It took a while for Astor to convince his advisor's that no, this was not a trap. No we will NOT be informing the Ostwicks about their son's presence on their land especially at that village, no Liliana you can NOT use this information to threaten the family most of them aren't actually that bad and sorry Josie I didn't think the news that my family is involved with questionable trades it was that important, I kind of assumed you knew since all the nobles do it…

"ANYWAYS" Cullen broke in, seeing the flash in Josephine's eyes and wanting to head off the scolding he knew was coming. "These things can be dealt with later. For now let us focus on helping these people."

"Right you are Cullen!" Suddenly rather fascinated by the map, Astor hastily crossed over to the commander, and away from the two scowling women who could destroy him with a flourish of a pen or a whisper in the dark. "We need to send a team immediately to help them. I choose Bull, his chargers, Solas and Varric."

Cassandra, arms braced on the back of one of the tables few chairs, had previously spoken little. Choosing, rather, to listening to Astor and exchanging exasperated looks with the Commander at Leliana and Josephine's squawking. Now her eyes narrowed.

"Wouldn't it be more prudent to take a more… focused team?"

"And why Bull's chargers? Why not the Inquisitions men?" Cullen's tone was polite but Astor could see the challenge in the commander's eyes. He would not take the slighting of his troops lightly, which would make explaining why Astor didn't want to take his troops like juggling lead balls in a mine field.

Leliana's sharp eyes watched Astor like one of her evil, red eyed messenger birds "At the very least you should wait for my spies to scout out the region for you"

"Look-" Astor took a moment to look each person in the eye "I don't mean to insult. I don't mean to presume and I'm sure as hell not trying to tell you your job but I know these people. They're smugglers, assassins, rogue mages, and retired bodyguards. Not to mention all of the special cases." He turned to Leliana "These people will know about your spies before they even have a chance to send in their first report, and if they're as jumpy as this letter sounds they won't ask questions first. They don't trust any authority other than their own which means-" this time Cullen was speared by the Herald's striking green and yellow eyes "If I take Inquisition men, chances are I'll meet resistance"

"But they asked for our help!" protested Cassandra

"True, but not everyone in the village will appreciate the help, plus they'll be jumpy and worried about what the soldiers might find. Which leads me to Cassandra's concern. I need people who don't seem tight assed. People who seem like they might bend the law now and again to get the results they need. The only reason Solas is coming is because they would kill Vivienne the moment she opened her mouth."

"I need a team who acts like them." He looked around the room at the faces around him they don't trust my judgment he thought grimly well, it's not like I've given them much reason to think I'm anything other than a pompous idiot. Time to try and change that.

"Look, I know I might not seem like it most times, but I know my people. I know the villagers. I know what the terrain and moreover, I was trained for this" he gestured at the map "strategy" he looked at Cullen "Intrigue" Leliana's face was unreadable under her hood "Diplomacy" Josephine's eyes were still razor sharp "and battle" he nodded to Cassandra who returned the nod with a thoughtful expression.

"If you want me as your Herald in anything other than title, its time you let me off the leash. You either trust me, or you don't. Choose."

There was a moment of silence. Then Cassandra spoke up "I for one trust him."

Josephine bustled about with her papers for a second, before letting out an exasperated sigh "well as long as you don't keep anything else way from us that could help the Inquisition… You have my trust as well."

Cullen stood tall, looked Astor straight in the eyes, and nodded. Once. That leaves…

Everyone in the room turned to look at Leliana. She crossed her hands behind her back and stood at attention, all except for her face which she kept down and in the shadow of her hood. Several long seconds went by and Astor felt a little bead of sweat forming on his brow. Of all of his advisors, Leliana scared him the most. She was as good at reading people as Bull but without any of his charm or the sense of security that the Quinary radiated like a bad smell. Plus she never smiled.

Finally, she looked up. "For now… you have my support."

Good enough for me Astor thought with some relief. "Excellent! Now there is… one more thing." He rubbed his mark absently, all the tension in the room was acting like a supercharger and it had begun to ache slightly "This village, I spent so much time there because I have a twin sister"

Josephine frowned "But I haven't heard of the Ostwicks having a daughter."

"Neither have I" Liliana added.

"You wouldn't have, she's a mage, and my family went to great measures to ensure that her existence was covered up. She grew up in the village, away from the family and, more importantly, away from the circles. She has two guardians, a mage and a Templar. Both were assigned to protect and teach her. Five years ago we had a… falling out. I haven't been in contact with her since. It might not matter, she always did want to travel… or she could be dead" Astor's lips pressed into a thin, unhappy line.

"But if she is there… I don't know. She's powerful, one of the greats of this generation I think, she wouldn't-but It's probably not an issue forget I said anything."

Astor ceased rubbing his hand and instead rubbed his neck, embarrassed to even be sharing this little piece of himself. He didn't like the looks they were giving him. He didn't want their concern or sympathy. He tried to cover his momentary lapse by loudly pronouncing-

"Now If you'll excuse me, I plan to tell my companions and then go to bed!" he tried to scurry to the door but an arm clad in fine Orlaisian silk blocked his path

"Oh no you don't!" Josephine glared up at the Herald. "You're not leaving until you've told me every bit of noble information stored up in that thick skull of yours!"

He forced himself to smile, his voice dripping with comical seduction "Josie? You wanted to pick my brains? Shall we proceed to my bedroom or yours?"

She smacked him "Not like that you idiot!" Astor ignored the others in the room, along with their expressions; instead he offered his arm to Josephine like a true gentleman and opened the door for her.

"Well then, let us proceed to the fire so I may spin a tale of court intrigue that would curl even the most hardened of toes!"

When he and Josephine were gone, Cassandra, Leliana and Culled turned to one another over the heavy War Table.

"I trust him" Cassandra's eyes were steady as she looked at the other two "but I don't think he trusts us."

Leliana snorted "You trust too easily Cassandra. He is unpredictable and selfish. Of course he does not trust us!"

"I trust him as well" the two women looked at Cullen, startled.

"But I thought-"

"I was wrong." He crossed his arms defensively "before, no I did not trust him Leliana. But now…" He trailed off, searching for the right words "He has changed. Before recruiting the Templars I would have doubted him but now? Now he has the same drive as any one of us. Has he talked to either of you about the daemon attacking his mind?" the spy and warrior shook their heads "me neither, but something in the encounter gave him the fire."

"Hmm" Neither Cullen nor Cassandra could see Leliana's face beneath her hood, but even If they had, her face was as unreadable as any hardened player of the game. "I see…"

"Very well. We trust him. Get the troops ready, we have a village to save."