The journey to Frostback Basin takes about a fortnight as we travel through Emprise Du Lion and past Emerald Graves. While cutting through the Frostback mountains would have been much faster, Cullen made the executive decision to take a longer route rather than risk our caravan being ambushed.

For majority of the trip, I walked ahead of the caravan that held our supplies and makeshift camp with my select group of companions. Listening to their random banter calmed my nerves and even for a brief moment, made me forget the dangers that lurked all around us.

The night before, we made camp next to the eastern riverbank and started back up late the next morning since we were so close to our destination. As we gathered around fire to eat, Varric nudged me and motioned with his chin at Dorian and Iron Bull. My eyes narrow as I follow his gaze. At first glance, I see nothing out of ordinary.

"What?" I say to Varric. He only smiles and motions to them.

"Just listen."

I turn to look at them as Dorian lies his staff down beside him to eat.

"That staff's in pretty good shape, Dorian." Bull says. He waits for a response but Dorian remains silent as he eats. Bull grins. "Do you spend a lot of time polishing it?"

I hear Varric chuckle beside me and Dorian groans as his face begins to redden.

"Are they…" I whisper to Varric but he shrugs.

"If they're not, I give it about 2 weeks before something does happen." Varric grins and I find myself cracking a smile as I glance over at them.

Once we're finished eating, everybody helps pack up the camp and we continue.

The sun is shining brightly and we hear some birds chirping above our heads as we casually stroll along the caravan. Even with the clear skies and happy chirping, I found myself glancing around me every few seconds as though I expected someone or something to jump out and attack us. Dorian and Bull carried on their somewhat playful banter but I was more preoccupied with watching around us. Soon the tall fence of the basin floor camp came into view. Seeing the smoke rising up from the fires within, I could feel a sense of relief flood through me.

As we drew nearer, I called for our standard to be raised so that the lookouts knew who we were. We stopped before the giant gates and waited as the lookouts announced our arrival. The gates swing open and we walk through only to stop again within as we're approached by Scout Harding.

"Good to see you again, Inquisitor." She greets with a smile. "Allow me to introduce Professor Bram Kenric." She motions to a man who walks toward us, dressed in Orlesian garb. "He's the reason we're out here."

As he stops in front of me, he dips into a low bow. "A pleasure to meet you, Your Worship." He greets. To my surprise, he's much younger than I anticipated and doesn't have the usual Orlesian accent but instead sounds like he's from Fereleden.

Smiling, I nod to him and Harding continues. "Professor Kenric teaches at the University of Orlais."

"I came on an exchange program from Starkhaven." He explains. "While in Val Royeaux, I found something incredible!"

"So I've heard." I say. "What did you find?"

His eyes light up as he grins. "After 800 years, we may be able to determine the final resting place of the last inquisitor!"

I glance nervously at Scout Harding before looking at the Professor.

"Did I say something to upset you?" He frowns.

I shake my head. "No. It's not that I'm not excited about this discovery, but…." I pause to cast a glance at Scout Harding. "Why are we excited about this?"

He exchanges a glance with Harding who nods for him to continue.

"Hear me out, Your Worship. This finding will have value in both the historical and practical sense." His smile returns. "Inquisitor Ameridan stepped down shortly before the Nevarran Accord brought the Seekers of Truth to the chantry. He hunted demons, dragons, and dangerous apostates in a time even before the Templars even existed!"

At the mention of Templars, I immediately think about Cullen. For a brief moment I feel the longing to be back at Skyhold with him before I push those thoughts away.

"I'm all for history if it means tracking down the equipment of a famous demon hunter." Harding muses with a lighthearted chuckle.

I smile. "Scout Harding, you had me at "equipment"."

She smirks. "Thought you might like that."

Professor Bram continues. "Our scouts have gathered artifacts from the area. They may help us discover what Inquisitor Ameridan was doing."

I nod as Harding steps forward, her brows drawn together in a worried expression. "I have news as well."

Seeing her expression, I feel my stomach knot up. "Go on."

"We've encountered hostile Avvar to the north. They call themselves the Jaws of Hakkon." Hearing the name, I feel my blood run cold and feel suddenly lightheaded. She continues but I just barely hear what she says. "There's also an Avvar hold to the east. However, unlike the Jaws of Hakkon, they've been friendly so far."

I take a deep breath to steady myself. "Tell me more about the Jaws of Hakkon."

"They're hostile Avvar who attack any Inquisition agents or researchers who get too close. We've sent soldiers for defense, but the Hakkonites are cunning, merciless, and know the Basin better than we do."

My head is buzzing but I nod. "So they're the reason for all the missing soldier reports we've been getting at Skyhold."

"Exactly."

"Thank you, Scout Harding." I say, forcing a smile.

She dismisses herself to tend to the caravan and Professor Kenric steps forward.

"Lady Har…" He begins before correcting himself. "I mean, Scout Harding has an impressive team. Her people brought back a number of artifacts."

"I hope these artifacts are safe." I say, frowning. "We've had bad luck with artifacts before. I hope none of them explode."

"What?" He asks. His eyebrows shoot up in surprise as he seems to understand my meaning. "No, no! I don't mean magical artifacts! I meant belt buckles, old nails and things of that sort. Barring enchantment, cloth and leather have long since rotted away. Metal and stone remain recognizable; however, it has complicated things because there are recent pieces the Avvar left behind and of course some ancient piece dating back to Tevinter."

From the corner of my eye, I see Dorian look over at the mention of his homeland but he remains silent while the Professor continues.

"Fortunately, thanks to some period-specific buckling, I've been able to track our last inquisitor."

"What do you have, Professor?"

"Everything so far points to the shore not far to the south. There seems to have been some sort of battle near the shoreline. They must have been in a hurry."

I frown. "Any idea as to why they were in a hurry?"

He shakes his head. "The scouts reported an island near an Avvar fishing camp but the Avvar won't say much about it."

As he says this, I feel a chill run down my spine. From what I've heard, the Avvar tend to like their privacy but why won't they say anything about the island. If it had some spiritual significance, wouldn't they say that? What could be hiding over there?

"I'll find a way to that island and see if there's anything useful there." I say. "When I come back, I will ensure that you get a full report of our findings."

He beams at me. "Excellent! I'll continue to study what's been already found. With luck, we'll both find some answers."

"We can hope so."

Cullen stands off to the side as he watches his newest recruits in the training yard. Ever since Emma took up the role of Inquisitor, there had been a steady flow of people wanting to sign up and fight for their cause. By now, the number of recruits they now have are at least three times more than they had at Haven.

Before long, he's joined by Cassandra. "Good afternoon, Commander." She greets. "Have you received any word from the Inquisitor as of late?"

He shakes his head. "Neither Leliana nor Josephine have brought any correspondences to my attention." He says, off-handedly. "I imagine she's arrived at the Basin floor camp by now and probably hasn't had time to send a raven to us. However, I imagine within a day or two we should hear something."

Regardless of his confident words, his thoughts were tainted with worry. He tried to push the thoughts aside, keeping his expression neutral. Cassandra nods and a brief silence falls between them before she speaks up again. "She'll be fine, Cullen." She says softly earning a curt nod in response. "I know you worry about the Inquisitor but she's been on far worse missions than this."

"I know but I was against the idea of sending the figurehead of our cause out where even trained soldiers went missing because of those barbarians who call themselves the Jaws of Hakkon." He says, his voice raising with every other word. He shoots her a glare. "If we had waited, we could have come up with a better strategy that would have prevented risking Em—" Catching himself he pauses. "I mean, the Inquisitor's life."

She eyes flash at him. She never took it well when any man raised their voice at he. She straightens, ready to diffuse this sudden outburst when she notices the distanced look in his eyes. Her expression softens slightly. "Cullen, are you alright?"

"I'm fine." He says tightly, his gaze shifting back to the recruits. She casts him an incredulous glance.

"Cullen, perhaps later we can go to the tavern, have a drink and ta—" She begins to say before he rounds on her.

"I'm fine." He says, fiercely. He quickly turns his attention back to the recruits and points to one of them. "You! You have a shield – Use it!" The recruit ashens as they pick up their shield.

"Right. Sorry, Commander."

Cassandra waits for him to turn back to her but when he doesn't, she takes the hint and quietly leaves.