The next morning, just before midday Jen was half asleep and part of a small group heading to the Storm Coast. Cassandra, Varric and Solas had all elected to join Jen, to support her in the latter two cases and to see for herself how good the Bull's Chargers are in the formers case. Krem also travelled with them to make sure they arrived at the right destination.

"You look rough," stated Varric with a raised eyebrow. After Leliana left, Jen had hit the whiskey bottle hard before falling asleep.

"Thanks Varric," she replied sarcastically.

"Are you alright?" he asked more quietly, pulling his horse alongside hers.

"I received some, let's say, unexpected news last night. On top of everything else at the moment, I'm having some trouble processing it." They had been riding since sunrise that morning and were finally approaching the coast. Jen could smell the salt in the air, and the closer they got the wind seemed to increase in power swirling fiercely around them. Adjusting her hood against the wind, Jen glanced at Varric and saw concern but also caution on his face.

"Would you like to tell me about it?" he asked quietly.

"Not now." Wincing at how blunt she sounded, Jen continued. "It's not that I don't want to, it's just that it is a long story and I don't normally talk about it."

"Ah one of those." Varric chuckled darkly. "Well you know where to find me if you need me. I'm here for you kid." He laughed at the way she bristled.

"Well you are younger than me! I know you don't like it but it is true!"

Jen tried to hit him and shifted in her saddle nearly falling out.

Varric guffawed loudly, causing Cassandra and Solas to look back at them.

"Will you two stop messing around!" shouted the Seeker irritably over the wind.

Jen caught Varric's eye, and couldn't help it. She burst out laughing. Cassandra didn't look impressed, but Jen thought she would make it up to her later. It felt too good to laugh at the moment.


Upon arriving at the Storm Coast, Jen decided that it was very much deserving of its name. The wind howled incessantly around them, while sheet rain combined with it. The deafening crashes of the waves hitting rocks made it difficult for her to hear Krem who was directing them towards the beach. Ahead through the storm, she could pick out figures fighting on the sand. Patches of it were stained red with blood.

"Damn it!" shouted Krem, jumping from his horse and running to help. Jen followed, along with Cassandra, Solas and Varric.

"Remember," shouted Jen over the din. "Do not harm the Chargers. We need them." Then she stalked towards them crouching, not that it was of great advantage when the weather was so bad, and snuck towards the nearest enemy. She let her training take over, gliding silently forwards and reaching up to stick a dagger in the back of her chosen enemy.

They cried out in surprise as Jen's blow fell true. Jen watched as they twisted, trying to understand what had just happened. Then she pulled out the blade turning it as she wrenched it from his back. He crumpled.

Moving to her next target, she quickly realised that the Chargers, although outnumbered needed no help. Enemies were falling around them and the figure that must have been the Iron Bull, a massive bare chested Qunari, was laughing as he wielded his massive two handed axe into any nearby foes unfortunate enough to be close by.

Before Jen knew it, the fight was over. She watched as Solas moved forward to offer healing to Krem, who had sustained a slight flesh wound to his thigh. Cassandra, Varric and the Iron Bull himself approached her.

"A good fight," said the Qunari, Iron Bull. He must have been at least 7 foot tall, with an imposing set of horns adorning his head. One eye was covered by a patch, the other twinkled with mischief, but also there was intelligence and intensity to his gaze.

"It was," replied Jen. "You put on quite a display and I have never seen anyone enjoy a fight so much. Nor swing a great axe quite like that before!" She grinned up at him. The Iron Bull looked pleased.

"Krem!" he shouted over to the Leiutenant who shook Solas' hand, healing apparently complete.

"What Chief?" Krem asked once he had joined them

"Make sure that the clean up is fast." He turned and addressed the other Chargers who were approaching. "Once we have done that, get one of the barrels open!" He boomed over the wind and rain which was starting to slow.

"Oooh rah!" yelled the Chargers in response, all grinning as they turned to the mess of bodies on the beach.

"Who were they?" asked Jen.

"Vints. There have been a few groups in this area stirring up trouble recently."

"Vints? From Tevinter?" She frowned. "That's a long way to come. Any idea why they were here?"

"Not yet," said Iron Bull. "I'd like to know why though." He gritted his teeth in discomfort. "Qunari and Tevinter rarely get on, so I will monitor this closely."

"I think that is something we also need to keep an eye on," Jen added with a significant look at Cassandra, who nodded in agreement.

Despite the rain that still hadn't lessened completely, Jen pulled down her hood and looked up at Iron Bull with confidence, holding out her hand. After all she had witnessed and what else she had heard, she wanted the Chargers on her side in her fight against the rifts. She was determined an agreement could be made to make that happen.

"As we haven't been introduced properly, my name is Jennifer Trevelyan and based on what I have seen I would like to hire your company to aid the Inquisition." She said, meeting Iron Bulls gaze steadily.

"A good choice," replied Iron Bull in his deep register, grasping Jens hand firmly. He had the hands of a warrior. Large, strong and calloused. "You speak for the Inquisition on this matter?" he asked, looking first at Jen, then the rest of the party.

"I believe so yes." Jen waited to be contradicted, but no one did. In fact Cassandra looked at her encouragingly. Her brown eyes softened and Jen couldn't help but think that the Seeker looked pleased. It seemed that the group looked to her for leadership and more surprisingly, Cassandra trusted her to do it. When did this happen?

"We should speak about terms," Iron Bull looked over towards the beach. "The rest of you, feel free to join Krem and have an ale or two."

"Don't mind if I do!" replied Varric grinning.

"What is it exactly that you would like to discuss?" asked Jen, once the others had left them. There was something else about the Iron Bull; years of reading people had given her an instinct for the extra details. It also helped that he was a mercenary, but also something more. Given she had personal experience of that, something about the Qunari didn't settle right with her.

"You aren't just getting the Chargers, you are getting me and from what I hear, you are the only one who can close those rifts." he said confidently.

"You are well informed," said Jen guardedly.

"I wouldn't be very good at my job if I wasn't," he replied.

"What do you mean by that?" she frowned. "Is this to do with whatever it is that you are hiding?"

Bull looked down at her with a measured look.

"I am a Ben Hassarath." He said slowly.

Unable to help it, Jen couldn't prevent her surprise showing as she digested this information. Iron Bull, was a spy, but if that was the case why would he tell her this?

Crossing his arms Iron Bull continued, "You know, you intrigue me Herald. First, you see that there is more to me than meets the eye when normally all that anyone sees is a hulking Qunari brute. The second, you actually know what being a Ben Hassarath is don't you?"

Unable to come up with an answer that wasn't a blatant lie, she replied, "Yes. I do." Scrutinising him carefully, she added, "I cannot allow a spy to join the Inquisition and then report back to a foreign force on our plans. It seems that we are at an impasse." She could just imagine Josephine– and Leliana come to that– if she willingly admitted a spy into there midsts. Although her relationship with the calculating spymaster had improved, she didn't think she would survive unscathed.

However, to her astonishment Iron Bull roared with laughter. "I think we have a misunderstanding Herald! I told you this so that you can use it to your advantage. I'm not going to pass any of your secrets on despite what is expected of me, because I am here and I know that you and the Inquisition need help not hinderance. This is beyond the politics of different peoples, this is about survival for everyone and as far as I am aware the Inquisition is the only group with a chance of doing something about that hole in the sky."

"But we can't afford to pay you. Not yet, anyway," Jen muttered quietly. The rain had finally abated and Jen watched the others of her party enjoying the ale with the Chargers. Varric, already in the thick of it had pulled out a pack of cards to play Krem and some of the others. Behind him Cassandra watched trying to appear disapproving, but she seemed happy none the less to watch the game unfold. The only one missing was Solas, who had moved to sit on a rock and stare out at the sea. It occurred to Jen as she watched him how lonely he appeared as he clutched his mug of ale, and also how little she actually knew about the elven apostate.

"It seems they are getting to know each other," said Iron Bull looking satisfied. "And don't worry about the money yet, you are a fledgling group. You must have people who can pull strings, call in favours and start earning gold quickly?" Thinking of Leliana and Josephine, she nodded. "We shall claim our recompense once you are set up properly. We aren't cheap though!" He boomed.

"Right then," Jen held out her hand, "if you are willing to allow your reports to the Ben Hassarath to be checked before they are sent, I will find the gold to pay you for your services."

"Sounds good to me," grinned Bull, taking her hand once again in his own.

"Welcome to the Inquisition Iron Bull," Jen allowed herself to smile up at him meeting his one good eye, with her own.

"Thanks Boss."