Chapter Text
“You forgot to say the magic word, Commander.” Percy’s voice is low, eyes narrowed. He stands in front of one of Haven’s small cottages, arms crossed.
“What?” Cullen splutters, clearly put off by the sight of a man considerably smaller in stature than he standing here as though he was a brick wall. “I merely said I wanted to speak to the mage you brought!”
The corner of Percy’s mouth quirks up and his eyes narrow.
Had the person standing before him been a member of Vox Machina, they’d have deflated instantly. Instead, Cullen continues looking bewildered.
“Look, I don’t… I was trying to speak with her earlier and she left. I want to continue that conversation.”
“Yes. The conversation where you openly asked here where you might find the vial of her blood with which you could track her down should she move the wrong way in your presence.”
“I-”
“Blood that, as I understand it, is taken from a mage when they have no power to resist or refuse, often when they are merely children. Tell me, Commander, do you know what it feels like to have a blade taken to you as a child?”
“It’s a common prac-”
“Because some of our number do. Because some of our number haveseen children after such an event. It’s cruel.”
“They are healed by-”
“I was not finished speaking!” Percy barks, “The way your mages are confined is cruel. The way you hunt them down is cruel. The way you made my friend, who I have come to consider a sister to me, feel about gifts she has worked hard to perfect is cruel.”
Cullen blinks, a bit startled, and makes no move to reply.
“Now, I am no fan of seeing cruelty.” Percy says, voice quiet once again. “But fortunately for you, neither is Keyleth. Which is why you only feel my words in this moment, Commander.” Now the title sounds like an insult, coming out with a sneer.
“All we’re truly here for, in the end, is your coin. We can live without that, losing it wouldn’t have prevented me harming you. Treating Keyleth like she’s someone you can lock in a cage? Making her feel like you wouldn’t hesitate to do that?” He huffs out a breath through his nose, a derisive snort with no sound. “I’d do the unthinkable to prevent you hurting her.”
“You don’t even know me!” Cullen steps forward, pointing a finger at him. “I left that life behind!”
“After you voluntarily lived it!” Percy shoots back, unmoved. “I have spoken with Varric, who saw firsthand the things you stood by for. Oh, you stepped aside in the end, but not until things had become very dire indeed. And now you hold a position of command here. A high rank.”
“Because I have earned it.”
“Earning it hardly means you deserve it.” Percy lifts his chin. “You need to think long and hard about how you see and speak to those in your service. Because what I’ve seen of you so far makes me think that you believe you’re a little bit better than some of us that have ended up under your command. You are not.”
Cullen stares him down for a few long seconds before conceding.
“May I please speak to Keyleth?”
“You may not.” Percy says, that small and dangerous smile returning. “She has no phylactery, Commander. She is not of this land and she is a druid, free to use her spells as she sees fit. And I will ensure she is allowed to continue doing so. Are we clear?”
“I will speak to Cassandra about this!”
“I’m certain she’ll be absolutely enraptured. Go along, then.”
Cullen huffs off, shaking his head, wondering what the Hell, precisely, just happened.