"Dorian..."
He turned to see Vivienne giving him a concerned look. "Questions, questions. What can I do for you?"
She arched an eyebrow, and then shook her head. "Are you alright, my dear?"
"I..." He stared at her for a moment. "What brings that question on?"
"You have done one of your buckles incorrectly." She pointed. "And if I am not mistaken, you are hiding."
"I am not hiding." He sighed, and began fixing the buckle. "And it would be no concern of yours if I was."
Vivienne tapped her fingers against her arm, and then sighed. "I heard about your father. Do let me know if there is anything I can do."
"I..." He swallowed. "Thank you, Vivienne. I appreciate the offer."
"There is one other small matter." She straightened, and looked down her nose at him. "Your young serving boy..."
"That is..."
"I find him far more efficient at his duties when he isn't distracted and confused. Whatever the issue is, I suggest you two work it out quickly." She waved a hand dismissively before walking away.
Dorian stared after her, and then just shook his head.
#
Dagna gave the desk in front of her a stern look. Then she kicked it, just to ensure it knew how displeased she was at the moment. She turned to see the Warden-Commander. "I can't figure out how to anchor the ward to last more than a week, and unless we station mages at every single rift in the world, that's just not good enough." She sighed. "I'm sorry."
"What about another approach?" Jerath walked over to her desk. "We know what caused the rift in the first place."
"Yes, that orb thing and -" She cut off, staring at the item he set on her desk. "You..."
"It's not the same orb." He looked down at the sphere.
"Then where did..."
"Skyhunter." He leaned on the desk. "She left it for me to find." He sighed. "My sister got her hands on this one, somehow."
She blinked. "You have a sister?"
"Had." He took a deep breath. "She's the one that first bound Vigilance, put him into my head. I was four years old." He met her eyes. "Dagna, I don't know how this thing works, but we have seen what it can do."
"Yes, we have." Dagna stared at it. "And you're handing it to me."
"I trust you, Dagna." He smiled. "If anyone can figure this thing out, it's you. Find me a way to close those rifts."
"Right. No pressure or anything." She laughed. "It's only the end of the world."
"Dagna." He raised an eyebrow. "You really think I'd let the world end on my watch?"
#
"I hear Verchiel was good pay for you, Inquisitor."
Tan blinked, and turned at the sound of Sera's voice. "What?"
She raised an eyebrow. "Verchiel?" She waved a hand. "Time to go see if my friends left anything good. Bring your empty pockets."
He shook his head, and continued walking. Cullen was watching some soldiers practicing. "What's this about Verchiel?"
"Those soldiers you..." Cullen glanced down at him. "Sera's request that soldiers be sent to march through? Apparently they broke up some fighting. We got quite a few good recruits out of that."
"Oh, that bullshit. You actually sent the soldiers?" Tan smirked.
"Well, yes."
"Guess I'll go see what's in it for me." Tan shrugged, and walked away.
#
Alistair sensed the approach of wardens, and started to smile. Lenore and Brosca had apparently made good time. He glanced at the door, which opened to reveal... he stared at the two elves. "What? How?"
"Both very good questions," Jerath said.
Brehan just shook his head. "You are going to want to sit down."
#
Sera was stalking, every foot step making it clear she was pissed. Tan just shook his head. He had a new, valuable alliance, and more gold flowing into his coffers. He glanced at Vivienne. "What do you know about our new acquisition?"
"Lord Harmond is hardly a speck at court, though he has some illusions of greatness." Vivienne drummed her fingers against her arm. "Acquiring him is a bold opening move."
"Let's see what we can do to further this advantage."
#
Jerath rubbed his jaw where Saitada had punched him. "Yeah." He nodded. "I had that one coming."
"She was just first in line." Cathiel narrowed her eyes. "You're alive. You..." She folded her arms mostly to keep herself from reaching for the bow. "We looked for you. Made a shrine." She shook her head. "You didn't even come to your own father's funeral."
"I know." Jerath met her eyes. "You have a right to be angry, Cathiel. But I did what I felt was best for Ferelden."
"For..." Alistair shook his head. "You abandoned Amaranthine and call that best for Ferelden?"
"He's right." Brehan's voice was quiet.
"He just saved your ass, of course you are on his side." Cathiel started to glare at him, then her face softened. "Oh, Brehan. I'm so sorry. We..."
"I know." Brehan nodded. "You were doing everything you could." He took a deep breath. "That doesn't change that he's right. You're no fool, Cathiel. Think back on the situation right before he vanished. Riots in the alienage. Rumors of sedition. Weisshaupt making noise. He disappeared, and what happened?"
"I..." Cathiel took a deep breath. "See your point." She turned back to Jerath. "The men who murdered your father..."
"Agents for a faction in Weisshaupt."
"You are certain?" Alistair raised an eyebrow.
"They gave very detailed and thorough answers to my questions." Jerath's smile was cold.
"You found them." Cathiel's own voice held icy satisfaction. "Good."
"There is more." Brehan folded his arms.
"I get the sneaking suspicion you're going to say something that's going to result in at least one of us punching Jerath again." Alistair folded his arms.
"Planned for that." Jerath twitched a shoulder. "Brought something to serve as either a distraction or a peace offering." He walked out of the room and returned a moment later with a good sized basket, setting it in front of Cathiel. "Your majesty." He gestured at the basket.
She glanced at Brehan, who smiled broadly in response before nodding to her and gesturing towards the basket. Cathiel shrugged and reached for the cover, only to draw her hand back when something beneath it moved. "What the...?" She shook her head, and then removed the cover.
Silence reigned as those gathered stared at the griffin fledglings. Saitada was the first to find her voice again. "How?"
"To sum up a very long story..." Jerath shrugged. "Magic."
#
He leaned out over the ramparts, watching the soldiers move below. Cullen and several others were training, stripped to the waist as they went after each other with sticks. Dorian idly considered heading down for a closer view.
"Lord Pavus?"
Part of him wanted to wince at the sound of the young man's voice. He was barely more than a boy, and Dorian had... He sighed, painted a smile on his face, and turned around. "Eben, what brings you out here?"
"Looking for you, my lord." Eben shifted his weight awkwardly, then offered him a piece of parchment. "Um, Lady Josephine turned away your shipment."
"She what?" Dorian shook his head. "Did she say why?"
"She said you hadn't gone through the proper protocols and..." Eben shrugged. "She inquired as to how many outfits one man needs."
"Hmmm..." Dorian tapped his chin. "This may require flattery."
"It may, my lord." Eben shifted again. "My lord, may I remind you that when you do not require my services, I work for the quartermaster?"
"I..."
"Your shipment may have accidentally been placed in with the recent shipment of food stuffs, and be in the pantry." Eben bowed, and started to walk away.
"Eben." Dorian called after him. He waited until Eben returned. "Thank you, and..." He sighed. "Thank you."
Eben smiled at him before leaving again to continue his rounds.
#
"...five assassins in the past three years to cement his position." Tan shoved the parchment at Leliana.
"Interesting." Leliana looked over the notes. "And Lady Venal did much the same with hired Crows."
"Lady Venal is already an ally though." Tan leaned back in the chair. "Our decision now is whether we use this information to turn Baron Kleson, or eliminate him."
"Until we know who we are supporting at the Winter Palace, I am not certain what option is best." Leliana set the parchment down.
"Well, I suppose we best see who gives us the prettier promise." Tan grinned. "Then ensure we can make them keep it." He gazed up at her. "It may get bloody."
"It began bloody." Leliana nodded. "I will do what must be done, Inquisitor."
"As will I."
#
Lenore opened the door to Brehan's room, and stopped in her tracks. "Oh..."
He sighed, and shook his head at her as he tossed the tunic to one side. "You should have knocked."
She walked over, and gently touched where the burning knife had been laid against his shoulder. "Brehan..." Her fingers glowed white, and she felt tears come to her eyes when she realized whatever healing could be done already had. "I..." Silver scars criss-crossed his back, and his left ear was missing entirely. More scars twisted the left side of his face, both burns and cuts, rendering his tattoos unrecognizable. She trailed her fingers down his arm and then she saw his hand. "No. Oh no."
"It works." He clenched it into a fist. "Not well, but..."
Cathiel's voice came from behind her. "We should have gone in after you as soon as we learned you'd been taken."
"From what I can tell, Jerath rescued me the same day the Inquisitor received Alistair's demand for my release." Brehan shook his head. "He'd have had me out sooner, but apparently the Inquisitor had taken an interest in his spy and he'd had to remove her. It took him a couple days to learn of my predicament."
"You can stay here." Cathiel said.
Brehan shook his head. "No. Soon as Jerath returns I'm heading back out with him. He's got spies, but not enough of them. I've still got a network in place, I just need to make contact. Get him the information he needs."
"To do what?" Lenore raised an eyebrow.
"Save the world." Brehan shrugged. "It's what he does, after all."
#
Tan left the elven woman to gather her clothing, and went to his desk. He dimly heard her close the door as she made her escape. His little excursion into Redcliffe had born fruit. He now had a full magister under his command. The title had already proved enough to get them some additional resources and information. Still, best to exercise caution when dealing with Tevinter. Though he was certain that Dorian would stay in Skyhold, at least as long as he believed it was the Venatori that had killed his father.
He'd expected having Lord Erimond made tranquil to mollify Varric, but the man was doing little more than mopping. And he still had no good hold on Solas save for the man's own apparent willingness to stay. And that alone disturbed him. The man had an interest in the orb, but no reason to believe he'd be able to acquire it even if the Inquisition itself did.
#
Minaeve stumbled blindly through the door, and ran into someone. She nearly fell, and felt someone guide her to a chair. "Minaeve, are you alright?"
She looked up to see Solas giving her a concerned look. "I..." She swallowed. "I'm fine."
His eyes narrowed, and he shook his head. His fingertips glowed white as he touched the side of her face, and she felt some of her headache ease. "Are you?" He shook his head. "Who did this to you?"
Fear trickled through her. Tan had been very clear about what would happen if anyone found out. "It's nothing, I'm..."
"Minaeve..."
"I'm fine, really." She put a smile on her face. "I've just been working too hard, and tripped earlier and ran into the wall but I'm fine I just..."
He looked at her, then he turned to look in the direction she'd come. His face paled slightly, and then became furious. "Minaeve..."
"Please don't." She shook her head desperately. "Please, you..."
"Come." He put his hand on arm, then helped her back to her feet. "Let me get you some tea."
#
"You seem cranky." Eben glanced at Kels.
"I think Minaeve is angry at me." Kels slumped against the wall, and sank to the ground. "I went to talk to her last night, and she pretty much slammed the door in my face."
"What did you do?" Eben folded his arms.
"I don't know." Kels sighed. "And the Commander is pretty short tempered these days. He barks orders like we were back in Kirkwall."
"Lot going on right now." Eben shrugged. "He's worried about half the world right now, not just one city."
"I know." Kels banged the back of his head into the wall. "I saw the reports from Ferelden. King Alistair apparently sent soldiers into the Hinterlands, and wants us to vacate. He's stationing more soldiers over in Crestwood."
"It's not going to come to violence, is it?" Eben's eyes widened.
"I don't know." Kels shook his head. "The King is a Grey Warden, remember? What if he gets compromised like that one that was here?"
"Blackwall hasn't been compromised." Eben frowned.
"No, the other one. The one they had to put in the cells." Kels looked up at him. "And he was even one of the ones that helped kill the archdemon. One of the heroes."
"Shit. First the Champion and now..." Eben clenched his fists. "Fuck Corypheus."
"You can say that again." Kels chuckled.
"Fuck Corpyheus."
#
He handed Loghain a cup, and the other man accepted with a nod of thanks. Brehan seated himself by the fire, and leaned back against the log, sipping at his own tea. "May I ask a question?"
"Certainly." Loghain glanced at him.
"You don't have to answer, if you don't want. Maker, I suppose it's eleven years past mattering anyway, but..." Brehan hesitated.
Loghain slowly nodded. "You want to know why he spared me."
"I suppose it's a good thing he did, in the long run. I guess I'm just curious. I know the reasons he gave Saitada, but none of them ever sat all the way right." Brehan took another drink from his tea.
It was a few minutes before Loghain answered. "I knew his mother. Seems a couple lifetimes ago, now."
"You knew his mother?" Brehan blinked.
"Adaia. Officially, she was my serving girl. In reality, she was a Night Elf, during the rebellion. Fierce girl. Not bad with a bow but at her most lethal with a dagger in each hand." Loghain set his arm atop his knee as he stared into the fire. "She wasn't much more than a child, and used that to slip into enemy camps and cause havoc." He took a long drink from the tea. "We saved each others lives a couple times. She was with me, at the River Dane."
"I met his father, but..." Brehan shook his head. "He never really talked about his mother."
"She was murdered." There was a quiet anger to Loghain's voice. "By the guardsmen of the very king for whom she'd fought a hundred battles." Loghain sighed. "Until I met Jerath, I'd never even known she had a husband, let alone children."
"He spared you because you'd once fought alongside his mother?"
Loghain was silent again for a time. He finished his tea. "I'm not a particularly pleasant man. There have been few in my life I have called friend. There was a time when I called Adaia such. She was..." He shook his head. "As I said, not much more than a child, and we were in a war. I looked out for her, and I guess I..." He set the cup down. "I am an old fool in many ways." He glanced at Brehan. "My father's name was Gareth."
He blinked. "Gareth."
"I guess she didn't hear it quite right, or the memory slipped, but..." Loghain turned away to stare into the fire again.
"But she named her son after your father." Brehan closed his eyes for a moment, then finished his tea. He set the cup aside.
"Odd, sometimes, where life takes us. I hated Maric once. Wanted to kill him. Nearly abandoned him in the Korcari Wilds. And he became a brother to me." Loghain smiled. "I tried to have Jerath assassinated, put bounties on his head, and would have killed him in that duel had I gotten the chance. And he has become my son." Loghain chuckled. "Did you know I tried to convince him to marry Anora?"
"Oh." Brehan winced. "That would have been a disaster." He caught Loghain's look and continued quickly. "I don't mean that as an offense to Anora."
#
"Our entourage will be ready to depart in the morning." Josephine nodded to Tan.
"Good. The sooner we get to Orlais, the sooner we can get this civil war issue solved."
"Josephine?"
They turned at the sound of Solas's voice. "Yes, Solas?" Josephine smiled at the elven man.
"I know Minaeve has been helping you curate various donations, but I could use her help with some of my research." Solas nodded to her. "I fear we are somewhat short on mages that know proper research techniques."
"Oh, that's..." Josephine nodded. "Yes, that's fine."
"Thank you." He gave her a small bow. "I fear she may be upset about having to miss the trip to Orlais, but the tomes Dorian acquired for me should be arriving shortly." He glanced at Tan before walking away.
Tan narrowed his eyes as he watched Solas go back to the rotunda. Well now, seemed like the mage was stepping on his toes.
#
Dorian saw Halamshiral spread out before them. He glanced at Solas, and saw the man frowning at the Inquisitor. "Something wrong?"
"Pardon?" Solas blinked at him.
"I was inquiring as to what was wrong. You appeared half in the Fade." Dorian raised an eyebrow at Solas.
"I was merely considering some new information."
"Anything you care to share?" Dorian frowned.
"Not at this moment, no." Solas glanced back at the Inquisitor. "War is ugly business, even when it is regrettably necessary."
"True words." Dorian sighed, and looked at the small army that had come with them. "True words."
#
Brehan couldn't quite stop himself from smiling as he watched Jerath put his son to bed. A couple years, and the boy was going to be taller than his father. He nodded when Jerath headed towards him. "Odd, in a way."
"What is?"
"Despite everything, even knowing how much time has passed, it's still a bit funny realizing you're not a kid anymore." He shrugged. "Not that you ever really were, I suppose." He glanced back towards the room before following Jerath through the hall. "Odder still watching the scariest man I ever met tuck someone into bed."
"If I'm so scary, why do people keep punching me in the face?" Jerath raised an eyebrow.
"Well, in Saitada's case, because you deserved it." Brehan sighed. "And I still owe you an apology." He glanced down at the smaller man. "You know, if I'd have realized how many times over the years you'd save my ass, I'd have been a lot nicer to you."
"But then I wouldn't have learned so many elven curse words." Jerath shook his head. "A lot's happened since those days."
"True." Brehan frowned. "Did you know Morrigan was pregnant when she left?"
"Yes."
"Then why..." Brehan blinked. "Why did you stay?"
"There was work to do."
"Da'mi, we..." He sighed. "You had a kid, and we just left you to clean up the mess."
"It's more complicated than that, lethallin." Jerath leaned on the wall. "I promised Morrigan I'd give her a year before I went looking for her. And then..." He twitched a shoulder. "Well, shit happened."
"That's not..." Brehan narrowed his eyes. "Da'mi, the moment you learned I was in danger, you rode in on a damn griffin to get me out. I don't believe for one moment that anything that happened in Amarantine would have kept you from your son."
"I killed Flemeth. That's why she needed Hawke. Because she knew Morrigan would send me to kill her." Jerath met his eyes. "Until I was sure, I couldn't risk leading Flemeth to Morrigan."
"Flemeth." Brehan blinked. "You killed Asha'Bellanar?"
"Yeah." Jerath twitched his shoulder again. "Thinking I'm going to have to do it again pretty soon."
"I..." Brehan shook his head. "Am deeply concerned that you aren't joking." He shrugged. "So what's the next step?"
"We go to a party." Jerath sighed, and rolled his eyes. "Orlesians."
Brehan nodded. "Where is Morrigan, by the way?"
"Orlais."
"I..." Brehan stared. "What?"