Chapter 11: Answers
The nobles of the Free Marches descended on the city of Kirkwall, all came hoping to either secure what they desired, or at least put their mind at ease to the intentions of their neighbors in the city of chains.
The Tantervale delegation was the first to arrive. Solona greeted them with all the regal grace that she could muster in her condition. The Qunari standing in the back clearly disturbed the visitors, and not surprising they sought to stay close to Meredith and her Templars.
The move did not surprise Solona; Tantervale was by far the most pious of the Marcher cities. Chantry law was absolute there with the most minor of offenses punished to the extreme, or so rumor said…
It was probably a lucky thing that the chantry had never decided to place a circle of magi in Tantervale; the poor mages would likely never have had their grievances aired.
The Teyrn of Ostwick was equally put off by the presence of the Qunari, but given his cities history that was not much of a surprise. The bulk of the first Qunari invasion of the Free Marches had fallen the hardest on them, so it was not surprising they had hard feelings for the foreigners.
The leaders of both cities took shelter behind the Knight Commander, an act that both pleased Meredith and infuriated Solona, though she did not openly show it.
She did not intend to give any ground to the Jackal and her minions this day.
Ansburg and Markham provided much needed relief on that front. The Margrave of Ansburg embraced Solona like he would a member of his family. Solona had turned to Ansburg quite heavily in purchasing food for the Ferelden refugees outside the city, and had provided increase security for the latest food shipments in the face of so many raiders now preying on her own city.
Of course, it was also possible that Marius might be playing a part in Ansburg's loyalty, the wardens maintained their garrison in the Free Marches in Ansburg. Word that House Amell had contributed a son to that organization likely went far in the eyes of the Margrave, not to mention Solona's friendship with the hero Aedan Cousland. In the face of such powerful friends, the circumstances surrounding Marius's recruitment was irrelevant.
The Amells could be seen as warden supporters that was all that mattered.
The Markham delegation was equally supportive, consisting mainly of scholars from that fine city; it was not hard to see their reasons to approve of the Viscountess. She had turned to the aid of the scholars at the University of Markham to try to increase crop yields for the farmers outside of Kirkwall, and had paid quite handsomely for their research.
So it was that the trade summit began to split into two camps, the Lioness and the Jackal both had their supporters.
Then had come the arrival of the Starkhaveners, and that changed the entire dynamic.
Solona embraced her husband as he strode into the keep. Prince Goran followed respectfully behind him, his rotund presence in the robes of state drawing many eyes, but that was not the only reason.
The prince had brought two honored guests along as well.
Captain Liam Rosewood was well known to the Viscountess, a distant cousin of Sebastian he maintained many of the Vael features, and had served as go between with the soldiers of Starkhaven that had helped her win back her throne from her mad brother.
Next to him walked a small old woman, she had quick eyes and a cunning smile.
The Lady Alana Rosewood was likely recognized by all.
The lady, known as Aunt Alana by both Liam and Sebastian, was also called the Mistress of Rumors. She had been an institution in Starkhaven once. She was a woman of many connections, and listened to many whisperers that served her. It was said that she likely maintained the greatest spy network in Thedas, one that she had built herself from the ground up over the decades. She had once served as advisor to Sebastian Vael's grandfather, but had fallen into disfavor when his son, Sebastian's father took the throne.
In an effort to appease his nobles, the Prince had exiled the old woman from court, sending her live in a quiet retirement.
A few years later, those very same nobles, along with Lady Harimann of Kirkwall had murdered the prince and almost all of the royal family.
Had the Mistress of Rumors still served the crown of Starkhaven that may not have happened.
Goran had recalled Alana to court almost immediately upon his taking up the throne. He used her whisperers to keep the nobles of his home city in line, and also to search for alliances that would both solidify his hold of Starkhaven and enrich his home at the same time.
Lady Alana had taken a shine to Solona during her short exile in Starkhaven. She embraced the young ruler like the daughter she had never had. The two women spoke quietly about her condition as they made their way into the meeting room.
Lady Alana had been unable to have children. So pregnancy fascinated her quite a bit. In her youth, that stigma had weakened her value as a noble woman, but…had also led her to seek out other avenues of power, which she found in the secrets of others.
The old woman viewed it as her sacrifice for power.
The lords and ladies filed into the room. As was tradition, the members of each delegation sat together, forming a unified front. Tantervale sat together, as did Ostwick, Markham, and Ansburg.
House Amell sat at the head of the table, with Starkhaven directly to its right, not surprising considering that the marriage of Sebastian to Solona had created strong ties between the two noble houses.
Lady Rosewood caused a bit of stir here.
She passed by her nephews and left the Starkhaven delegation, with a pleased smile, the mistress of rumors took a seat right next to Leandra and Garrett Hawke, just to the left of Varric, who was also Solona's hand, who sat just to Solona's right.
She took her seat right behind the Viscountess, right where she could whisper in the young woman's ear if she needed to.
The move shocked the other delegations. Liam Rosewood, who had known of his aunt's intentions, chuckled.
Solona did her best to suppress a smile.
She knew what the other city leaders were thinking. They were no doubt thinking about all the secrets that the old woman knew about them, secrets that she seemed to have decided to share with the Viscountess of Kirkwall.
Solona suspected that they might have a good right to be concerned. Alana knew many things. If she had decided to support Kirkwall interests…
That was a major victory for House Amell.
Of course, now she had to ask what it would cost her. The Lady Alana did not do things simply out of kindness. There would be a price attached…
Solona hoped that she had what was needed to pay it.
IOI
The trade negotiations went on for most of the afternoon and into the early evening, no one seemed to want to call for recess, not wishing to show weakness before their peers.
When Solona herself finally chose to break for dinner, many things had come to light, things that she had not expected. She had been distracted of late very distracted, what with preparing for the birth of her child, and matters of running the city, she did not realize how far reaching what was happening in her home had become.
The War of Lions had gained the attention of the cities in the Free Marches. No one openly mentioned their support for one faction or another, but it was clear that the war had grown beyond being a simple problem between the Amell siblings.
The subject of the red witch came up several times. Neria was smart; she did not openly attack any trade caravan that might cause one or more of the cities to come down on her. Solona suspected that the elf was either using mercenaries, or perhaps mind controlled bandits to acquire what she needed.
It was all the more reason that ending her as soon as possible should take precedence. The Knight Commander said nothing when the Viscountess mentioned summoning the seekers of truth. The Tantervale delegate even offered to help her, to help end the threat of this rogue mage once and for all.
Another surprise came at the mention of the isle of Estwatch, off the eastern coast of the Free Marches; Estwatch had been a port of call for pirates and raiders for generations. The war of lions had summoned more such people to the little island. Technically it belonged to the Felicisma Armada, but recent reports suggested that several of the raider captains were organizing under the command of a single raider, little was known about him accept that he was Ferelden born.
He apparently had no ties to the Armada beyond the usual ones, and seemed content to confine his raiding to Orlesian shipping for the time being.
Solona found herself growing curious.
Estwatch could be useful if a deal could be made. More than a few naval vessels that had served in Kirkwall had deserted after the battle that ousted Death's Hand.
Those raider vessels could be a valuable resource if she was able to convince their leader to sign on with Kirkwall.
She made note to ask Varric about it. Perhaps the dwarf could find a way to finance a little venture to the raiders of Estwatch.
As far as finances went, she was quite surprised to find out that one of the wealthiest of the players at this conference was not even speaking, and in fact…was a member of her family.
Bethany had said nothing of her many business dealings these past few months, but apparently outside of Kirkwall, the name Bradley had become very well known.
The Viscountess had had no idea.
Bethany and Perrin had been busy, in the months leading up to her flight from Kirkwall, the Bradley's had been investing money all over the Free Marches. Their master had commented several times on the youngest Hawke having a head for numbers, which when added to an apparent head for business… had allowed Bethany to build a fortune for herself and little Carver.
Solona suspected that she had been building a shield to hide behind, the Amell name worked, but with her added wealth, it was yet another defense against the Templars looking too closely in her direction.
Apparently Perrin had just sealed a major deal for his family when Daylen had…acquired him to be his new lord hand. Solona could only imagine how her cousin likely blamed herself for that.
She hoped that one day Bethany would realize that it was not her fault.
As the meeting broke up their observers took their leave. The Qunari returned to their compound, and Meredith headed back to the Gallows.
The Viscountess watched them leave with a concerned eye. She had not been able to get a read on Meredith during the negotiations, nor had she been able to breach the implacable Qunari's cold demeanor. She was unsure how her saw what had occurred, were they impressed or had she made some kind of error that might lend to them seeing her as weak and vulnerable?
Alas, only time would tell.
For the moment, she tried to put such harsh thoughts out of her mind, and focus on what really mattered. Sebastian was finally home, and the two of them had much to discuss regarding their soon to be growing family.
In the face of that happy news, her other problems could wait.
IOI
As trade was discussed and the nobles played their games, one of the Viscountess's party was not pleased.
Ser Graydon Stark found himself watching the Qunari, the implacable giants said nothing as the observed the meeting.
He found himself wondering what it would take to make one of the horned bastards talk…
He wondered what it would take to have one of them tell him about Tallis.
The Rivaini born Qunari still haunted his sleep. They had been enemies when they had first met, but over the months of their travels with Solona the two of them had become something else…
He still was not quite sure what that was.
He and the Viscountess had tried being polite and going through proper channels, but the Arishok had rebuffed their questions each time.
Now…he was starting to wonder if more extreme matters might be called for.
It was completely insane, he recognized that, but it did not take away from the fact that it was what he wanted to do. Tallis, the woman that Hawke and the others had known as Isabela, continued to haunt him.
Tallis had warned them that the Arishok might kill her upon her return to her people, that he might consider her poisoned from her time around the basra.
The thought of her…their comrade in arms dead on the floor of the Qunari compound filled the young knight with an almost unreasoning rage.
If those horn headed bastards had hurt her, he…he would…
Ser Gray sighed.
He was not sure what he would do.
The Qunari left and temptation left with it. He had thought of asking Lord Hawke about his ideas. The Amell noble had apparently been a lover of Tallis before she had converted to the Qun.
Perhaps he and his allies would be interested in helping find out what had happened to their old friend?
The two of them might not have liked each other, but Hawke was loyal to his friends.
Serene glided over next to him; the elf had a thoughtful expression on her face.
"You're wasting your time," she purred.
"What are you talking about?" the knight sighed.
The bard gestured at the retreating Qunari.
"I've heard about the Rivaini girl, the Qunari that helped Lady Lona, you and Hawke have both been asking questions about her, no?"
Gray thought about denying it, as a native Fereldan, he had little love for Orlesians, and even less for their spying bards.
Never the less he nodded.
Serene glanced at the retreating giants' backs.
"My master suspected that the Qunari might have been behind the attacks on Lady Lona before Death's Hand took power. He had me and Francois…question one of their converts."
Gray turned, his curiosity now peaked.
The elf shook her head.
"It was a dwarf we caught. We used techniques that usually worked on his kind, appeals to greed and family, but it was all for naught. The ox-men know ways to break people that put even a bard to shame."
She gave him a sympathetic look.
"If the Qunari were unhappy with your friend's report, she is either dead, or likely has been re-educated. Their methods might be harsh, but they work. If they gave her the full treatment, Maker only knows what that is…she likely does not even remember you now."
That thought sent a wave of panic through the knight. If…if she no longer could…
He tried to dash after the Qunari but the elf put an arm on his wrist.
He glared at her.
"Let go!"
"Non," she replied, "Varric and Lady Lona would not like you poking the ox-men. If you annoy them too much they might charge, then the entire city would suffer."
The elf's red eyes narrowed.
"Remember your duty knight," she whispered.
Ser Graydon Stark's eyes flashed with anger. How dare the elf question…
Though…
Though…in his heart he knew that she was right. Duty was all he had now; it was what endured when your heart was scarred until nothing could touch it.
Ostagar, the civil war afterward, the death of his family, losing Cauthrien in Denerim, each one of these acts had taught him one thing.
Perhaps it was better not to feel, it seemed like he was destined to lose the ones he cared about. He had loved Cauthrien, he had lost her. He had cared for Solona, but she was taken. He had… had…
Tallis…
He…he did not know how he felt for Tallis; he was worried about her as a friend, but…but…
Did he want something more? Had he wanted something more?
Had…had he come to want her?
He cursed under his breath.
The horn headed bastards…what he would not give to get at least one of them to talk.
Serene smiled wanly at him.
"Varric and I are heading back to the Hanged Man," she purred, "Come have a drink with us, you look like you could use one."
Graydon Stark sighed in surrender.
If he could not have answers, then a drink would have to do.
He would check with the Viscountess, unless she needed him for something else he would take the elf up on her offer. Orlesian or not, she did have a point.
Perhaps it would be better if he did forget about Tallis…
Duty endured.