"It's good you've returned. We heard of your encounter." Josephine greeted them with a worried look. Leliana's agents had apparently sent word ahead.

Cullen shook his head. "It's a shame the templars have abandoned their senses as well as the capital."

"We've a better idea of how much trouble we're in." Sulana sighed. "And there are a few trails blazed for us, I suppose." She frowned. "May be worth investigating the templars. What happened didn't seem to sit well with a lot of them."

"I agree." Cassandra nodded. "What could the Lord Seeker be up to?"

"We shouldn't discount Redcliffe." Josephine fiddled with her pin. "The mages may be worth the risk."

"They are powerful, Ambassador, but more desperate than you realize." Cassandra sighed.

"Fiona went to Val Royeaux." Sulana folded her arms. "Seems to me coming here would have been easier. And smarter." She folded her arms. "Feels like we are hunting bronto while there are wolves in the long grass. And I'd rather be hunter than prey. We need more arrows."

"True enough." Cullen nodded to her. "Right now, I'm not certain we have enough influence to approach the Order safely."

"Then the Inquisition needs agents in more places. That's something you can help with."

Josephine nodded. "In the meantime, we should consider other options."

"And food." Sulana nodded. "We should definitely consider food."

#

"There is one other matter." She turned to see Leliana had followed her instead of going with the other members of the war council. "The Grey Wardens of Ferelden have vanished. I sent word to those in Orlais, but they have also disappeared. Ordinarily, I wouldn't even consider the idea they're involved in all this, but the timing is..." Leliana shrugged. "Curious."

"The fact that you're the one needing to ask..." Leliana had been friends with some of the Ferelden wardens. Stories put her at the final fight with the archdemon, even. If she didn't know what was going on...

"The others have disregarded my suspicion, but I cannot ignore it." Leliana nodded. "Two days ago, my agents in the Hinterlands heard news of a Grey Warden by the name of Blackwall. If you have the opportunity, please seek him out. Perhaps he can put my mind at ease."

"What if he can't?" She raised an eyebrow.

"Then there may be more going on than we thought." Leliana narrowed her eyes.

"Well, we needed to get back to the Hinterlands anyway. Need to check on those towers and there was something about possessed wolves or something." Sulana nodded. "And bandits. And some sort of Veil artifact thingy Solas mentioned. And..." She shrugged and glanced at Josephine's office. "Think I could requisition a scribe or something to keep track of all this?"

#

"I should like to know if anyone here has treated you unkindly, Herald. For being an elf." Josephine gave her a concerned look.

Sulana smirked. "Eh, couple whispers and sideways looks. Broke a guy's wrist a few days ago and that did it for anything else."

Josephine gave her a startled look. "I shall speak with the staff regarding such conduct. If we're to convince the world that Andraste's Herald is an elf, the Inquisition must give you its utmost support. Stories of 'wild Dalish elves' have grown even more outrageous as people learn of you."

"Now that's a problem." She shook her head. "Not for me, I've got a sword. But I ain't the only elf here, and the folks that talk that shit are usually the first to take a knife to somebody with pointed ears." She shook her head. "My clan's defended ourselves against that more times than I can count. And I'm not going to let any of the elves here suffer it either."

"Really? I..." Josephine paled slightly. "Had no idea. I will do what I can to end the slander, Herald." She glanced down at the parchment in front of her before looking back up. "It may help if I know more about how you and your clan lived."

"The human towns we traded with ate the same food and suffered the same weather we did. We just did it in a landship, instead of a house."

"That..." Josephine shook her head. "Must have been difficult."

"Why?"

Josephine blinked. "Er..." She frowned slightly. "Why?"

"I've seen the moon rise from Rialto Bay and set in the Hundred Pillars. Hunted shadowcats in the Planasene forest and swamp lions in the Minanter river. Stars falling from the sky above the White Spire, and the black halla of Arlathan forest." She spread her hands. "And I know humans who've never been ten miles from the place of their birth."

"Still, you must miss your clan."

"I said my goodbyes before I left." She shrugged. "I think the Keeper knew I wasn't coming back. I wanted my own life."

"If I have learned one thing, it's that our lives are never entirely our own. Whether you're with them or not, being the clan of the Herald of Andraste will mark them in history."

"Hopefully, Leliana's people will be able to get a message to them to warn them about that." She sighed. "There have been other elves close to Andraste. Like Shartan. He led an army of them in her name."

"That is true." Josephine tapped the end of her pen against her chin. "I'd forgotten. The Chantry's not fond of Shartan. Perhaps we should draw parallels. Hint that Andraste's favor has returned to an elf in our time of need..."

"And the last two Blights were ended by elves." Sulana nodded. "I don't suppose..." She gave Josephine a hopeful look. "Any word about Vathran and Quiyala?"

"No elves matching those descriptions were seen following the Conclave."

"You'll let me know if you do hear anything, right?"

"Of course."

#

"Iron Bull?" She raised an eyebrow at the young man in front of her. His accent was unfamiliar. "Well, we could always use more soldiers. I'll take a look."

#

"How come you haven't disappeared like the other Wardens?" She raised an eyebrow at the man in front of her, and fought the urge to rub at her chin. His beard rivaled that of some of the dwarves she'd known. Looked like someone had glued a squirrel to his face.

"Well, maybe I was going to." He shrugged. "Or maybe there's a new directive, but a runner got lost or something. My job was to recruit on my own. Planned to stay that way for months. Years."

"Right." She shook her head. "Well, thanks. I guess we'll let you get back to..." She looked down at the dead bandits. "You do this a lot?" She gestured.

"These idiots forced this fight, so I 'conscripted' their victims. They had to do what I said, so I told them to stand. Next time they won't need me." His face softened a little. "Grey Wardens can inspire, make you better than you think you are."

"Can't argue with that." She smiled. "Well, it's been a pleasure." She pointed. "We've got a camp over that way, if you think of anything."

"Hold a moment." He folded his arms. "The Divine is dead, and the sky is torn. Events like these, thinking we're absent is almost as bad as thinking we're involved. If you're trying to put things right, maybe you need a Warden. Maybe you need me."

Sulana smiled. "Yeah, like I'm going to turn that offer down." She stuck out her hand. "Welcome to the Inquisition, Warden Blackwall."

#

"They really were demonic wolves." Sulana sheathed her sword, and picked up the amulet the demon had dropped.

"Cause the teeth weren't scary enough." Sera spat.

"We encountered a possessed bear once." Sulana shook her head at the memory. "Took a hundred and six arrows before that thing went down. And I thought bereskarn were bad." She shook her head, and then glanced at Solas. "Do bereskarn ever get possessed?"

"Oy, did not need that image." Sera shook her head.

#

"But how can you steer properly with one of those things?" She gestured.

"The bridle is for steering." Cassandra shook her head. "The saddle is for stability."

"Not entirely true." Blackwall pointed. "You use your knees for more subtle guidance."

"You can't." Sulana shook her head. "The saddle gets in the way."

"Look, try to joust without stirrups, and you'll slide off halfway through the tilt." Blackwall gestured as he spoke.

"Jousting. What kind of combat is that? Running at each other in straight lines." Sulana shook her head. "Half of those idiots have to blindfold their horses because the horses are smarter than they are. I could ride circles around them on a halla."

"Jousting is a game, not a battle." Varric shrugged.

"No, 'ring the Dread Wolf' is a game."

"Excuse me?" Solas raised an eyebrow at her.

"Oh. That's where you throw these woven willow circles and try to get them around the neck of Fen'Harel's statue. You have to take a drink every time you get one. Loser has to clean up the mess the winners leave. The real challenge was playing without..." She caught the look on Solas's face, and trailed off for a moment before continuing. "Without the Keeper catching us. Ir abelas, hahren."

#

"Leandra just sort of sighed, and the next thing we know the Prince of Starkhaven and the Guard Captain of Kirkwall are washing the windows while Hawke and I are scrubbing the staircase." Varric spread his hands.

"We were up near the Antivan border and ended up crossing paths with this family of refugees. The two hunters I was with and the couple men among the family start waving their weapons at each other. And this little gray haired old woman plants herself right in the middle. She yells at her sons to show some respect because they are in our territory, and then..." Sulana smiled at the memory. "She turns towards Athran, takes one look at his sword, and starts lecturing him on the importance of maintaining your weapon. Ten minutes later, we've helped pull her wagon out of the mud and are walking back to the aravels with no idea what just happened."

"That's how the Chantry became so powerful." Varric nodded. "Mothers."

"I know. I..." She stood up in the saddle and waved. "Look, there's Harding."

#

It was pretty clear how the leader of the Chargers had gotten his name. Damn, but he was even bigger than Qui's friend. She drew her own blade, gutting a fellow who ran at her while waving a sword, and gestured for the rest of her companions to go help the Chargers finish up. The fight was done almost before Sera could get her third arrow notched.

"Chargers, stand down." The big man gestured. "Krem, how'd we do?"

"Five or six wounded, chief. No dead."

"That's what I like to hear. Let the throatcutters finish up, then break out the casks." He nodded to her. "So you're with the Inquisition, huh? Glad you can make it. Come on, have a seat. Drinks are coming."

A rousing fight and a drink on the beach. The Chargers led the good life. "Nicely done. I hear you're looking for work?"

"I am. Not before my drink, though." He gave a few instructions to the man who appeared to be his second in command. And they gave each other some shit. Then he looked back at her. "So..." He sat on a rock, which brought him to about eye level with her. "You've seen us fight. We're expensive, but we're worth it..." He waved a hand. "And I'm sure the Inquisition can afford us."

Sulana stepped over a dead guy in Tevinter style armor, and looked around at the mercenaries. She spotted another wearing Dalish markings. A couple other elves. A dwarf. Led by a qunari. A nicely mixed company. "They seem to know what they're doing, I'll give you that."

"They do. But you're not just getting the boys. You're getting me." He shrugged his massive shoulders. "You need a frontline bodyguard, I'm your man. Whatever it is - demons, dragons? The bigger the better." He stood, demonstrating once again that he was almost two feet taller than she was. "And there's one other thing. Might be useful, might piss you off. Ever hear of the Ben-Hassrath?"

Vathran had gone on about them to Qui when he'd found out about her qunari friend. "The Qunari city watch, or what not?"

"I'd go closer to 'spies,' but yeah, that's them." He nodded. "Or well, us. The Ben-Hassrath are concerned about the Breach. Magic out of control like that could cause trouble everywhere. I've been ordered to join the Inquisition, get close to the people in charge, and send reports on what's happening. But I also get reports from Ben-Hassrath agents all over Orlais. You sign me on, I'll share them with your people."

"What's in these Ben-Hassrath reports you're offering to share?" She folded her arms.

"Enemy movements, suspicious activity, intriguing gossip. It's a bit of everything." He waved a hand. "Alone, they're not much. But if your spymaster is worth a damn, she'll put 'em to good use."

Leliana was definitely worth a damn. "She?"

He chuckled. "I did a little research. Plus, I've always had a weakness for redheads." His eyes flicked briefly to her hair.

She smirked. "What are you drinking?"

He glanced at the casks. "Amaranthine ale."

"Good choice." She smiled. "You're hired."

"Excellent." He turned towards his people. "Krem, tell the men to finish drinking on the road. The Chargers just got hired." He and Krem gave each other a bit more shit before he glanced back at her. "We'll meet you back at Haven."

Sulana watched him go. Well, at least the view at Haven was going to be nice.

#

"So I kill your boss..." She gave the man in front of her a confused look. "And now you work for me?"

"The man was a bastard." The 'Blade of Hessarian' nodded. "You're not the first to stand up to him. You're just the first to win, and we're happy with that." He bowed again. "Besides, I would rather swear my life to the Herald of Andraste."

She looked down at the necklace thing she'd put together, and then looked back at Cassandra. "So if I stab the Lord Seeker, does that put me in charge of the templars?"

"No." Cassandra shook her head, and started walking out of the encampment.

"What if I stab Fiona?" She rushed to catch up with her. "Or the Archon? Or -"

#

"We get elves from the cities sometimes, coming to seek the Dalish." Sulana fell into step beside Solas. "And I've visited a couple towns and talked with elves there. Most of them get one look at the vallaslin and are either scared of me or falling all over themselves to ask questions. Sometimes really weird ones." She glanced at him.

"Was there a question in that?" Solas raised an eyebrow at her.

"Nah, more of an observation. It feels strange being the one wanting to ask the questions." She chuckled before asking him a few questions about the Fade and spirits, then mulled over the answers. Then she shook her head. "Is there a way to..." She shrugged. "I dunno, some spell or something where you could wiggle your fingers, glow a bit, and turn them back into spirits? Send them back into the Fade?"

"While in theory it is possible, it would not be a simple matter."

"So not an option for the battlefield." She sighed. "Qui'd talk about spirits sometimes. And she summoned this little one once, a wisp, to help us find our way through a fog." She shook her head. "Vathran got all mad about it, but..." She shrugged. "It helped. I told it thank you, mostly to annoy Vathran, and it made this adorable little chiming sound. Kinda don't like the notion it might have ended up one of those shades we fought."

"Sadly, a spirit that small would likely not have survived an encounter with a rift."

"Well..." Sulana sighed. "Shit. Guess we can add that to reasons to kick the ass of whoever did this."

"Yes." Solas nodded.

#

"Biggest problem for the Inquisition right now isn't on the front line." Iron Bull looked down at where the soldiers were practicing. "It's at the top. You've got no leader. No Inquisitor."

"Maybe I should take the job." Sulana shrugged.

"You?" He grunted. "Why you?"

"Nobody else is volunteering. And this thing on my hand means I'm here for the duration anyway. If it proves necessary to have an Inquisitor, well..." She shrugged. "I could handle it."

He grunted again. "For a second there, you sounded like a Qunari. My people don't pick leaders from the strongest, or the smartest, or even the most talented. We pick the ones willing to make the hard decisions..." He glanced at her. "And live with the consequences." He shrugged. "Ah, who knows. Maybe you seal the Breach, the Chantry gets off its ass, and all those soldiers go home and get fat."

"And then the elves will rule Orlais, the whole of Tevinter will join the Qun, and Starkhaven will learn the difference between beer and horse piss."

He laughed.

#

"I don't have a problem with you killing the guy..." Sulana shook her head at Leliana. "I do have a problem with you murdering him. Ideals are..." She sighed. "We don't have much else at the moment."

"You feel very strongly about this."

"Yeah." Sulana nodded. "I do. You and Cassandra..." She took a deep breath. "This is about setting things right, making the world a better place. It stops being that, well..." She folded her arms. "Maybe it's time we started learning from history, instead of repeating it."

#

"So what do you think of elven culture?"

"I would have thought you would be more interested in sharing your opinions of elven culture." Solas glanced at her. "You are Dalish, are you not?"

She frowned. "My people come from the elves who refused to surrender when humans broke their treaty and destroyed the Dales."

"Your Keeper was not wrong about that, at least." He spread his hands. "We must mark the occasion of the Dalish remembering something correctly. Perhaps we should plant a tree."

"I'm not sure what I said..." She narrowed her eyes. "But I don't think I deserved that. If you want me to leave you alone, just say it. And I will."

"Ir abelas..." He sighed. "Da'len. You are correct. I should not have directed my ire at you." He inclined his head. "If I can offer any understanding, you have but to ask."

"I just..." She shrugged. "Well, you mentioned something about seeing the history of a place by sleeping there. I was just wondering what you could tell me about elves from..." She waved a hand. "Way back when some of those really old ruins were built."

"The Dalish strive to remember Halamshiral, but Halamshiral was merely a fumbling attempt to recreate a forgotten land."

Sulana smiled as she listened to him talk about the ancient empire.

#

"Nobles." Sulana stared at Josephine. "Your idea for getting into the templars is to bring a bunch of nobles with us?"

"Well..." Josephine nodded. "Yes?"

"Are we loading them into trebuchets?"

Cassandra tried not to laugh. Cullen wasn't quite as successful. "Not the worst idea I've ever heard."

#

"Lady..." Sulana tilted her head. "Or is it Grand Enchanter?"

"You may call me Vivienne, or Madame de Fer." Vivienne nodded to her.

"Madame de Fer..." Sulana grinned. "Oh, I like that one. Someone told me you'd arrived. Thought I'd say hi. So, hi."

"Aren't you darling?" Vivienne inclined her head graciously.

"So um..." She took a deep breath. "Okay, this is going to be a bit awkward but..." She gave Vivienne a hopeful look. "Josephine's arranging a meet that is going to involve a lot of nobles, and I was kind of wondering if you'd..." She let out the deep breath. "They're all expecting a Herald. Any chance you've got some time to help me figure out how to look the part?"

Vivienne smiled.