Skyhold-New Infirmary

Benjamin Trevelyan lay face up in bed, in the new stone building he had ordered built for a permanent infirmary. His entire Council was gathered around him, as well as Cassandra Pentaghast and his Dwarven Archanist Dagna. They were there for an informal meeting to discuss recent events, namely, the attack on Skyhold. Through the occasional moan from some of the adjoining beds.

Dagna was in the middle of her report, "The rune the Templar used was indeed a Red Lyrium device, when it was exposed to his magical field, it detonated…like an explosive device, only messier."

Even when grim the Dwarf managed to sound hyper.

"But why would they use Red Lyrium? After what happened to the other Templars, why would anyone willingly undertake the risk?" Cassandra asked.

I know a few people, Benjamin thought grimly.

"These runes and their crafting are very advanced. Like super advanced. Only a few smiths in the Dwarven lands would even be capable. And I know of no Tranquil who could manage it." Dagna reported, "They effectively made Red Lyrium 'safe', the rune was coated in a magical substance which blocked the effects, until the Templar activated his super creepy Templar powers."

"And then it exploded." Benjamin commented from the bed, eyes still closed.

Dagna nodded slowly, while biting her lip.

"Casualties?" Benjamin opened one eye to peer at the former Templar Knight-Captain…Cullen.

"We lost eighteen dead, with so far another ten or so infected by the Lyrium…our healers say there is nothing they can do for them, they will either die, or go crazy soon enough. Unless we can find a cure."

Ben nodded slowly, but even that caused a shock of pain to rock through his body, causing him to grimace and screw his eyes tight.

"And what caused this? We clearly have a security leak." Cassandra opined.

Eager to move the meeting on my darling? Ben thought bitterly.

Leliana cleared her throat nervously, "We have…no idea. The perpetrator has so far eluded us. And, our intelligence efforts have been stalled because…of the destroyed documents in the War Room, though we should be able to restore most of that information shortly. But…the spy has so far eluded us."

Ben let some bitterness cover his next words, "Why?"

Leliana frowned, "Because…you have not followed my suggestions. The Inquisition is wide open, like a wound. Almost anything, anyone can penetrate us. Our agents run extensive background checks but the support staff the taverns for instance, and any of the traders who trade with us are completely open door. They hire their own people, without Inquisition oversight. If we have a spy, it is likely there."

The Inquisitor closed his eyes. He was about to retort…

But was beaten to the punch by Cullen, "It makes sense, and these people go everywhere, see everything. If someone wanted a cup of mead in the rookery, it's not a far trip to the War Room. From there they could see almost anything, our maps, and our plans."

Benjamin sighed, "I wanted…some freedom. The Inquisition is not a secretive and tyrannical brand, we need to be an organization for everyone."

"That is a noble ideal Inquisitor, but it cannot be met. Especially in light of recent events."

Ben sighed, "If we change who we are then Durnham wins, yes, take precautions, ensure no intelligence is out, restrict access if you have to, but do not see the power. The tavern and the traders can do what they want…and until someone is proven guilty, then they are all innocent, understood?"

"Yes, Inquisitor." The spymaster sighed.

He nodded again, taking short, labored breaths. "Dagna…what would you need to study Red Lyrium and the effects it is having on our people?"

The Dwarf cocked her head to the side, "I will need Red Lyrium, lots of Red Lyrium, or at the very least someone who was exposed to it. Its effects. Someone who has been exposed to it but who has survived it might also help. No guarantees though. I mean, this is all very experimental stuff. I need a baseline."

Benjamin brought up a smile, he wanted it to be triumphant but feared it came wan.

Cassandra stared at him, and blinked, "You can't be serious!"

"Oh I can."

"Ugh."

"What is going on?" Cullen asked.

"Samson." Benjamin added.

"Samson!" Leliana barked surprised.

"Samson." Cassandra grunted.

"We have to find him, it is the only way." Benjamin pointed out.

"Need I remind the Inquisitor that we had him, and you decided to exile him, to let him go? Despite what could have been, despite all pleas to common sense, you let him through our fingers." Cassandra countered.

"Yes, that is why we have a Spymaster." Benjamin nodded towards the Red headed Orlesian.

Leliana huffed.

"What makes you think he will help us?" Cassandra asked, narrowing her eyes.

Benjamin sighed. "We need the help. And I believe there is still an honorable man in there. He served the people of Kirkwall for years with distinction. Only the Lyrium got in the way. He protected Maddox, saved his life at great personal cost."

"And Maddox provided him nearly unbeatable armor," Cullen murmured under his breath.

Benjamin ignored the comment.

"He was a monster Inquisitor, he willingly served the Elder One," Cassandra hissed, "Again, and you missed your chance to study him then…what if he refuses to come willingly?"

Benjamin closed his eyes, feeling the internal debate raging within himself. "We will cross that bridge when we get to it Cassandra."

Cassandra nodded, clipped.

"Alright Inquisition, while I finish recovering you have our orders. Find Samson, find the Spy, and for the sake of Andraste and in the name of the Maker…find out what Durnham is planning next. I have a nasty feeling this attack on our home was just a preamble to what they are planning next, find out."

Leliana nodded.

He turned to Cullen, "Double patrols, call up the reserves, see if any of our veterans would be willing to sign up again…we need to secure Skyhold in case the preamble is a further attack on the Inquisition itself. Secure us. We do not know the strength of the forces arrayed against us. Until we do, we must assume the worse."

He nodded.

He looked across all of them, they looked…an odd mixture of confidence, doubt, and in the case of Dagna bubbly enthusiasm.

"I know this is tough, I know we have a long way to go, but we will survive, we must. We have defeated Corypheus, we can defeat this wannabe Templar." Benjamin proclaimed. "Now let's get to work."

The members of his team, both Inner and Outer Circle, al dispersed to their various cubbies to put his orders into effect by issuing their own commands. He watched them go, a mix of sad pride coloring his thoughts.

And the hovering healers instantly appeared back at his side clucking like the hens they were, and probing and prodding at the wound. Benjamin stretched under the assault on his skin, grimacing the entire way, pushing himself up in bed.

The Library

Brandon Durrow's hand was skimming along the row of books before him. He was not looking for anything specific. Just browsing, almost empty eyed, staring blankly ahead. Looking at the same shelf, unknowingly, for minutes.

He felt, blank, numb, his brain replaying the events of the previous night in gory and livid detail. Being more horrified with each retelling, till he was just numb from it.

He heard a boot step behind him, and twisted around ever so slightly. But not enough tor really see behind him, so subtly he wondered if his new visitor noticed.

"You are beginning to worry some of the other patrons up here Captain," Cassandra's voice said with an air of light amusement behind him.

He turned around, and blanched, "Forgive me Seeker Pentaghast, I will leave…presently…excuse me," He lowered his head and started to move past her.

Her sigh interrupted his forward progress.

"I was only teasing…" She said sternly, giving him a severe look, "Which means I am still not good with other people getting my meaning, or you really have allowed yourself to become distracted. Why?"

Brandon spun on her, but fixed her with a weary look, "The Inquisition was just attacked and you wonder why I am distracted?"

"That was not your fault." Cassandra uttered, crossing her arms and leaning against the wall.

"Then whose was it? I was there, I couldn't sleep. Yet, I didn't bring my weapon, I was powerless to act."

"You were off duty," Cassandra protested.

"That is no excuse, out in the field you were never truly off duty. I was one of the people who could guard the Inquisition, but, I couldn't. Not with the one person there."

"You still couldn't have known."

"No," Brandon sighed, and turned back towards the books, "but even then, when it came back to it, I hid, I stood frozen. I did not take my part in the line, and thus, many of the Inquisition's soldiers now face death. Maybe I could have done something."

"Or maybe you could have been killed." Cassandra countered, sounding slightly disgusted and annoyed.

Brandon smiled wryly, "If I am to die then I die in the service of the Inquisition, there can be no higher calling."

Cassandra smirked. Though the man had turned around and went back to studying the great library of the Inquisition. She sighed, and went over to him.

She put a hand on his shoulder, "It is not better to die, for any cause. Let alone this one. It is far better to live to fight another day. I should know. I've been there."

Brandon brought up a small smile and pattedher hand with his. "Thanks…I will think about it."

"You do that Captain…" She turned around, offered a wan smile, now to his backside as he was once more studying the books, and proceeded down the stairs.

The Infirmary

Benjamin Trevelyan once more was sitting up in bed. Feeling antsy. Wanting to move around and do something dammit! But yet the healers had left him strict instructions, if you move from this bed we will find a way to put you in real pain Inquisitor. Knowing what healers could do, many of them mages, Benjamin did not feel like testing their fire.

Instead he scrunched up a wad of paper and flung it hard, it only went a couple of feet.

"Well, that was impressive," A voice teased out of the darkness.

Benjamin tensed and looked to his right, only to see Cassandra standing there.

"Mock me if you want, but one day, I will rise from this bed, and you will be sorry." Benjamin teased.

"Oh?" Cassandra replied more hopeful then actually in kind.

Ben picked up on that and nodded, "The healers say I should be fine, even fine enough to travel in a couple of days. My magic and the battlefield surgery provided by Harding's people did most of the job, in fact, they bought me the rest of the way."

"Good." Cassandra said pulling up a chair.

Benjamin eyed her up for a second, smirking behind his beard. Though Cassandra seemed to notice, not that she minded. It had been a while since had just been able to sit and look at her.

And she is truly the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. He thought wistfully himself.

"This is a lot to take in, this whole thing with Knight-Captain Durnham. And…we really haven't had the time to talk about it."

"Funny I was just thinking the same thing." Benjamin grinned.

"And?"

He sighed, looking out the window that was at the end of the row. Getting his thoughts in order.

"We should be allies. We both want to change the world. We both see a great many things wrong with the world. And yet he attacks the Inquisition, ambushes our patrols, strikes at our heart. And yet, we aren't allies."

"We probably wouldn't be anyways, the man is a madman Ben." Cassandra argued, almost hissing as her hand waved about.

"Probably," Ben agreed bleakly, "But, I just wonder, our goals are similar…"

"But how you achieve those goals probably aren't. Granted we do not know him much…" Cassandra said, then looked thoughtful, "but if he wanted to talk with us and be reasonable, he would have opened a dialog. Not attacked us, no matter the provocation."

Benjamin nodded, "I know…I just have to wonder."

"Indeed, it comes from your academic and Circle upbringing, all that time philosophizing with your head in the clouds." Cassandra teased.

Benjamin snorted. "If I recall my philosophy bailed us out of the situation a couple of times. And my magical upbringing allowed me to hold my own in a number of fights."

Cassandra chuckled, "That…and other things."

He smiled wistfully, "We'll have to move onto that later."

"Later?" Cassandra pouted.

"I'm healing woman!" Ben protested.

"That is no excuse Inquisitor." She chortled.

Benjamin chuckled at her, basking in the moment. But, it was soon ended.

"Inquisitor," Leliana said stepping into the room.

Benjamin nodded at her.

"We have found her, the spy."

The Inquisitor's face of joviality turned into a stone mask.