn’t be any surprises. As they finished the second sweep, Krem heard Bull’s voice call out over the waves.
“Krem, tell the men to finish drinking on the road. The Chargers just got hired!” he shouted to Krem’s immense relief and dismay simultaneously.
“What about the casks Chief? We just opened them. With axes,” Krem yelled back, arms spread at the mess around him.
“Find some way to seal them. You’re Tevinter, right? Try blood magic,” Bull said, smirking at him. Krem just rolled his eyes back as he walked over to stand by his commander and the siblings. The sister was smiling at the two of them while the brother looked even more annoyed than before, his eyes pinching around the corners.
“No offense to you two, but I didn’t figure a scout and a foot soldier would have the sway to accept us on,” Krem said, looking at the two of them appreciatively. Bull threw his head back and started laughing loudly. Krem looked confusedly between his boss and the two twins until Bull stopped laughing and replied.
“I highly doubt such a pair would, except for the fact that one of them happens to be the Herald herself,” Bull said to Krem’s shock. His eyes darted back to the woman, who sheepishly waved at him with her hand, palm marked by the very thing that had been saving the world, one rift at a time. Beside her, her brother was smirking extremely smugly, some of the irritated lines fading in amusement. Krem struggled for a moment to pick his jaw up off the ground and to stop gaping at the unassuming woman.
“I honestly had never anticipated that shemlen could be so blind,” he said, very smugly. It was at that moment that Krem decided that he found the man extremely annoying and hoped that as Bull guarded the Herald, that their paths wouldn’t cross. As he pulled himself together, he missed the slightly smitten look that Bull shot at the man.