The dream of fighting darkspawn suddenly shifted around him, and Loghain found himself standing in the Vigil. He turned, slowly, as a voice called out his name. "Jerath," he said.
"Sorry," the elf said. "I imagine this is a little disorienting."
"I'm dreaming..." "Actually, you are in the fade. Sort of. It's like a waking dream, in some ways."
"I see," Loghain replied. "Brehan questioned me this morning. It seems you were seen at the Ferelden Circle sometime after I had arrived here."
"I thought it best to be seen somewhere after we separated," Jerath replied. "I found Morrigan. And my son. She named him Kieran."
Loghain nodded. "A good name. Is he..."
"He's a perfectly normal boy," Jerath said. "Well, no, he's my son, but you know what I mean."
Loghain couldn't help but smile. "I do indeed."
"How is Orlais?"
"Warden Commander Clarel isn't quite sure what to do with me. She definitely carries a grudge, but does subscribe to the notion that once a warden becomes a warden, their past is... somewhat forgiven. Mostly, she's simply been ignoring me. I have found some interesting tidbits in the library."
"Oh?"
"There are a few scattered references to talking darkspawn. One apparently once aided some dwarves trapped in a cave in. I've been attempting to locate more complete references, but it's going a bit slow." He shrugged. "Clarel is sending me out to look into a report of darkspawn south of Val Firmin. That will unfortunately take me away from the keep for some time."
A map slowly took shape on the wall. "Where?" Loghain indicated the location he'd been given. Jerath nodded. "I'll meet you there, you can give me a full report of what you've found then."
#
Nathaniel felt the call, and stepped into the Fade. His Commander was waiting. "News?"
"A lead in Rivain. Is Temmerin still with you?"
"He is." Jerath gestured at the map that hung on one wall. "I'll meet you here. I need you to collect Carver Hawke. He's with Stroud, somewhere around here." He pointed at various spots on the map.
"Why Carver?" "He's using templar abilities." Jerath sighed. "Without lyrium."
"So... oops?"
He nodded. "Oops. He's a good man."
"I agree. I think we can trust him with this."
#
Loghain stopped briefly at the market. It took him several minutes to find what he was looking for, but eventually he tucked his prize into his satchel before continuing his journey south. He knew he was being sent by himself more as a potential suicide mission than anything else, but found he was rather enjoying the solitude after the last couple months of having everyone glaring at him. He was surprised at how much he missed the Vigil.
He was setting up camp a few miles from his destination when something pinged lightly on his senses. He put a hand to his sword, and then a familiar voice said, "it's just me."
He turned to find Jerath approaching. "Commander," Loghain said by way of greeting.
"Not my rank anymore," Jerath said. "There were darkspawn at the site. There aren't anymore, and it's been sealed up nice and tight. When are you expected back?"
"I'm not sure I am," Loghain admitted. "But probably not for at least a couple weeks."
"Follow me," Jerath said, and lead Loghain away from the road. They had walked for nearly half an hour before Jerath stopped at a rocky outcropping. "Alright, this part gets a bit weird," he said, and then he stuck his hand through the rock.
Loghain's eyes widened. "How?"
"It's a doorway, of sorts. I left it open. Go, I have to close it behind us."
Loghain nodded, then braced himself and stepped through the rock. He found himself on a strangely lit pathway. The air felt heavy, almost tight against his skin. Jerath stepped through a moment later, and gave him a concerned look. "You alright?"
"I'm... uncertain," Loghain replied.
Jerath nodded. "This place... it seems it doesn't like non-elves. Don't worry, it's a short trip.
Loghain nodded, and followed Jerath. Despite him getting the sense that Jerath was slowing his pace considerably, he still had trouble keeping up with the smaller man. Eventually, they found themselves standing in front of what appeared to be a mirror. Once again, Jerath put his hand through, and allowed Loghain to pass. He breathed a sigh of relief to find himself out of the other area, feeling almost fifty pounds and twenty years lighter. The area they were in still seemed strange, with every sound echoing oddly. "Where are we?"
"Morrigan calls it the crossroads. It's... a place between. Not quite the fade, but... I don't really understand it all," Jerath admitted. "These are doorways," he said, indicating the other mirrors. "Most are dead, but a few still work."
Jerath led them to another mirror, and once again they stepped through. This one led to what appeared to be a pleasant garden. Loghain looked around, and saw Morrigan approaching, followed by a young boy. The boy ran eagerly up to Jerath, and the elf swung him up into his arms. "This is Kieran," Jerath said, pride evident in his voice.
The boy smiled at Loghain shyly, and Loghain smiled back. "A pleasure to meet you, Kieran," he said.
"Kieran, this is your grandpa Loghain. Say hello?"
"Hello," the boy said, before burying his face in his father's neck.
Loghain was surprised to feel tears pricking his eyes at the elf's words. "I brought you a gift," he said, removing the small stuffed mabari from his satchel.
The child looked at it a moment before accepting it. He pulled it to him, and it barked. Kieran squealed, and then began to laugh delightedly. He climbed down, and then ran to his mother to show off his prize.
Morrigan made proper noises of admiration before directing him to go play and joining the two men. "Loghain," she said, nodding.
"Lady Morrigan," Loghain replied, giving her a slight bow.
"Jerath says you have had some success?" Loghain nodded, and then removed the books from his satchel that he had stolen from the library, offering them to Morrigan.
Her eyes widened, and she smiled. "This is appreciated. I'm sure you two have much to discuss. I will go prepare a meal."
"He has your eyes," Loghain said, glancing at the elf.
Jerath smiled. "He's going to be making that thing bark constantly, you realize."
"Yes, that's why I bought it," Loghain responded.
Jerath shook his head, and then smiled. "Sit," he said, directing Loghain to a rather comfortable looking set of benches. Morrigan brought them a meal, and the three discussed what they'd learned and how much they still had to learn for several hours.
#
The two men sparred lightly by the lake, with Jerath instructing Loghain on the bare-handed techniques. "So you've been training with spirits?"
"You could say that," Jerath replied. "I've been exploring the fade, trying to find information in the memories tucked inside."
"How is that going?"
"Not as well as I'd like," Jerath admitted. "The problem is there is just so much, and it's all a matter of perception. I won't be able to find answers until I know what questions to ask." He shrugged. "And the most likely ones to know would be dwarves, who don't dream and thus aren't really observed by spirits."
Loghain nodded. "The books I brought have some collections of testimony from smugglers and others who have been in the deep roads. Perhaps they will give you a place to start."
"Will you need to return them?"
"I found them in the bottom of the library, under about an inch of dust," Loghain replied. "I doubt they will be missed. The wardens seem to have dismissed most such stories as lyrium addling and tall tales."
"Some undoubtedly are," Jerath replied. "What do you know about Kirkwall?"
"Only what Carver reported," Loghain said.
"A memory I found in the fade suggests that it may have originally been built as a site for a ritual. Possibly an attempt to duplicate the entry into the fade. I let Nathaniel know. He'll be keeping an eye on the area. He's got some people of his own now, including one of Dworkin's apprentices. I'm having him collect Carver as well, just to be safe." Jerath shook his head. "It's odd."
"I'm a little disturbed by the notion you could actually find something odd," Loghain replied.
Jerath smiled. "I can talk to you from the fade, but it's difficult. I have to talk to you in kind of a dream between. But I can pull Nathaniel into the fade and talk to him there. Last time I didn't even need to pull, he entered on his own."
"That... is odd," Loghain said. "Nathaniel is both younger and less stubborn than I am. Perhaps it's simply a matter of not being able to teach new tricks to an old dog." Loghain caught the elf's shoulder and swept the smaller man's leg out from under him.
"You got that one well enough," Jerath replied. "It's a variation on skills I already possess," Loghain said, releasing the hold. "This dream magic thing though... I wouldn't have thought what you do to be possible at all."
"And the fade is shaped by perception," Jerath nodded. "That might be all there is to it." He shrugged. "Well, if Clarel is willing to let you go into the field occasionally, I can just meet up with you that way."
"You aren't worried about being followed?"
"No. It's a different path each time. I sense Morrigan, and so I know the right way to go," Jerath said. "Plus the path is hostile to non-elves. Even to folks like Morrigan. I can outrun anything there."
"It was uncomfortable," Loghain admitted, "but worth the trip."
#
Carver glanced at Nathaniel. It wasn't that he minded leaving Stroud's service, but the Warden-Constable had been acting a bit strange the last couple days. Temmerin didn't seem to think anything odd was going on, though being the cousin of Dworkin may have given the dwarf an unusual definition of odd. They were waiting on a fourth member of their party. This close to Kirkwall, Carver was starting to wonder if Anders would be joining them. Something brushed the edge of his senses, and he saw Nathaniel start to smile.
"I was starting to think you weren't coming," Nathaniel called out.
Carver turned, and then his jaw dropped. "Commander?" He stared. "You're dead."
"Missing, I believe, is the official statement," Jerath said. He gave Carver a nod of greeting. "Nathaniel and I are of the opinion you can be trusted. Would you agree?"
"Yes, ser." Carver straightened.
"Good. You and your brother encountered a magister in Vinmark. There are at least five others out there, locations unknown. Courtesy of Loghain, we have a lead. But, there is a complication."
"What's that?" Carver asked. "As you saw with Corypheus, these magisters can influence any who have the corruption. That includes Wardens. Possibly to the point of outright control."
Nathaniel nodded. "In Vinmark, you saw Corypheus nearly take control of Anders, and Anders even has Justice to render aid."
"But... we are also Wardens." Carver looked from one man to the other.
"And we don't know how compromised Weisshaupt may be." Nathaniel sighed.
"The three of us, and Loghain, have some defense against the control. Hopefully, we can find something to help the others. But for now, this hunt is us." Jerath met Carver's eyes. "Ready?"
"Yes, ser."