Turana sent the ball of glowing light back at Kieran. He caught it on the tip of one finger, bounced it to his other hand, and sent it back to her. She concentrated, shifting its color from green to purple before sending it back. Kieran caught it, then focused his eyes on it for a moment. The ball shifted in shape, and then a small glowing bird was soaring back to her. She laughed delightedly. "I can't do that yet. I have a hard enough time just keeping the light steady."

"You will learn." Kieran nodded to her.

"I'm not sure. I think you're a lot stronger than I am." Turana shrugged.

"Strength affects the size of the spell. Focus and will determine the shape." He let the light vanish.

"What did you mean when you said your mother was the inheritor?" Turana raised an eyebrow at him.

"Your father is the Herald. He trumpets forth the new age, letting the world know change approaches. My mother awaits its coming." Kieran shifted slightly. "Your blood is very old."

"It can't be. I'm only ten."

"The echoes in your blood are far older." He tilted his head at her.

"I used to think Dorian was my weirdest friend, but now I think it's you." She grinned.

"We are friends?" Kieran blinked.

"Of course we are." Turana nodded.

"Oh." Kieran smiled.

#

"I think the Inquisition could benefit from an alliance with the Qunari." Vathran nodded to Iron Bull. Elves, qunari, and Josephine had managed to acquire additional support from the dwarves. If he could make this legacy last... He frowned. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing." Iron Bull shrugged. "I'm just used to them being..." He shrugged. "Over there."

"Let me know when they are ready, and we will head out." He headed back toward the keep to let Josephine know the news.

Her face was pale, and she was standing up from her desk. The parchment rustled as her hand shook. "Oh, Inquisitor."

"Josephine, what's wrong?"

"I..." She held out the parchment. "I am so sorry."

#

Vathran leaned in the doorway, watching as her daughter took a sword lesson from her attendant. Her new friend was occasionally calling out suggestions. He swallowed past the lump in his throat. "Da'len, come here."

Turana ran over to him, and then stopped a few feet away. "Papae, what's wrong?"

He knelt. "Turana, I..." He held out his hand. "Come here."

She took his hand, and he pulled her into his arms. "Papae?"

"Turana, da'vhenan, your grandfather is dead."

A small gasp escaped her, and then her shoulders started shaking. "How, why?"

"Our clan tried to help their brethren and the Inquisition in Wycome. The people there were being poisoned by red lyrium. They..." He swallowed. "Our forces there were forced to retreat and the clan was..."

"No." She started shaking. "No, no, no, no."

Tears of his own fell as she started sobbing in his arms.

#

She was sitting on the balcony, staring through the railing when she heard a sound behind her. Turana leaned over and peered into the room to see Kels and Kieran. Kels was carrying a tray. "We, uh..." He shifted a little awkwardly.

"We were worried." Kieran walked out onto the balcony and sat down beside her. "Losing a grandfather is painful."

"Have you...?" She looked up at him.

He nodded. "And uncles, not long ago." He looked away, and she saw a tear trickle from his eye. "I miss them."

Kels sat the tray down. She sniffed, then looked up at him. "My grandmamae's tea?"

"I hope I made it right." He sat down cross-legged in the doorway.

Turana swallowed, then looked up at him. "How long?"

"What?" He blinked.

"You lost your people during the Blight. How long did it take before it stopped hurting?"

"It never does, not all the way." He took her hand, then reached out with his other one and took Kieran's. "But there will come a day when the memories bring a smile instead of tears. I promise."

#

"Crap."

Vathran turned at the sound of Iron Bull's voice, then followed his gaze. Venatori forces were moving in on the Chargers. There was no way they could get down there to reinforce them in time.

"Your men need to hold that position, Bull." Gatt stepped forward.

"They do that, they're dead." Iron Bull glared the Viddathari.

"And if they don't, the Venatori retake it and the dreadnought is dead." Gatt shook his head. "You'd be throwing away and alliance between the Inquisition and the Qunari." Gatt stared up at Iron Bull. "You'd be declaring yourself Tal-Vashoth." Iron Bull made a growling sound. "With all you've given the Inquisition, half the Ben-Hassrath think you've betrayed us already. I stood up for you, Hissrad. I told them you would never become Tal-Vashoth."

Iron Bull took a step toward Gatt. "They're my men."

"I know. But you need to do what's right, Hissrad..." Gatt swallowed. "For this alliance, and for the Qun."

Slowly, Bull turned to face him. Vathran looked down at where the Chargers stood. Then he looked back up at Bull. "We need to hold that hill at all costs."

A sigh escaped Bull. "Yeah."

Below, the Venatori had reached the Chargers' position. He felt sick as he saw Grunt fall. "Come on, Bull." Vathran shook his head. "You don't need to stand here and watch."

"Yes." Bull's voice was calm. "I do."

"Hissrad..." Gatt's voice was gentle. "I'm sorry. I know that wasn't easy."

"Doesn't matter. The Qun demanded it." Bull watched until the fighting was over. "Dreadnought's clear. Let's get out of here." The big man turned and started walking away.

He spared one last glance over his shoulder at the bodies below. He had his alliance. He just hoped it was worth the cost. Vathran sighed, and followed Bull.

#

Vathran shook his head as he left Blackwall to his drinking. Part of him wondered if the man had been involved with one of the Chargers. Old stories about hanging dogs were not really how he wanted to spend his day. He smiled as he headed into Josephine's office. She smiled at him before bending to finish scribing a missive. He waited until she had set her pen down, then set an object on her desk.

"Why..." Josephine blinked. "What's this?"

"You said you wanted to see your original family crest. I found one for you."

She picked up the boat, turning it around and around in her hands. The look on her lovely face was incredulous. "I'm astonished. I'd given up hope that any example of the early family crest still existed." She held it up, pointing at the writing. "It even has our first motto, back from when we had a trading fleet to speak of: 'From sea to shore, we tame the waves.'"

He smiled. "Anything to see you smile."

Warm laughter bubbled up from her. "You've certainly succeeded." She set the crest down carefully on her desk. "Thank you."

#

"Wisdom knows enduring is pain. He hurts for her, another of many he couldn't save. He carries necessary deaths." Cole looked up at them.

"Too many people dying." Turana sat down near him. "Tavern feels empty now."

"Too quiet. She wanted to protect them, then they needed to be protected from her. He wanted to hate the Champion, but he - "

"Don't." Kels' voice was quiet. "Please."

Turana blinked, and turned to her friend. "Kels?" She frowned. "He's talking about you."

"He couldn't protect her. So he protects you." Cole nodded.

"I..." She looked up at him, then looked back at Cole. "Yeah. He does."

#

He went over the notes Leliana's spies had brought back. Still no sign of Samson. Cullen had mentioned smugglers in the Emerald Graves, but that area was treacherous. Orlais had abandoned it with good reason. Perhaps Fenarel and his people could look into the matter.

Corypheus had another lieutenant, someone named Calpernia, but she had apparently vanished. Perhaps the magister found a former slave no longer of any use. The spies had uncovered notes for some kind of strange binding ritual. Dagna had figured out it was to bind a person rather than a spirit and force them to answer questions truthfully. Unfortunately, the thing was far too complex to be of any actual use for interrogation. Anyone worth binding would likely be beyond their means of acquiring in the first place.

Vathran sighed. All they really had to go on was Morrigan's claim about Corypheus wanting an eluvian. He didn't trust that woman. He sighed, and put the papers on his desk before heading back down to meet Josephine.

#

"There you are." Josephine looked up at him as soon as he entered. "I've been looking all over for you. I've just received the most terrible news."

Vathran immediately walked to her. "What is it?"

She swallowed, wringing her hands in front of her. "I'm engaged."

He blinked. "When did this happen?"

A frustrated sigh escaped her as she folded her arms. "For the past year, my mother and father have searched Antiva for a match for me. They had no idea you and I had grown so..." She paced back and forth. "Close. Today, I received a letter declaring they've betrothed me to Lord Adorno Ciel Otranto of Antiva." She took a deep breath. "I must deal with this. But until then, we cannot be seen in a compromising situation. I'm so sorry."

His hand started to reach for hers, and he pulled it back, switching instead to a bow. It was a small enough restriction, and it didn't entirely forbid them from spending time together. There was always Turana to act as a chaperon, after all. "Let me know what I can do, Josephine."

"No." She looked somewhat relieved. "Thank you so much, but no. Until I know more, I cannot risk your reputation." She looked up and actually shook her hands. "Why did this have to happen to us now, of all times?" She sighed. "I must see to this. And to my other duties. If I can keep my mind on them today at all." She walked back to her desk.

This... Did sort of spoil his plans for the evening. He sighed, and left the office.

#

"Papae." Turana's voice made him turn. She ran up to him, followed by her attendant and her friend. "Papae."

"What troubles you, da'len?" He frowned.

"Blackwall left." She shook her head.

Vathran blinked. "What?" He looked up at the young man.

He nodded. "It's true, Your Worship." He offered Vathran a note. "We found this in his work space."

The note said little, only that it had been Blackwall's honor to serve. "I will speak to Leliana."

"And you'll bring him back, right?" Turana shook her head. "You have to bring Blackwall back. He's my friend."

"I will do everything I can, da'len." He kissed her forehead. "You should return to your studies. Cullen said your sword work has improved greatly."

"Kieran's been helping me too. He's really good." She nodded. "Last time, I flanked, and he was able to beat Kels by zapping the sword out of his hand and both of us tackling him. We tried to ransom him to Lady Josephine but she was busy so we ransomed him to Commander Cullen and he was laughing so hard he ended up giving us more taffy than we asked for and he had Kels set up a bunch of practice dummies before setting him free again and Dorian said next time we should come to him because he needs somebody to carry boxes and he'll pay us in carastian chocolates but Kels won't fight both of us at the same time anymore and he says using magic in a sword fight is cheating anyway."

"Well, uh..." Vathran nodded. "Keep up the good work."

"Okay." She grabbed the hands of her companions and began dragging them back out of the hall. "Come on, we've got to kill the darkspawn before they eat the lady that makes the pastries."

"To the rescue!" Her friend nodded.

#

A glowing mabari chased the weakly glowing halla around the room. Kels laughed when Turana lost concentration and the halla vanished. The mabari looked around in confusion for a moment, then faded away. Turana glared at him. "If you think its so easy, you try it." She put her hands on her hips.

"No, I think its cute." He shrugged. "You held it longer that time, and it moved more like an actual halla."

"Really?" She smiled.

"Really." He glanced at Kieran. "Your mabari is excellent. Did you have one?"

"She slept on my bed, but she was very old." Kieran sat cross-legged in the windowsill. "Mother said perhaps I can have another, when we leave Orlais." Kieran frowned. "Mabari apparently find Orlesians tasty."

Kels laughed. "Well, they are loyal Fereldans."

"She let me ride her sometimes." Kieran smiled.

"Maybe I'll ask Papae for a mabari." Turana grinned.

Kieran tilted his head. "But you already have a Fereldan you can ride." He gestured at Kels.

Turana started laughing. Kels just shook his head. He reached out and ruffled Kieran's hair. "If you want to insult a Fereldan, you'll have to do better than comparing them to a mabari."

#

Vathran stared down at the man in the cell. "You murdered children." He felt sick. "You..." He grabbed the bars of the cell. "I trusted you with my daughter you..." He took a deep breath before storming away from the cell.

Cullen was waiting for him near the entrance to the prison. "I have Leliana's report on Thom Rainier."

"How did she miss this?" Vathran glared at him.

"It would have been difficult for anyone to connect Blackwall to Rainier." Cullen sighed. "Even Leliana has something of a blind spot when it comes to Wardens." He shook his head. "What do we do now? Black..." Cullen shook his head. "Rainier has accepted his fate, but you don't have to. We have resources. If he's released to us, you may pass judgment on him yourself."

It was tempting. But he couldn't make Turana witness the execution of a man she had cared about. "Let him rot." He turned, and walked out of the prison.