The next morning at dawn Raven was up, ready for the day, and knocking on the door to Cullen's office to go over troop scheduling and recruit training. With people still coming to Skyhold and pledging themselves to the Inquisition every day, he'd chosen fifteen of the new recruits to report directly to Raven. It wasn't only his way of showing that he trusted her but also to teach the recruits a lesson; he'd heard a couple of them talking the night before about the young girl, unsavory and undignified things that no man should utter about a woman. So as the sun continued to rise over Skyhold that morning and she left his office, Cullen watched in amusement from the battlements between his office and the library as the fifteen men in the courtyard ranging from sixteen to thirty-five stood in a sloppy line wearing practice armor watched Raven make her way down the steps. As usual, she was only dressed in one of her many pairs of skin tight black pants and a light blue lace top-something he'd always deemed unfit to train in, but after hearing about the night before she'd thrown her coat across his desk and insisted. Her obsidian daggers glittered in the light from the harness strapped to her body and it was probably the only time he would approve of her not wearing armor to train. Cullen noticed her hair was braided but that changed once she reached the last step and he watched the way she quickly removed the hair tie, combed the long braid out of her hair which made the copper tresses shine in the morning sunlight, and twisted her hair with graceful movements of her wrists so it was in a messy bun before tying it back again. It wasn't a coincidence, Cullen had learned. Raven had done it to get the men to stop talking and, as she walked the line to look and assess the posture and the condition of each recruit, one man reached out to touch her rear when he thought she wasn't looking. With a quick movement that none of the recruits had expected the offender was already on his stomach with the hand he reached out bent behind him in an extremely painful angle. She hadn't let the man up until he apologized. They'd all stood shocked as the large man scrambled off the ground and stood back in line.

"Hello, everyone. I hope you're having a good morning," Raven had said as if nothing had happened. "I apologize you had to see that, but when it comes to me, it's safer to look than to touch." She stood in front of the men looking like an innocent doe-eyed girl. Cullen had to wonder what her plan was as he leaned in closer to view the group. He was unaware of Cole standing beside him also looking down at her and all the men with curiosity.

"Nice to meet you, Sweetheart." One of them said; he was a man in his late twenties that Raven would soon learn was named Patrick. "You might've pulled one over on him, but the training fields are no place for a little girl such as yourself. So why don't you run to the kitchens?" A couple of the recruits laughed and Cullen found himself wanting her to teach them the hard way. Raven masked her annoyance and only widened her smile.

"Okay, since you're so big and strong, would you like to play a game with me?" She asked in the same cheery voice as before. The man who taunted her scoffed while some of the other recruits laughed, seeming to forget what she had just done to one of their own not even five minutes before.

"Sure , I'll play a game with you." Raven could feel her fingers start to twitch as excitement filled her, but she remained composed and continued to smile in response.

"I'm so glad. Why don't you go pick up one of those heavy wooden swords over there and come back," she suggested while pointing to the practice weapons. The man walked over, picked up one of the two handed swords without testing the weight and balance, and came back. Raven moved away from the others and urged her new plaything to follow.

"You really think you could take me in a fight?" The man asked and Raven shook her head. Stupid misogynistic piece of shit, she screamed in her mind but continued with the smile.

"It's not a fight. It's a game and the rule is simple: if you hit me with your weapon one time before I put you on your ass, then you win. I'll go to the kitchens and make you the best meal you've ever had in your life. However, if I manage to win, then you have to spend the rest of the day in the kitchens and make my dinner tonight." Raven knew her rules would cause some laughter. She was correct and Cullen had to force himself to hold himself back and watch their blatant disrespect to their superior and new Inquisition advisor. It was obvious what she was doing; the only way to get them to listen was to show her ability.

"Whatever, little girl," the man agreed. "Remember that I like my steak well done." Without wasting a second he lunged toward her with a great swing of his sword. Cullen wasn't surprised that he'd missed and judging by her stance it was obvious what she planned to do; it was something he'd seen her do only a handful of times since she'd started sparring with the soldiers. However, with this recruit he could tell she would need to use more force to prove the point she was trying to make. Cole watched in awe as she spun around while crouching low to the ground and used the momentum from the spin to deliver a hard kick to the recruit's ankle, making him cry out in pain as he fell to the ground and he could hear the echo of an unfamiliar tune playing in her mind, fast and loud. It made her happy. Raven continued to stare down at her sparring partner impassively as she stood up and with one last quick yet forceful movement kicked the sword from his hand.

"I never understood how one could like their steak well done. It takes flavor away from the cut," she commented and left him on the ground as she turned to the rest of the recruits. Cole was glad she taught him a lesson. No one deserved to be treated the way he treated her. "Lesson one of today's training session is to never underestimate a potential enemy."

"Stupid bitch!" The man yelled as he tried to stand, "Just wait till the Commander hears about his!" Raven ignored him. Any smiles they had before were gone.

"Assuming there's no one else who wants to play with me, I think it's time for introductions," Raven said loudly as she dropped the cheerfulness from her tone. Cole liked the voice she was suddenly using, it was more her. "My name is Raven, but you will address me as Mistress O'Hara until I tell you otherwise. I have been personally chosen by Commander Cullen to train each and every one of you. Why did the Commander choose me, you ask? Why did the Inquisitor agree to it? The answer is very simple: with over twelve years of multiple types of combat and weapons training, I am one of the best fighters here." By the end of her introduction the man who was foolish enough to fall into her game was standing and in the process of limping to his spot in line. Raven noticed he'd left the practice sword on the ground and her jaw clenched. "Recruit, what are you doing back in line? You're not training with us today." The man glared at her.

"Fuck you, bitch. I'm part of the Inquisition now. Best fighter or not, you're still nothing more than a piece of - " He never got to finish that sentence before Raven suddenly appeared before him with one of her obsidian daggers drawn and pressed to his neck which caused him to cry out in surprise. Her darkening green eyes held his. Raven tried to steady her breathing but could already feel her anger rising.

"Make that two days. You might have pledged yourself to Inquisitor Trevelyan and the Inquisition, but you're not a soldier until Commander Cullen and I say so and I don't see a soldier in front of me. I see a sorry, pathetic excuse of a man who clearly doesn't know how to shut up and has no respect for himself or others." As Raven's words left her mouth even she was scared by how they sounded. It didn't sound like her. Instead it was cold and emotionless, but it seemed to get the point across because the man was terrified and he had a right to be. She'd never killed anyone before she'd been thrown into this world, but now she realized how killing was a necessity in certain situations. With a sigh Raven pulled away and sheathed her dagger into the harness. When she spoke again her voice was loud, addressing the entire group. "I will not tolerate the type of behavior your fellow recruit has just displayed. Not only because it's disgraceful to the Inquisition, but because it's disgraceful to yourselves. I believe you are all better than that. Anyone who shows disrespect like he did or insists on playing my game and loses, will also lose a day of training. Instead, the offender will help out somewhere else and if it's not done properly, you will lose another day. Recruit, what is your name?" She asked the man casually as if she hadn't just had her dagger to his throat.

"My name is Patrick, ma'am," the man informed her with a much more calm and respectful manner than before. Raven smiled at him.

"And the man who thought it would be funny to grab my ass?" She asked and one of the bigger, older men came forward. He was scared, Cole concluded from his place on the battlements.

"My name is Behven," he told her. Raven nodded and brought her hands to her hips.

"Well, Behven," she addressed, "because you felt it was acceptable to sexually harass your officer, you won't be training today. Instead, you will be helping down at the stables. You are to report to Warden Blackwall and tell him exactly who sent you and why you are there. You can come back tomorrow." Behven opened his mouth with the intention of arguing but quickly shut it. At least he was capable of learning, Raven thought and watched as he bid her farewell and turned to walk toward the stables. When he was out of sight she turned to Patrick who was quick to apologize.

"I'm sorry for wh-"

"What's important is that you know what you did was wrong. Not only did you disrespect me as your trainer, but as you disrespected me as woman, which I will not stand for. Do you have a sister? Or maybe a wife, a daughter?" The man looked taken a back but slowly nodded.

"My sister, Elana," he replied and Raven had to shake her head in disappointment.

"You don't need to answer my next question, but how would you feel if some man-much older and bigger-treated her the same way you treated me? There's also the fact that you lost our game, so if you could please put that practice sword away and report to a woman named Gretchen in the kitchens, I'd be most obliged. I'll also stop by later with my dinner order and, if you're still interested in becoming a soldier, you can report back here tomorrow morning."

Meanwhile Cole was sitting on one of the pillars, his legs dangling off the side as he observed the exchange and the calm, yet powerful demeanor Raven presented. The men wouldn't have listened to her if she hadn't done what she did. This new personality she was showing was strange, but it was nice listening to her. She cared for others so much. Cole willed himself visible as he turned to look at Cullen.

"She thinks of music when she fights," Cole told the Commander, catching him off guard and causing him to jump back in surprise as the spirit made his presence known. That's what Cole was according to Solas and Christopher. Did Raven know? He wondered. Part of him doubted she would care; she seemed to get along with nearly everyone. He said something about music? Cole shrugged and looked back at the girl.

"Who thinks of music? Are you talking about Raven?" Cullen asked and the spirit nodded. "How do you know?"

"Loud music plays throughout a large room, fast and unfamiliar to us but familiar to her. I heard it in her mind just now. So many melodies and voices and she keeps step with all of them because she knows it takes more energy to swing and miss than to swing and hit." Cole spoke quietly as past pictures and thoughts from Raven's mind played over and over in his. Cullen stared at the spirit feeling even more unsettled as Cole continued to look at him. "Soft pale skin in the moonlight; heated and blushing under kisses, soft bites, and caresses; hearing her cry out your name. Fingers caught in long red hair… You think of her a lot, but you're not the only one. You don't want to think those things, but it's hard no to even when she wore my hat. I can see them, but they can't see me; she was happy you couldn't see her expression that night. She didn't want anyone to see how excited the idea joining you all made her." Sometime during his revelation he looked away to watch Raven only to bring his attention back to the embarrassed and red faced Commander. Cullen was mortified; he'd told no one of his brisk infatuation towards the young girl, but Cole knew. Without a word Cullen turned and made his way back to his office where he hoped there would be enough reports and paperwork to distract him. Cole shrugged and disappeared, the mice were hungry.

It was just before noon when Raven dismissed the recruits from training. Despite the minor mishap with the two recruits earlier in the morning, it had been a good first lesson which consisted of foot position and using a person's own body weight and movements against them. The recruits had objected at first, but once she explained how necessary it was and she picked one of the recruits to help her demonstrate, they were all interested in learning. Overall they were a good bunch, Raven concluded as she made her way to the stables to check on Behven. When she arrived she saw Dennett maneuvering a big brick of hay for the horses and Behven cleaning out a stall. Blackwall was the first to notice her presence from inside the doorway. During their time at Haven they'd spoken casually while she helped Harritt and she'd more than earned his respect.

"He's on dung duty all day for how he treated you. If he were my recruit he'd have gotten worse than a simple drop before I sent him away for good." The older man growled out loud enough for Behven to hear which only seemed to make him work even harder. Raven chuckled.

"He was already beaten by a ninety-five pound girl without a weapon, so I doubt it could get much worse. Thanks for keeping him for the day and please let me know how he does." Their conversation was short and ended in a hug from the large lumberjack of a man. Upon leaving, Raven was quick in her small journey to the kitchens and she smiled when she saw Patrick at a counter, still in his practice armor, kneading dough. Quietly she grabbed one of the pieces of paper and a quill that had been left out for notes and scribbled her dinner order and instructions onto it. Once she gave it to Gretchen with the order that Patrick had to be the one to cook it, she made her way into the large castle.

Christopher liked to think that he was a patient man. Between his pain in the ass family, years in the Circle under the watch of the Templars as he studied and learned to control his magic, the Mage-Templar rebellion, Temple of Sacred Ashes exploding, Haven, and going from prisoner to Herald of Andraste to Inquisitor there was a lot he could deal with before becoming annoyed, but Raven nearly had him at his limits. Since that night at the campfire where they came to their secret understanding he'd barely seen her. She'd been around, he knew that because of his other advisors and random scouts he'd managed to ask, but with her busy schedule on top of his own getting together to discuss their next plan of action had been impossible. The thought only annoyed him more as he shuffled through the never ending amount of missives on his desk.

"She wants to talk to you, but there's never any time. She hasn't been sleeping well lately. Why didn't I bring the blanket? Maybe I can make one." The sound of Cole's voice echoed on the stone wall making the young mage jump and look up to see the spirit standing at the entrance to his room from the balcony. "She likes talking to you. You make her feel safe, calm. Now that you know, anyway," he continued.

"Cole, do you know where she is?" Christopher asked kindly and was met with a silent nod from the spirit in response as he remained in the doorway, not quite entering the room. "May I ask how you two are so close?" Cole listened to the sounds coming from below him; the conversations between people echoing off stone and mountains, birds flying high above him, the sound of wind, and not ten feet away he could hear the muffled thoughts and almost blinding song of Christopher. Were they close? Cole wondered.

"Close?" The spirit asked and Christopher suddenly felt uncomfortable.

"You seemed to spend a lot of time with her after Haven was attacked. And once we got here she all but threatened to leave if I didn't allow you to stay. I was wondering if you've met before," he explained while closely watching Cole's reaction. The spirit stepped into the room and sat down on the bench at the foot of the large bed, looking up to the high ceiling so far away while thinking back to the first time he saw her struggling under that Red Templar. Her friends had been worried that she hadn't shown up and her pain had reached out to him not long after.

"Her thoughts are different; her song is brighter and sadder at the same time. She knows me like how she knows you and isn't scared. She knows what I am and what I've done and still smiles and laughs, still kind and soft in her words as she tries to help, to protect. The men from this morning will learn that soon. I hope they do, anyway," Cole explained as he looked down and started picking at his gloves. The events of this morning were still in his mind. He could tell that Christopher was looking at him strangely.

"What happened this morning?" He asked.

"They've never had a girl in charge before and wanted her to stop. Hurtful thoughts and words hoping to make her feel like nothing, but she didn't show it, embarrassment hidden by fury and determination. They must not know how it affects me," Cole muttered quietly so lost in thought that he didn't feel her presence as she entered through the door and up the stairs from the main hall. Her voice caught him off guard.

"What he's saying is that I got the privilege of training our new recruits this morning and they weren't too happy about it," Raven clarified as she leaned her body against the stone wall, watching the two men. Christopher moved to stand but stopped when she held out a hand.

"What do you need me to do?" He asked.

"Nothing. One's assisting Blackwall in the stables and the other will be in the kitchens for the rest of the day and tomorrow. He'll also be making us a private dinner tonight, Christopher, if you're free. I figured it was time I answered some of your questions." She smiled at the surprised look on his face before he composed himself again.

"Very well. As you wish," he agreed. "What time shall I expect you?"

"If you have no objections, I thought we could have dinner in my room. Say around seven?" Again Christopher was baffled by her offer and nodded. With a nod she turned and left as quickly as she came while both men stared at the place she briefly stood. With a small smile Cole disappeared.

"Did you know she was coming?" Christopher asked as he looked over to where Cole had been only to see it empty. Part of him wasn't surprised, he seemed to do that often. After a quick massage to the temples, the mage turned his attention back to the ever growing amount of paperwork.

By the time Raven left Josephine's new office she was tired and proud to say that she completed everything that needed to be done that day. The morning recruit training and dinner invitation for Christopher had just been the beginning. After that was a slight whirlwind of meetings with Leliana and the seven agents she'd be working with and there was the meeting with Josephine, who sat comfortably in one of her chairs with Zevran on her lap instead of her desk. The cat's position didn't last long once Raven entered the room. He'd jumped off the Ambassador's lap and ran to her. Much to Josephine's disappointment Zevran stayed by Raven's side for the rest of their appointment. Raven's first lesson had been to go over what she already knew as far as etiquette and foreign customs such as posture, polite conversation, greetings, titles of foreign diplomats and leaders, and table manners. There had been some slight differences from the customs back home, but Raven caught on quickly and she could tell Josephine was impressed. For the second part of their appointment, Josephine had wanted to fine tune Raven's privileges as an advisor, discuss a date they could go to Val Royeaux together to supply the young girl with some things that would be needed, and go over Raven's pay which nearly caused her to drop Zevran. No number had been discussed the night before-not that Raven cared-but two thousand gold a month had been much more than she expected and Josephine refused to go any lower. It was nearly six thirty when she left.

Dinner that night was seasoned chicken, rice, and fire roasted vegetables. White wine and pitcher of water were also supplied since she wasn't sure what Christopher liked. The dishes were delivered shortly before he arrived with a soft knock. He looked at her as she opened the door and greeted him with a smile, noticing that she no longer wore the clothes from earlier that morning but a pair of black pants and a red shirt. They were certainly nicer than the training clothes he often saw her in and he was glad they thought alike at times since he'd changed his clothes as well and now wore a green tunic and a pair of breeches made of canine leather. It seemed right to since it was to be a dinner between friends and colleagues. Her usual tattoos showed because her hair was pulled back and he had to wonder if there were any significance to them or if there were anymore under her clothes, not that he planned to physically find out.

Her room was bigger and brighter than expected with smooth wooden floors and a large bed in the corner. Underneath were her two bags, but they seemed more flattened as if the contents had been emptied. A dresser was placed in the opposite corner of the bed and Christopher took a quiet note of all the unlit candles. On the table near the door were two covered plates, two glasses, water, and wine. Raven smiled at him as he looked around and how his shoulders seemed to relax.

"It's big. Simple." He stated the observation as he looked at her.

"Josephine said the same. Thankfully once the dresses are made they'll be going into her closet," she replied with a laugh.

"Dresses?" Christopher asked and moved to take a seat in one of the chairs at the table as Raven sat on her bed across the room.

"Part of my new role," Raven explained and truthfully Christopher wasn't surprised that the ambassador would want to have a new wardrobe made for her. The young girl had proved her usefulness time and time again since her arrival and the knowledge she had made her even more valuable.

"I know you'll do great. I wouldn't have insisted if I'd thought differently." He said and meant every word.

"If only good thoughts made it that easy," she said with a small chuckle. "To gain the favor and good graces of foreign leaders and nobility to help earn influence and power for the Inquisition will be one hell of a challenge and then getting used to the pretty dress and a mask or two because...well, you know how Orlesians are...will be a process in itself. You know I like my cotton pants and sleeveless shirts," Raven explained and Christopher couldn't help but smile. In his opinion she had the eloquence and posture of a noble already. There was no point in denying how beautiful she was or how charming she could be and he could see it working out really well or becoming an absolute failure.

"They chose wisely, then. Even with the dresses."

She looked at him curiously and brought her legs up to her chest. "Are you sure I can't just win them over in my night clothes?" She asked and he couldn't stop the laughter, "Was it your idea to throw in the education? Battle strategy, espionage, and diplomacy?"

"I suggested it, but it's not something I had to press. They're all pretty impressed with your skills and existing knowledge. What they know if it." She nodded in acknowledgement. "So, you had a recruit cook this?" He asked and Raven nodded while standing up from her place on the bed and making her way towards the table.

"That I did. A friend of mine in the kitchens watched him and confirmed he didn't do anything bad to it. According to her, he was also very apologetic so this should be interesting. I know you just want answers, but thank you for having dinner with me." The smell of garlic and rosemary filled his nose as she uncovered the plates and two clouds of steam rose up. "You didn't seem like the type to like really heavy food. I hope this is acceptable." Christopher had to admire her thoughtfulness.

"You're very kind," he complimented. She shrugged and sat down in the seat across from him. He watched her pick up her cutlery, cut a piece of chicken, and take a bite before he even thought of starting on his own. He could tell she was testing the flavors before she swallowed and smiled at him as he picked up his own knife and fork. She stopped after a couple bites and poured them both a glass of water.

"Where are you from?" He asked once she put her glass down.

"City, state, country?" She confirmed and continued when Christopher nodded. "The city where I lived was called Schaumburg. Illinois is the state, and the country is the United States of America." Christopher looked for any hesitation or change in her voice as she spoke, but there were none. No indication of lying.

"What was your life like there?" He probed and caught how she smiled though it didn't reach her eyes. It was a sad smile and he nodded when she excused herself and walked over to grab something from her dresser. It was the device she asked him about the night he approached her. He'd been so desperate at the time to have her help him in the way he knew no one else could that he didn't question her when she asked if she could go about using it. He only vaguely remembered it's purpose from all those months ago, but he could've sworn it had something to do with taking small portraits.

Raven took her place in the chair next to his, her attention still on her phone that she'd been using the last day or two. Once it was on and the lock screen showed, she swiped and with a quick motion entered the photo app and chose the gallery titled 'family' and held the phone's screen more toward his direction so Christopher could see the first picture: one of her and her dad in their training room. Christopher stared at the screen holding a small portrait of Raven and an older, much bigger man whose muscle could give Bull a run for his money. He and Raven had the same smile, but that seemed to be where any physical resemblance ended. His hair was dark where hers was red, his eyes were brown, and his skin was tanned. Raven watched him study the picture.

"This is the cell phone you allowed me to use after Haven. I didn't lie to you when I said it could be used to take pictures which is what I've been using it for, but I did only gave you a basic answer. My world, where I'm from, is a world of technology which evolves to fit the needs and convenience of the one using it. Instead of writing letters, having portraits painted, and spending hours looking through books for research this phone can do all of that." She explained and Christopher's eyes moved away from the device in her hands to focus on her.

"That can't possibly be true," he argued while waiting for Raven to reveal the punch line of a joke. She didn't smile, all she did was nod.

"Like I said, my world is technology based. We have machines that do almost anything we want, all you have to do is press a few buttons. But besides all that, this is a picture of my father and I. He spent years in the military and Special Forces and is one of the many whose helped teach me what I know. We're in one of our training rooms." She explained and Christopher brought his eyes back to the device she held out for him just in time to see her move a finger across the surface and the picture change to one of Raven by herself. Her hair was down and from the position of it she was most likely turning, her face was flushed and she wasn't looking at the screen. She had a dagger in each hand and he took notice of her all black attire.

"Were you training?" He asked and she nodded.

"We had a couple training rooms, but the one we used most is the one you see. Smooth wooden floors where we trained with gripped and non gripped shoes and barefoot. There was an entire wall of mirrors so we could watch ourselves and see if we there were any changes we needed to make. You don't see it, but there's one wall that has nothing but racks on racks of practice weapons; swords big enough to be considered great swords, one handed swords like what Cassandra uses, and katanas. There were also so many types of daggers." She explained and he could tell she was growing excited.

"Music playing throughout the room…" he said quietly and she stared at him curiously. "Cole mentioned it." She nodded at his explanation. It did make sense.

"When I first started, it was hard for me to get the rhythm down. Dad didn't expect the music idea to work as well as it, did but it was easier to keep step in time to the beats which only evolved as I did. It also helped train me in agility and dexterity over the years. That's why I'm almost never hit." She sounded proud and he knew she deserved to be.

"And your mother's not there?" Christopher asked, vaguely recalling that she was no longer with them, but he wanted to be sure.

"She died when I was born. Complications during pregnancy and she bled out so I never got to meet her. I'm told she was an amazing person. Dad had a lot of pictures of them throughout our home and according to everyone she knew, I look exactly like her which I guess is a compliment. I don't know," she told him in the most calm and even voice he'd ever heard when discussing the death of a parent. He had to remind himself that she technically never knew her mother and seemed to accept that death was a part of life. She switched the picture again and for the next hour he asked question after question and she answered them all to the best of her ability. She showed and explained to him more uses for her cell phone and their attention turned to her Kindle. Christopher listened intently as she showed him a list of the stories and books she had. She told him tales of her old home and about religions, countries, famous wars, and also famous world leaders and it wasn't long after that when she didn't want to talk of her world anymore that night. With a nod she changed the discussion to the Inquisition and what she knew of Thedas. But she didn't tell him how, even though he desperately wanted to know. Her knowledge seemed impossible as she leaned back in her chair - certainly more relaxed than she had been when talking of her own world - she told him stories of the Hero of Ferelden and Hawke, the Exalted March on the Dales, the events that lead up to the Mage Rebellion, and tales of his own family. She even promised to write down for him what would be needed for their trip to Crestwood the following week.

By the time he left it was dark. His stomach was still full from dinner and his mind was reeling with all she'd told him. She was a fascinating girl and while he still had questions, he was satisfied for the moment and glad it was a night well spent. Rushing her into telling him information she wasn't ready to reveal, or couldn't, would only push her away and make her regret her decision to help them. She was his friend and he couldn't do that to her. When he reached his room Cole was sitting on the chair by the stairs and swinging his feet. He wasn't sure if the spirit realized that he was humming but shrugged it off and smiled.

"Good evening, Cole. Is there anything I can help you with?" He asked and Cole stopped humming and looked at the mage able to hear the muted thoughts in his mind much more clearly.

"Pictures changing in an instant reminding her of better times, no longer in the dark. I know how she knows, are we safe? Was she telling the truth? Stomach turning, forced smiles, feeling exposed as she tells me of my family. She won't tell anyone your secrets, Christopher. She likes and respects you too much and it's not hers to tell. She was glad you accepted and came." Cole told him with a small shrug as he continued to swing his feet.

"Well thank you for putting my mind at ease. You're welcome to go to her now since we're done." Cole shook his head at the mages words. Soft voices rising high and low, the sound of a piano in the background, need to be alone, need to sleep. Only ten days till Val Royeaux. I miss them. Miss him. Father. Daddy. The sudden pain and hurt she was feeling called out. It made him want to go to her, but he remembered what she'd told him the night before: to focus on the others. They need it more, she had told him quietly as she embraced him. He didn't often meet people who were sad but truly cared about others comfort before their own. Throughout the day it kept him busy after he left the Commander; he did things wrong a lot but was always able to make them forget and start over. Christopher looked at him curiously.

"She told me to spend my time helping the hurts of other people, not her," Cole told him simply and Christopher had to wonder if it was the spirit's time around Raven that caused him to reply in that manner or the other way around.

"She's very interesting, but who are we to disrespect a woman's wishes," Christopher confirmed while sitting in his chair. It was comfortable and he liked how high the back rose. Cole felt himself nod in response.

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