Alain

The Orlesian noble was in the Inquisition's throne room. The throne looked grand. Cut in the style of the Free Marches. The room itself was simply decorated, no real ornaments or statues, it gave it a familiar air. The fire light though, even in the beginning stirrings of spring, were quite oppressive provided by the chandeliers. And Valmont wished he did not have to wear so many cloaks to travel here.

"Bit impressive isn't it?" A female voice spoke from behind him, smooth and sweet.

He turned around and was face to face with Inquisitor Trevelyan. In all her beige glory. The suit was typical of noble fashion in some areas of the south, and while Valmont usually despised it, but the Inquisitor wore it well.

Kara Trevelyan the woman herself was pretty, in a hard and backwoods sort of way, and not the way of traditional Orlesian nobility. All soft and pampered. Blood red was the color of her hair, she wore it short, strands hanging down at the sides. Blue were her eyes, but not sharp, clear, and deep. Almost gray and murky. A rakish scar cut over her cheek, yet Alain thought it looked clean and mostly healed. An old wound from her time with the Elder One? He would have to ask someone.

"Alain de Valmont." She spoke his name out, a smirk playing across her lips, "just what brings you to my establishment?"

Alain blinked at her, "You know my name? You know me by sight?"

The Inquisitor shook her head, her tone tried to be ingratiating. "My spymaster is very good at her job. She even has pictures and everything."

Valmont frowned at that.

Kara sighed, "So, do you have a reason?"

"No," He shook his head, "I just wanted to come and see the Inquisition for myself. Make my own judgements."

"And just who would be judging us?" Kara asked. Her eyes sparkling.

Valmont graciously ignored the question, instead choosing to restudy the walls. Not sure exactly how he should answer. The Inquisitor let the question hang in the air lightly before sighing and moving on.

"Come, want to take a drink? This way."

Valmont arched an eyebrow but otherwise did as he was bade. Following the Inquisitor through a wooden door on the left. Up some stairs, into wooden scaffolding, and up even more stairs.

Finally though they entered another room. This one was richly covered. With a bed, carpet, and tables. It was looking a bit…scattered. But the view. Valmont had to restrain himself to run over to the far balcony, even then his pace was long and strident.

He stepped out into the crisp air around Skyhold, instantly being refreshed and reinvigorated. The Frostbacks rose and towered around them. Snowcapped. Wind buffeted him and his hair. He was very small. But the reward was most breathtaking.

The Noble felt a presence behind him and found the Inquisitor standing there, cradling two mugs in her hand.

Valmont took the offered one gingerly and sniffed at it dubiously.

"Ferelden mead?" He asked, cocking an eyebrow at the Inquisitor.

She nodded, "Indeed. I have always admired the Ferelden people. Their tenacity and sense of independence, even though their nobility, is something to be admired. Their beverages reflect that."

Valmont smiled, lightly, "Well, I tend to prefer Orlesian and Antivan ports, but I suppose this won't be too bad." He took a solid and quick drink, and nearly gaged, the initial wave was surprisingly bitter and aggressive, but the after taste was rather smooth. Much like Ferelden.

The two of them stood in silence. Each enjoying the beer, and watching the Frostbacks, of the turn of the world.

Finally Kara turned towards him, "I was sorry about your…mother? Empress Celene."

Valmont chuckled, "Apparently your spymaster is not that good after all. No, the Empress was not my mother."

Kara nodded. "I do feel sorry about her death…even though-" Valmont noticed she caught herself up short, letting a sigh role through her, "even though we were there, we could not stop the assassins. She died because I was too slow."

Valmont couldn't help it, but he reached out and put a comforting hand on the Inquisitor's shoulder, "There was nothing you could do. You did not kill her. Florienne, her own Grand Duchess, did. It was all a part of the Game. Of the war." He removed his hand. "And the Inquisition did benefit from her death."

Kara laughed, "Hardly a reason to justify her death." She said bitterly.

Valmont entered back into her quarters, forcing her to follow. Yet the wind was making it hard to have a civilized conversation out there.

He sighed, "In a way her death was necessary." Valmont said.

Kara's face whirled on him and she gave him the most incredulous of looks.

He chuckled bitterly. "She was walking a dangerous line Inquisitor. One I am not sure she always did so successfully."

"But she was your family." Kara pressed.

"Yes, she was. I loved her, as much as one noble can love another anyways…and I miss her dearly. But she was wrong. She was not the best person Orlais needed in their time of need."

He paused for a second, allowing a drink to be used as cover for his roiling thoughts. "She was trying to balance the Empire. She was scared of the Elves and scared of what her fellow nobles would do. It led to a Civil War. All a part of the game. She was too afraid to bring about the change that was needed."

Kara tapped her glass next to him, and frowned deeply. "You sound like an idealist…a romantic."

Valmont snorted, he waved his glass away, trying to keep down the humor. "Please. I am an Orlesian. It is my home. My Country. My love. I am a patriot Inquisitor. I will protect Orlais from all enemies, foreign and domestic.

"But I am also not blind Inquisitor. Orlais must change. The Game is starting to get…violent. It has held Orlais together for centuries but now the military, now Gaspard, and others, are changing the game. They are shedding Orlesian blood. And other forces threaten to rip the Empire apart, we either change and grow, granting freedom for all, or we die. And I am not alone, though we all project it in different ways. And some see the Inquisition as a genuine threat."

Kara shot him a look, "What threat to Orlais could the Inquisition possibly pose?"

Valmont grinned. "You are smarter than that. To many the Inquisition had one purpose, to restore order. To discover who was responsible for the Divine's death. And then when you did, to stop them. Corypheus is now dead Inquisitor. Many believe the Inquisition should have disbanded. Left the world to its own affairs after its purpose is fulfilled. Worse still, you are the first non-mage magic wielder in the history of Thedas. The known history certainly. You represent a powerful force. A force which could, many believe, have the power of a god. Corypheus himself attested to that fact when you battled him at the Temple of Sacred Ashes, so your own people have attested."

"We still have more work to do," Kara said, bluntly.

"Oh do you now? And that is what worries my colleagues."

"It's nothing serious," Kara smirked.

Valmont felt his eyebrow arch up at the word choice.

Kara huffed, but relented to explain, "During the events of the end game, the latter stages of the war with the Elder One…the latest stages in fact…a member of the Inquisition disappeared under mysterious circumstances. I have questions for him, and I have agents out looking for him…but no they have not been able to find him anywhere. Despite looking. As long as he is out there, at the least, we cannot just pack up shop."

Valmont nodded slightly, "but-"

"Where does that leave Orlais?" Kara cut him off, yet her laugh disarmed any insult, intended or otherwise.

Valmont nodded again, encouragingly.

"Bringing us to our second objective, 'restore order', check the news. Bandits harassing Orlesian Citizens, the country on the brink of Civil War- again. The Elves one step away from violent revolution, wanting to bathe the country in blood to gain their freedom. The list goes on."

"And all these things are the Inquisition's problems?" Alain pressed.

Kara chuckled, "Quite probably," she finished. "As much as I hate to admit it. Or want it, we are joined at the hip. By blood."

Alain frowned. "You walk a dangerous path Inquisitor. You could easily end up becoming the very thing you seek to remove from Orlais."

Kara also frowned, "I know. It is something…I think about every day. But I do not see any way out of here."

Alain arched an eyebrow at her, "You really do not want the power do you? You really want to just let it all go away?"

Kara looked him in the eye, holding his gaze for a matter of moments, she took a sip from her drink. "I need an escape plan. Just…the Inquisition has joined up with the Game up to our respective hips. We need each other. So both of my Spymasters have told me, repeatedly."

"And many people believe you are out there simply for the sake of controlling Orlais," Alain snorted, "you should have seen your first intelligence file that was submitted for the Orlesian Court. It was really quite…revealing…if only it could see you now."

Kara eyed him up for a minute.

"I will make sure we send you a copy. It's really quite good." He promised.

Kara nodded. And finished off the rest of your drink. "So now what?" She asked after another minute.

He finished off his drink too, and pursed his lips. "As I said, I am a patriot. You have…impressed me Inquisitor. But I must keep my eyes open. On everyone. What you have said is not the most reassuring in the world. But at least for the moment I believe the Inquisition means well…should that change."

"Yes, you will be the first one who will stop us." Kara grunted.

"Indeed, and just remember, the South does still need a strong Orlais as much as Orlais needs a strong Inquisition it seems. I will keep my eye on you."

"Ditto de Valmont, ditto." She poured herself another glass.

Kara

The Inquisitor groaned. I had a bit too much to drink. And she did. Three glasses of mead was far too much for her. At least more so then she had on a normal basis. The Inquisition could get a great many things. Enjoying those pleasures was another matter entirely.

Valmont seemed a steady enough individual. Much different than your typical Orlesian noble.

Yet it was one more piece to the puzzle. One more whisper from the shadows. Something was wrong. Just gathering around her perceptions.

Out of the corner of my eye.

She sighed. I want another drink.

She crossed her arms under her chest and looked out the window. The sun was beginning to set below the Frostbacks, bathing the background in an orange glow. Deadly as it was bloody looking.

The door behind her creaked open. And she felt another presence glide into the room behind her. She chose to ignore it for a few minutes. Continuing to enjoy the scenery.

"I see you had a guest," Briala's voice spoke out, as silky sweet as always yet thickly accented.

"And I see you continue to watch everything I do." Kara countered, letting a little bit of bitterness seep into her voice.

"Always Inquisitor," She could feel the amused smile on Briala's face, even facing away from the Elf.

Finally the Inquisitor turned around. Acknowledging her latest guest.

"And you have advice for me Briala?" She asked.

"Just to watch him." Briala said simply. "He is Alain de Valmont. A noble. And you were, at least indirectly responsible, for killing his mother. You did not act in time. I am quite sure intentionally. Even so, he is a noble. His interests may not be aligned with ours. He said so himself."

"Indeed," Kara frowned, "I am also concerned about the company he keeps." She sighed. "Keep an eye on him. Look into it. He may be a dupe in a larger plot, or he may be a larger plot…find out which."

"Yes, Inquisitor." Briala bowed her head slightly.

Kara went back to her window as Briala quietly left through the other door. Leaving her alone with her thoughts.

There is a lot happening out there. There is a storm gathering somewhere.

Alain

"So, you went to see the Inquisitor? Ambitious, brave, but ultimately stupid…if we had only known-"

"You would have done what?" Alain countered calmly. "Sent an armed escort? Warned me not to go? That the Inquisitor would kill me out of hand as soon as look at me?"

"The Inquisitor is dangerous." The Count Montbelliard frowned.

Valmont grunted, steeping his fingers in front of him, hiding the frown which was now playing off his face.

They had gathered, after all, at one of his vineyard estates. They were on his home turf after all.

"She seemed to me a charming engaging woman." Alain opined finally.

Montbelliard scoffed, "She is a noble in name only. She acts like a commoner. Consorts with commoners. And has odd notions. She. Is. Dangerous."

Alain opened his mouth to retort but Julien cut them both off. "Enough, it was valuable that you got your own opinion and formed your own conclusions. But I must ask, now that you have seen her, and is convinced she is not a threat, will you still be on our side?"

Again Alain moved to open his mouth, but the look in his two compatriots' faces stopped him up short.

They were both staring at him keenly. The Count making his intentions open, hand resting on his chin, idly, around the recesses of his beard. Julien's interest was no less stark, but less obvious. His head was tilted down and he was leaned back, cloaking most of his face in shadows, except for the two orbs of his eyes peering out like beacons in the darkness.

It gave him the shivers. And caused him to consider his next words more carefully. Finding the balance between truth and euphuism.

"I am with you," He said after the barest moment of hesitation. "I believe in the cause. I am an Orlesian. I love my country. I love my land. I am a patriot. I believe the Inquisitor may not be intentionally threatening. But she could cause great damage simply by her stride through Orlais. So yes, I am with you. Yes I believe in the cause. If the Inquisition becomes a threat to Orlais, I will join you. As long as the protection of Orlais remains your top concern, and you act calmly, not rashly, and not compulsively."

"Oh we will," Julien assured uncrossing his legs, "we will."

There was something in his smile which made Alain uncomfortable.