Evelyn did not share most of the Inquisition's view of the events in Val Royeaux. The Inquisition clearly came out on top after that shit show. The Templar order had muddied its name by assaulting the chantry sister in public. Lord Seeker Corin's narcissistic monologue did not help his case, either. The chantry had been shown up, and this told the world that they had lost control. No, it was the Inquisition that had walked out of that courtyard with their reputation, such as it were, intact.
It helped that immediately after that gross display of incompetency the Inquisition had been approached by a merchant. They now had a bona fide trade route to Haven. That would help. If there was coin to be had, merchants would come. And merchants talked. They would spread the news of the Inquisition and their deeds faster than any of Leliana's people.
Gaining the prominent Madame de Fer in their ranks was a victory in and of itself. Having both the Left Hand and Right Hand of Divine Justinia was one thing, but a member of the Orlesian court was another. It gave the Inquisition a legitimacy they did not have before. Vivienne's invitation had come at the perfect time. No doubt, Vivienne had planned it that way. Evelyn was not sure she liked the woman, but they needed her. It was a shame the woman knew it.
But the whole affair shook Evelyn. Everything she had been taught, everything her devout Andrastian family stood for was being challenged. She was challenging it. She may no longer be a part of the chantry, but she still believed in the chantry. Or at least, the principles of it. Cassandra was right on that. Scared clerics were not what the people of Thedas needed. They needed more women like Mother Giselle.
Grand Enchanter Fiona and the rebel mages were still an issue. She agreed with Cullen about still trying to get the Templars on their side. There was already so much magic involved in this mess, that maybe they should take a different approach than just throwing more magic at it. Both Josephine and Leliana would have to work hard to find any information about the whereabouts of reasonable Templars. With Fiona's invitation, it was simply easier to go with the mages.
If she were going to be honest with herself, there was a personal, and more compelling, reason to keep on looking for the Templars. Her brothers. She wondered where they were and if they were following that delusional man. Surely they would not turn on the chantry. She would have to write home. Soon. Today. She would talk to Josephine about it. She would have contacts.
A firm knock on her door interrupted her thoughts.
"Enter," she said.
Commander Cullen stood in the doorway. He filled the entryway, the fur of his cape outlined in the sun.
"Herald," he said with a nod of his head.
"Commander." She set her bow and the oil rag down on the table. "How may I help you?"
"Would you like to drill with me? I mean, we've received a number of recruits. Locals from Haven and some pilgrims." He paused for a moment and chuckled. "None made quite the entrance you did."
Evelyn flashed him a smile. "At least I got everyone's attention."
"That," Cullen agreed, "you did."
She grinned. "That's what I do. Seal rifts and save soldiers."
"Indeed. It would help with morale if you were out there with them. Many of them have never fought before-"
Evelyn cut him off with a laugh. "Commander, I don't know if you've noticed, but neither have I. Not like this. Hunting rams for refugees is more my style."
She had hunted alone near Haven. It had been the first time she had been alone since this nightmare began. The meat had been smoked and sent off to Corporal Vale and the ram skins had gone to Harrit at the forge. She filled a couple requisition orders for Threnn, and found Adan's old master's notes. That was the kind of work she knew; understood. It was useful work. Comfortable work. She did not think she would get used to the rifts and demons.
"Yes, well," Cullen looked at her sidelong, "that may also be why I'm here."
"Ah. The truth comes out!" Evelyn did not blame him. She was a liability in the field. She could not expect Varric to be at her side all the time. "Whose morale are we talking about then? Theirs, mine, or yours?"
"All three. You'd do well to take some lessons, the recruits will be heartened to see the Herald of Andraste in their ranks, and I-" He rubbed the back of his neck. "We need you, Herald. I need to make sure you're prepared for out there."
"Understood, Commander." She bit back a chuckle at the relief in Cullen's face. "Let me get into my armour and then I'm all yours."
"Meet me at the training grounds when you're ready. You can start teaching some recruits how to use a bow."
"I thought I was supposed to be the student?" She arched a brow.
"We can't have the men think you're incompetent. You're good with a bow. We'll show them your strengths first. Then we can work on your-"
"Weaknesses. Right. Got it."
Cullen winced. "I was going to use the word opportunities."
"Same thing." Evelyn shook her head with a grin. "Didn't know you were such a diplomat."
"I'm not," he said. Their eyes met for a brief moment. His eyes twinkled, and one corner of his mouth twitched upward. Evelyn could not help but smile back. "I leave that entirely in Josephine's capable hands. I'll see you soon, Herald."
Cullen was barking orders when she got down to the practice grounds with her restrung bow and new druffalo quiver slung over her back.
"There's a shield in your hand, block with it! If this man was your enemy, you'd be dead."
"We don't want that, do we?" she said as she approached. She was rewarded with a smile. "Command me, Commander. What do you want me to do?"
Cullen held a hand up, and turned to his lieutenant. "Don't hold back. The recruits must prepare for a real fight."
"Yes, Commander."
"Herald." Cullen turned to face her. "Thank you for coming. The men I want you to drill are over here."
Evelyn followed the commander toward a small crowd of villagers huddled together near targets.
"Recruits!" he shouted as they approached. The recruits straightened and formed a crooked line. "This is the Herald." Evelyn pressed her lips together to keep herself from smiling. As if they needed to be told that. They stared at her, not the commander. "Your training starts now." Cullen nodded at her. "They're all yours, Herald." And then he was gone.
Evelyn looked at the rag tag bunch of men and women standing expectantly in front of her. Just like teaching the kids back home. Start with the basics. Right then. She pursed her lips.
"Who has used a bow before?"
Training had been interesting. A few had hunted before, and had decent enough skills, so she quickly set them up as team leaders. She arranged her recruits into four fireteams and had each leader show their team how to string a bow. Some simply did not have the strength to do it, so she decided to go down to the foundations and started everyone on an exercise routine.
"Every morning you are to do this. At sunrise, before breakfast. Every evening you are to do these exercises, before mess. Team leaders," the three men and one woman stood up straight. "You make sure this is done. I'll hold you accountable." One man swallowed. She was going to have problems with him, she thought, but she was going to let him prove her right before she switched him out with the blonde girl in the back. She did not know the ass end of a bow, but she could do an impressive amount of push-ups. The young woman did not complain. She was a solid farm girl with a pragmatic head on her shoulders. The current team leader, Jem, she reminded herself, would be a good lesson for the rest of them. She got the impression that his experience with a bow came from poaching. "The rest of you. You will care for your bow. You will sleep with it. It is a part of you."
She took them through the exercises a second time, much to their dismay, and then had them string and unstring their bows repeatedly. It was probably not the most exciting day of their lives, but they would not be much use if they could not string their weapon.
Hours later her little troop of archers was dismissed and she was tired and sore. She rolled her shoulders a few times as she made her way back through the gates. It had been ages since she had gone through those exercise patterns. She needed to do them more often. Those recruits were not the only ones groaning.
"Well done, Herald."
"Cullen," she said as the commander approached her.
"They're going to be cursing you come morning."
She grinned. "Good."
"You did really well."
"Don't sound so surprised." Evelyn chuckled and looked up at him from the corner of her eye.
"I- I was not sure- Forgive me." He rubbed the back of his neck. A nervous habit of his, she noticed. Good to know.
"Oh, don't worry about it," she said. Teasing this man was too easy. "I just channeled Ser Broening, father's guard captain. The man was made of ice."
"We'll need that for what's to come. The chantry lost control of both Templars and mages and now they argue over a new Divine while the breach remains. The Inquisition could act where the chantry cannot. Our followers," he motioned behind them at the practice grounds, "would be a part of that. There's so much we can-" He stopped and shook his head. "Forgive me. I doubt you want a lecture."
Evelyn grinned. "No, but if you had one prepared, I'd love to hear it." The laugh he gave her made her grin even more.
"Another time, perhaps." They stood there for a moment in silence. "I uh. . ." he cleared his throat. "There is still a lot of work ahead."
As if on cue, a soldier came hurrying up with papers for the commander. The commander smiled at Evelyn with what she thought could only be relief, and maybe a smidgen of self-satisfaction.
"As I was saying."
Evelyn watched him leave with the soldier, the two already focused on the missive in the soldier's hand. Maker preserve me, he's got a fine ass. She chuckled to herself. Focus, Trevelyan. Truth be told, there were a lot of fine asses around. The amount of tight leather breeches in Haven was distracting.
Her stomach growled and reminded her that she had missed lunch. Josephine first. She had to find out about her brothers. Then food. Then write that damned letter.
"Herald!" The quartermaster called as she passed through the main square. "Good call on those breeches. With all the recruits coming in, we needed them. Way better than the piss Seggrit was trying to shove on us. Where did you get them?"
Evelyn paused and closed her eyes. That was something else that needed to be settled. That elf. "Don't ask," she said while rubbing her temple. She turned toward the chantry. "Oh, and if you see an elf with mustard stains on her shirt, don't mistake her for a servant. For your sake."
