14. VAL ROYEAUX: A CHANCE MEETING

We were walking back to the Palais, when a vaguely familiar voice spoke clearly above the hubbub of the market, "Why, what a surprise to see the Ferelden wardens again!"

I spun around to see Yves leaning against the chanter's board in front of one of the city's many Chantries. I was annoyed with myself for having been too preoccupied to notice his taint approaching. He was dressed all in blue and grey silks with a grey hat with blue feathers to match; even the scabbard of his rapier was encrusted with silver and sapphires.

I very much doubted that he was surprised to see us. "Good afternoon, Commander. It is most unexpected to see you, as well."

"Indeed? I come into the city regularly enough, but I had thought that you and Alistair would be long gone by now on your way to Weisshaupt. Perhaps you could not bear to leave the companionship of that ravishing friend of yours and the dowager Comtesse?" Despite his 'surprise' at seeing us, he seemed well-informed of our doings.

"You may recall that Alistair was rather seriously injured. I thought it best for him to have some time to rest and recuperate before we make a long journey."

"Oh?" He looked Alistair over critically. "He looks well enough to me now."

Alistair shrugged. "I feel well enough, but Aedan—"

"Is of no mind to rush. You had a head injury my dear; they can be deceptive."

"I am so surprised that you would wish to delay your mission, but I suppose many find it hard to leave the delights of Val Royeaux. Still, you should keep in mind that the high passes into Anderfels become impassable before the end of Harvestmere, if you still plan to make the journey by land."

"I thank you for that advice, but we shall proceed when we are ready. And what brings you into town?"

"The Midsummer festival is nigh. I always come to scout out the available talent."

"Ah, I see. In peace, vigilance. Well, we should not keep you from you from your business. Happy hunting, Commander."

He gave us a graceful bow and a tip of the feathered hat, then walked away. I kept an eye on him for some time after he had left to ensure that he had not doubled back to follow us. No need to do that himself, of course.

"He chanced upon us in much the way that we bumped into Branka in the Deep Roads, don't you think?" observed Alistair.

"Mmmm…I believe I am going to have to start behaving more aggressively toward those who watch us." Alistair gave me a searching look. "Oh, don't worry, I won't use lethal means of persuasion, unless they prove particularly persistent. But it's that or leave you behind, my dear. You know I adore your company but…I would be much more difficult to follow without you." I made a point of scanning the people around us as we walked back to Sybille's, looking for recurring faces. No reason to do anything about it now—there was no point in trying to hide the fact that we were staying at the Palais de Montfleurie—but for future reference.

The following evening Leliana had again arranged for me to meet Enrique, so Alistair and I headed down the hill toward Le Cheval Blanc. As we walked past a butcher's shop, and then a second time near some street performers, I noticed the shadow in a nearby alley once, and then again near the butcher's shop. A rookie. No experienced tail would try to hide in the alleys leading west from the road the target was traveling, unless they believed him completely oblivious. I felt almost insulted, unless they were following someone else. "Wait here a moment and pretend to listen to the musicians—toss a few coins at them, if you will."

I stepped over to the deeply shadowed western side of the road and searched for a side street that would connect me up to the alley where I had seen our follower's silhouette. Sure enough, when I looked down the alley I saw the back of a woman wearing a leather cap. I crept up on her, noting with satisfaction that in addition to being fashionable, the shoes that Leliana had selected for me had soft soles that made little noise even on the hard cobblestone. My daggers were in hand with a flick of my wrists. As I stood directly behind her the woman peered around the corner into the street. "Looking for someone?" I inquired.

She gasped and turned around, a cheap grey iron dagger appearing in her own hand as well. She was a young woman with pockmarks on her forehead and wispy brown hair. I had seen her before, in the market near the herbalist's shop and again on the way back from Sybille's. Her face was pale with fear.

"I wouldn't try to use that, if I were you. Do not continue to follow us, if you wish to live."

"I wasn't—"

I snorted. "Yes you were, and you are working way out of your class, girl. Did whoever hired you even tell you who I am? Go home. Tell them you lost us or tell them the truth. I don't care, so long as I don't see you again."

Having scared one of our would-be pursuers off, I rejoined Alistair. "Just had to deal with a spy in the alleyway, my dear," I said quietly. "There are likely to be informers at the inn, too, and there's little I can do about that, but at least we should be rid of one." Alistair looked over my clothes; I supposed he was looking for blood. I laughed. "No need for any trouble just a little conversation was required."

Thierry opened up the passage for us into the ancient subterranean city where Enrique was waiting for us.

"What do you want from me now? I've told you everything I know about the dreams."

"If I'm to find the girl, I need to learn more and you're the best lead I can think of. I spoke to Odouart, but he could offer no aid. I'm going to have to ask you to go to Coteaux du Roche and learn as much as you can from the other Wardens. Anything they remember from the dreams, especially the first one since it seems like it comes from her own life rather than ours. Details about the kinds of trees, any buildings they remember, bodies of water, anything that might be a clue to where she is."

"No need for the politeness, you know you're ordering me not asking. But you do understand that people will be curious why I've become so interested in these dreams."

"Tell them you've been asked to gather data for Weisshaupt. As luck would have it, Yves won't be at Coteaux du Roche, so by the time he learns of it, I hope I will have left Val Royeaux and be on my way to find her. Did you know Yves was coming here, by the way?"

He nodded. "I'm supposed to meet with him tomorrow. I'll have to put off going to Coteaux du Roche until the following day."

"Do you think he's really just here for the Midsummer Tournament. That's still almost a fortnight away, isn't it?"

"That's when the most popular events are held, on the final day, but the beginning of the festival starts in five days. Perhaps he wants to learn a little bit about who is participating beforehand, perhaps he has court business which he wishes to attend to. Perhaps he wants to keep an eye on you," he said, fixing me with a baleful look. "By the way, what do you expect me to tell me about you, if he asks?"

I frowned. "Do you think he will? You can tell him that you met me—just in case our meeting at La Dame Vernie reached his ears. But deny any specific knowledge of my doings, other than where I'm staying. And tell him that you plan to leave town for a few days, visit friends—you do have some among the Wardens, yes? With him here, it seems as though there's less need for a court liaison for the Wardens, so say you think it's a good time for a break."

He agreed and we parted ways again. Alistair and I needed to keep from appearing to be away from the common room at the inn for too long. If he could not uncover any useful information, I was not sure what my next move would be. I could try looking for Morrigan, but I had no idea even where to begin to search.