Chapter Text
Robert Kylon never thought that he'd face an individual worse than Vaughan Kendall. A spoiled nobleman who daily threatened the people that Kylon swore to protect. He touted his power and used his privilege birth for his own selfish means. He was a predator constantly attacking the weakest within the city-the elves.
For so long Kylon had dreaded the day when the Arling officially passed from Urien to Vaughan, worried for the well being of his city and her people. Never one to directly oppose the future Arl of Denerim, Kylon had found ways to try to protect the elves who were all but left defenseless and vulnerable under the current system. He took his vows to the people more seriously than the ones he made to the Arl of Denerim.
However, Robert's fears and concerns about his beloved city under Vaughan's leadership had all but disappeared at the surprising, but welcoming news that Vaughan Kendall had been killed. He did not mourn the death of Vaughan Kendall. He had felt no remorse, or pity when he had been told that the heir to the Arling had been ripped to shreds by a mob. Robert actually found it fitting, but he made sure to keep that particular thought to himself.
Now, Kylon was asked to take those same vows again, but it was not to swear fealty and allegiance to Arl Urien's son and heir-Vaughan, but to someone else-Rendon Howe. His first impressions of the new Arl weren't exactly glowing. Especially given the new instructions that Howe had given the city guard, their new top priorities were to be vigilant for sympathizers to the Grey Wardens and the Cousland family.
At first he thought this was some jest. The city of Denerim was being flooded with scared refugees who needed the protection and support of the city guard, but according to their new Arl these people should be forgotten and ignored in pursuit of Grey Wardens and Cousland sympathizers.
Robert Kylon didn't like these new orders one bit. Rendon Howe wanted to use the city guard like his own militia. This went against what they stood for. Their duties first and foremost were to the people of Denerim: To police, to protect, and to serve them. Not to be used as pawns for the nobles, to settle old grudges nor to curb opposition to a particular group or noble family.
He wasn't going to ignore his sworn vows to the citizens of Denerim so that he could hunt down sympathizers to the Grey Wardens or supporters of the Cousland family. How would that benefit the people of Denerim? Sadly, for Kylon it seemed that the priorities of the new ruling Arl were not for the city or her people, but for his own personal objectives.
This Rendon Howe seemed willing to tear Denerim apart to secure his own power base.
According to the new Arl, the Grey Wardens were responsible for killing King Cailan and for the disastrous defeat at Ostagar, while the Couslands, Howe had labeled them as traitors to Ferelden.
Grey Wardens killing the king, Kylon snorted. It was one of the more absurd pieces of gossip that he had ever heard. In regards to the Couslands being traitors, Kylon wasn't sure what to believe. He was a man of Denerim, and had remained rather oblivious to the politics of the Bannorn and the nobles of Ferelden and their little games.
For Robert Kylon his concern had never been with the dealings and politics of those outside of Denerim. He had enough to worry about within the city to be preoccupied by the rest of Ferelden. However, that may be a luxury he could no longer afford. Ferelden was in a state of strife the likes of which it had not seen since the Occupation: darkspawn invading from the south, and a resistance fermenting in the Bannorn. The problems of Ferelden were beginning to seep into Denerim, which meant problems for Robert Kylon.
The city guard sergeant stopped outside the Gnawed Noble Tavern. This place was one of the staples of Denerim. It was a favorite spot for the nobility, wealthy merchants, and influential knights. The tavern had become increasingly busy in the past few days since Regent Loghain had called on the Banns and freeholders to come to Denerim for a Landsmeet in the aftermath of the Battle of Ostagar.
It was here that he was meeting a friend and contact within the city. Robert Kylon entered the tavern, it was unsurprisingly crowded. Every table was filled with some of the most important people in Ferelden, telling different stories and trading gossip about what was happening throughout the country.
At one table he heard a silent toast being made to the Couslands. They followed their secret toast by adding a prayer to the Maker asking to give Oren and Edmund strength for the times to come. Those must be the two Couslands that the new Arl had wanted apprehended.
However, Robert Kylon made no attempt to do that. Regardless of the orders given by the new Arl, Kylon could not see the good for Denerim by involving her city guard in what seemed to be a Bannorn matter.
At another table a Bann was retelling the Battle of Ostagar to a group of Teyrn Loghain supporters. They were more boisterous then some of the other tables. They were claiming that the Teyrn's judgment should not be questioned and if that the Hero of River Dane said that the battle could not be won then it should be taken at his word.
Passing the rest of the tables, the bartender gave Robert a friendly wave before nodding to the hallway that led to the private rooms. Kylon waved him his thanks and slipped out of the tavern's main hall and into the hallway that snaked further back before branching off into various different private rooms. He knew he reached the right room by the familiar guards who stood outside the doorway. One gave him a friendly nod as the other opened the door for him.
The private room was well furnished with a mixture of a bedroom and sitting room furniture. It was in the sitting area that he found his contact. Sitting at the table with plates covered with food scattered across it, was one of the most well informed men in not just Denerim, but Ferelden. He wasn't a nobleman or a merchant. He was a commoner born in this very city who long ago realized that information can be just as valuable as gems and coin.
"Robert Kylon," he boomed, looking up from his half eaten chicken.
"Slim," Robert greeted taking the seat across from Slim Couldry.
Despite the name, Slim was anything but, a portly man with an appetite that never seemed sated whether it was food, women, drink, or information. Slim was never content. He had a short crop of red hair, equally fiery eyebrows and goatee with intelligent green eyes that always looked to be searching for something new to uncover.
A thief by trade, no one had an ear to Denerim like Slim Couldry. He traded secrets and coins, and had agents throughout the capital. He even claimed to have eyes and ears within every major noble estate in the city including the Royal Palace.
He hadn't allowed the city walls to stop his influence from spreading. He had agents throughout Ferelden. He had two kinds of agents, his little mice who were agents within the city of Denerim, and his birds which were his agents who were located throughout Ferelden. In a few short years, Slim Couldry had carved himself quite the operation and was considered by those that mattered to be the most well informed man in Denerim.
He was a criminal, but Robert Kylon had realized long ago that more good could come from working with Slim then whatever could have been gained by simply arresting him and allowing him to rot in some dungeon. So Robert Kylon overlooked some of Slim's faults and business practices and in return he gave Robert valuable information and kept him well informed about the city's criminal underworld. Slim's information had led to apprehending several prominent and violent criminals in the past few years.
"Drink?" He offered Kylon a tankard.
"Thanks." Robert didn't usually drink while on duty but after his meeting with Rendon Howe, he thought he was entitled to one.
Slim didn't seem to miss it either. "The new Arl must have made some impression on you."
"He did," Kylon took a sip from his tankard.
"Can't say I'll miss the old one," Slim made his distaste clear.
"Not sure if we'll hear anyone say that," Kylon agreed.
"He killed his own father ya know."
"I thought his father died at Ostagar."
"He did, but it was by an assassin's blade."
Sometimes it was scary how much Slim knew. It also made Robert thankful that Slim was an ally and he even considered the thief a friend.
"You soured by the new Arl already?" Slim had moved onto a bowl filled with a rich hearty looking stew. However, his green eyes transfixed remained on Robert, alert for any tell.
"I will admit, I'm uncomfortable with some of his new instructions."
"About the Grey Wardens and the Couslands," Slim was nodding. "Yeah, it seems they've found themselves as the top targets for the new Arl."
"What do you know of Howe?"
"The Arl of Amaranthine, a veteran from the Rebellion," Slim recited the information in a bored tone, "Believed himself slighted in his rewards for his service in restoring the Theirin line."
"Slighted?"
"Yeah," Slim leaned forward, "I suppose in large part that's what's been fueling him during some of his most recent and questionable actions."
"What has he done?" Kylon was not liking this report of his new Arl one bit.
"He put Cousland Castle to the torch," Slim bowed his head, "I lost a few good men in his attack."
"Cousland Castle?" Kylon wasn't familiar with many of the noble families or their homes throughout Ferelden.
"In Highever," Slim looked amused, "He claimed the Teyrnir for himself."
"What about the surviving Couslands?" Kylon took a large sip from his tankard.
"Howe needs them dead," Slim stated matter-of-factly. "They stand in his way of legitimizing his claim to the Teyrnir."
"And he plans to use the city guard to carry out his dirty work?" Kylon felt his stomach lurch at the implications. This was not their duty. This was not their fight. He wasn't going to be used as a pawn in this battle between nobles.
"If they venture here, I imagine he would," Slim confirmed, "but I don't think you have to worry about that."
That got Kylon's attention. "What do you mean?"
"They went west with Bann Loren," Slim revealed.
"What did these Couslands do?" It was difficult for Kylon to make any sense of these nobles and their motivations.
"They live," Slim slurped up a spoonful of his stew.
Kylon couldn't resist the frown that came to his lips at his friend's blunt answer.
Slim noticed it as well, smiling. "My friend, your heart isn't made for politics, I think."
"No, it isn't," Kylon happily agreed.
In times like this, Robert couldn't help but believe that they would be better off without the nobles. They use their wealth and family history to fight petty grudges to preserve their ancestral honor. In the end it was always the people that suffered. They were the ones who died for these nobles. Poor and misguided men and women who would die over disagreements they never understood or areas of land they would never see.
It just never sat right with Robert Kylon. It was why he was happy to be serving in Denerim. Less nobles, and it was the people he was helping, not the selfish ambitions of the aristocracy. Highever, Amaranthine, these were just names on a map for Robert Kylon. They meant nothing to him, and now it seemed this fight between these families was going to be carried over into his city.
Kylon ran a hand over his face, "And the Grey Wardens?"
"My birds tell me the last two Grey Wardens have just left Lothering." He stirred his stew with his spoon. "I suspect they're headed towards Redcliffe."
"Suspect or know?" Kylon questioned.
Slim chuckled. "I know." His expression suddenly sobered, "I know you love this city as much as me, and that you claim yourself neutral with the nobles."
"I am neutral," Kylon interrupted.
"And I'm afraid the time of neutrality may be over."
"I serve the people," Kylon pointed out. His loyalty was to them and Denerim alone.
"I'm aware of that," Slim said gently, "but I fear that Howe is no good for our city."
"What do you mean?"
"Do you know why your city guardsmen Otis and Donald haven't reported back since their last shift?"
"Why?" They were two of his more trusted guardsmen who he had put on patrol duty of the Alienage. They hadn't been seen in two days. He wasn't surprised that Slim would know what had happened to them before he did.
"Your new Arl of Denerim had them seized and questioned for their suspected loyalties."
"Suspected loyalties?" Kylon was having a hard time keeping his anger under control. They were good men, who had families. They served the city guard with honor and cared for the people of Denerim. That was where their loyalties were.
"Yes, they both hailed from Highever, did they not?"
Kylon knew where this was going, but he remained quiet so that his friend could finish.
"Families historically loyal to the Couslands," Slim continued.
"What did he do to them?" He had an inkling of what happened to them, but he needed to hear it. They deserved that much. He needed to be the one to tell their families. He would get some of the men including himself to donate a bit of their coin to the families. They had to look out for one another.
"He tortured them under the guise of an interrogation," Slim paused, concern in his eyes. "When he was done with them he gave them over to his new allies."
"New allies?" This was the first time Robert Kylon had heard about Howe having new allies.
"Blood mages," Slim answered, not hiding his disgust. "Don't ask me where, even I don't know where those blood mages have made their nest," He went back to his stew. "It's very problematic to have agents around blood mages since they can read your mind."
Blood mages, Robert Kylon couldn't believe it. How could Howe sink to such depths? To align with those monsters, the Chantry considers them the foulest of enemies outside the darkspawn.
"These are dark times we live in, my friend," Slim echoed Kylon's thoughts and fears. He reached over the table to gingerly pat Robert on the arm. "I fear a storm is coming and that Denerim will be facing the brunt of its wrath."
"Can we prevent this?"
"No, we can only prepare for it."
"What would you have me do?" He would do anything in his power to help get Denerim and her people through these dark times.
"I'll let you know."