Chapter 10

"What do we do now?" Varric asked as they sat around the fire at the Crossroads camp eating their meal. The initial meeting with grand enchanter Fiona went exactly as Fainariel predicted. Afterwards, they met Felix and his friend Dorian in the Redcliffe chantry and the mages confirmed what Fainariel had already reported.

"We wait. His spies will report we haven't left the area, but as long as Josephine sends the Inquisition's agreement to the meeting we should be fine. Alexius is supremely confident in his alliance with Corypheus. His coupe with Redcliffe castle is a solid move and and he is desperate for any hope of curing his son of the darkspawn taint."

Cassandra spoke from the other side of the fire they shared, "There is something I have been meaning to ask you ah.."

"Herald, for the time being will do." Fainariel provided.

"Er, yes," Cassandra hesitated again and Fainariel answered her unspoken question.

"The real Lucius Corin is willing accomplice of Corypheus." Cassandra stood with angry indignation and Fainarial raised a hand and her voice became steely and commanding, "Seeker Pentaghast, you can ask him his motives yourself when we find him, he is currently at Caer Oswin, but he may not be after we rescue your comrades. He has sold them to the Order of Fiery Promise and they will all be tortured to death in the next month if we do not make that the priority."

"And how do you know all of this, more spirits?" The Seeker demanded angrily. Fainariel met the woman's eyes calmly.

"Cassandra Allegra Portia Calogera Filomena Pentaghast, born 9:04 Dragon. Father Matthias Pentaghast, mother Tigana Pentaghast, uncle Vestalus Pentaghast and legal guardian. Anthony Pentaghast, brother, shall we talk about your brother? Or maybe Regalyan D'Marcall? He was a good man, a good mage, those are your words, not mine. I am sorry for you loss, Cassandra. I know it must be very fresh, but for me it is ancient history, and I am a historian." Fainariel's tone was challenging and the annoyance brought her to her feet and made her stalk towards the agitated Seeker.

"I am also a mage, I physically walked through the fade and I speak with spirits. There are So many reasons, knowing you past, for you not to trust me, but I promise you sometime very soon, you will do just that. Another promise you have from me is that unlike the history I know, where you become the last Seeker, we will get your men back, alive, and Lucius Corin will pay for what he has done. If you can reserve your anger for our enemies." The elf extended her hand to the thoughtful Seeker.

"For now." The Nevvran woman as she took the outstretched hand and shook it.

"Oh, good, I really do hate having my nose broken." Fainariel replied with a grin and Varric laughed.

"I was not going to hit you." The Seeker remarked defensively.

"The other thing, Varric, I want to assure you. You and Hawk, you did killed Corypheus, that happened." Fainariel returned to her seat heavily.

"So, if we killed the bastard, how is he still alive?" Varric demanded angrily.
Fainariel sighed, "It my time, we would call it, recovered magic, here I am certain the elves would call it stolen. Cassandra," She addressed the Seeker, "The Circles use phylacteries to track mages, but for mages, phylacteries can be used for so much more and be anything, even a living creature. Ancient Elves used them in the most dire of circumstances in hopes of surviving death. Your essence it put into the item or creature, leaving your consciousness able to enter any willing, living vessel."

"That is Demon possession!" Cassandra exclaimed angrily.

Fainariel sighed again, "In a way. Its practice, even by ancient elves was not always entirely ethical. Corypheus, being blighted adds another level of horror to this. Any tainted creature near him can be possessed by him, even against their will. The blight bypasses consent and allows him free access." Solas let out a hiss of realization.

"There weren't any Darkspawn around when we killed Corypheus though, we'd killed them all." Varric said, confused.

"But there were Wardens, were there not?" Solas spoke up.

"Holy shit, the poor bastards." Varric seemed to sag at the realization.

"What is he using as a phylactery?" Solas asked.

"An ancient, blighted, high dragon, it is almost as powerful as a true archdemon." Fainariel nearly whispered.

"Well shit." Varric muttered.