Redcliffe – Magister

Kost POV

"You notice how young some of our leaders are?" He blinked slowly and tried to remember the man addressing him. Blackwall, a Warden. They had traveled together for a bit, but he and Deidre had monopolized all the conversation. "Sorry, am I bothering you, Solas?"

"No, I was just thinking, and then not thinking," he answered easily. Blackwall smiled slightly, understanding. He saw the 'war' in the Warden. This was a man of many regrets, almost as many as he. It was almost comforting to see something so similar. "Something about youth? Are we lamenting the loss of it?"

"Nah, I hate the young-me." He could understand that well. "I was just thinking of how young some of the leaders are. Lucina, for instance. She's twenty, and she's basically the head healer." That she was. It was far too much a burden for a broken child, but there really weren't others who could take over. "And our Herald is twenty-four, twenty-five? That's the age you're starting to learn that you don't know everything." True. "How old is that Qunari mage? The one that left with her?"

"Kost? I'm not sure, but I think he's the eldest of our… unaffiliated leaders." He's not quite certain what role Lucina, Deidre, and Kost have in the Inquisition. They're called into meetings, but he had yet to hear a reason why. "Gives that impression at least. Older, aware that he doesn't know quite everything."

"With 'war' deep in his bones." Yes, he'd seen it too. "He's walked through the Void and come back, huh? That's the impression I got, brief bit that I saw him."

"Yes, I can't say you're wrong in that." And that Kost continued to be stoic, calm, even though he had been so certain the Qunari followed the Qun solely because they were beastial savages… "I can't say you're wrong at all." But him? Oh, he could say he was wrong about a lot.

"So, how do we both get an invitation and not be expected?" Iron Bull's deadpanned question neatly summarized what all four of us were thinking as we entered Redcliffe village. A warm, happy place. I'd heard it had been overrun, twice, during the Blight, and had to be rebuilt. "Also, Fereldan's king is an oddball, letting the mages take refuge here."

"By my understanding, King Alistair and Queen Serenity are supportive of mage rights," Miss Pentaghast murmured. We hit a hill and had to work to not slide down. "They have a Court Mage, a powerful and skilled one, and urge communication between the mages and templars. It helps that Kinloch Hold is infamous for being one of the less restrictive Circles in Thedas, though."

"And he's not afraid of it blowing up in his face?"

"Well, he wasn't until the sky ripped open. Now, who knows?" She sighed. "Person approaching." Oh, what now?

"Agents of the Inquisition!" I scanned the speaker for any signs of weapons or spells, but he was perfectly peaceful, and courteous. "My apologies for being so unprepared," he murmured, bowing slightly. "You're more than welcome to wait into the tavern for our leader, but he hasn't arrived yet." He? I thought Grand Enchanter Fiona used feminine pronouns. "This has been most unexpected…"

"Pardon, but is not Grand Enchanter Fiona your leader?" Miss Samantha asked, voice light and polite. I saw her curl her hands into fists at her side, though, a tell-tale sign that she was getting frustrated. "She was, last we spoke."

"No, Magister Alexius is now." Did he just say 'magister'? "He's expected shortly, though, so if you'll allow me to show you to the tavern…"

"A question," I interrupted, glancing at the sky. The Veil still pulsed and writhed. "Forgive me, but the Veil here is…"

"Ah, yes." The speaker sighed, shaking his head. "The former Arlessa, Isolde, hired a blood mage apostate to tutor her son, Connor, in magic, and it… well, when the apostate, an idiot named Jowan, poisoned Arl Eamon, Connor was desperate and accidentally tore open the Veil in an attempt to help. Being only a child, and barely knowledgeable in demons, he took up a desire demon's offer, and… well, there was extensive damage." And King Alistair let the mages stay here? "As I understand it, Arl Teagan was willing to take us in despite it."

"And where is the Arl now?" No answer. "Is he not here?"

"As I understand it, he went up to the capital to give us some space in the wake of the explosion at the Conclave." That sounded too rehearsed. Something happened. "Please, the tavern?"

Not sure what else to do, we followed him up some hills and stairs, stepping into a well-lit tavern teeming with mages, who eyed us warily or hopefully. Well, things were complicated. That much was obvious.

Standing in the center was Grand Enchanter Fiona, but she looked far more tired, and more fragile, than she had in Val Royeaux. "Welcome, agents of the Inquisition." She sounded much more formal too, this time. "What brings you to Redcliffe?" she asked. Miss Samantha, Miss Pentaghast, and I exchanged confused looks. "I must admit to being confused." Well, that made four of us.

"Did something happen?" Miss Samantha asked softly. She smiled gently, calmly, and I saw the mages around us relax at it. "We're here because you invited us, back at Val Royeaux?"

"You must be mistake." Grand Enchanter Fiona shook her head. "I haven't been there since before the Conclave." Uh… then someone had a really, really good double. "Though, there is… something strange in your words." She frowned, pressing a hand to her mouth in thought. "Like, I should know, yet I don't…" Okay, there was a magister about, and stereotypically, magisters practiced blood magic. Was that what was going on? "Regardless, though, the situation has changed." Subtly, I cast 'dispel', which should have been enough to at least knock something loose in a blood mage's control. But there was no reaction. So, not blood magic? Then how can we have met her and not met her? I doubted she had a twin; she would've already brought it up. "The free mages have already… pledged themselves to the Tevinter Imperium, at the suggestion of some nearby Arls." Uh…

"An alliance with Tevinter?" Miss Pentaghast repeated, eyes wide as she stared incredulously. "Do you truly not fear all of Thedas turning against you?" I was a little more concerned with yet another schism in the mages. I saw quite a few ground their teeth and glare at Grand Enchanter Fiona's declaration. "You must be joking." Or was a poor leader. I couldn't think of a worse choice she could've made. There was no way King Alistair would approve of this, if only publically, meaning she alienated the only ally she had, the only royal in all of Thedas willing to give her and her people sanctuary, to pledge loyalty to the Imperium. Which, if I recalled correctly, gave Fereldan a bit of trouble during the Blight. Something about the former Regent selling elves to Imperial slavers? …The more I thought about this, the more idiotic the decision appeared.

"That was fast," Miss Samantha's murmured. Her voice was still quiet and calm. Surprisingly so. "In fact, this is too fast. There is no way a Magister could have come here prior to the chaos caused by the Breach." I wouldn't say 'no way', but the possibility had to be low. A magister stood out. So, logically, they could've only entered Fereldan, made negotiations, Grand Enchanter having time to confer and think on the matter… in too short a time span. No, something was very wrong here. The timing made no sense. "You have not forgotten about it, I trust?"

"Of course not," Grand Enchanter replied, grouchily. "But we can only fight one war at a ti-"

"There is only one war," I interrupted. I couldn't help it. Something about all this was rankling my nerves, and I was speaking to one paranoid idiot of a leader, and that always brought out the worst in me. Bad leaders got mercenaries killed. "Or do you actually think that, in the midst of all this, the templars even care about you all?" Grand Enchanter Fiona flinched. "They're holed up somewhere, doing whatever they want, and not doing a thing to you." Because Lord Seeker Lucius was also a damn poor leader. No wonder war broke out! "If there's two wars going on, it's because you're making the second one." Hands fell on my shoulder. Large ones. Iron Bull, silently telling me to shut up. So, I did, with a roll of my eyes and slinking back into the shadows. This was such bullshit. How could she think there was a templar threat?

But the timing of everything didn't make any sense. Timing… timing… something was wrong with the 'time' of all this. Too convenient, too well-done. Something happened. But what could happen to 'time'?

"I apologize for not coming to greet your earlier." I paused in my thoughts and focused on the two men walking in. Striking resemblance hinted they were related, likely father and son. Their clothes marked them as 'Imperial'. "Welcome, welcome," the older one continued, with a politely warm smile on his face. "I am Magister Gereon Alexius."

"Oh, I've heard of you," Miss Samantha murmured. She smiled back calmly, hiding her clenched fists behind her back. I shifted to stand behind her, a reassuring presence. The smile she flashed over her shoulder was grateful. "My little sister, Lucina, has read some of your papers."

"Then you must be Lucina Trevelyan's elder sister." They went to sit at a nearby table. I followed. Iron Bull and Miss Pentaghast didn't, choosing instead to wander about. Subtle questioning to figure out what is going on. "I've heard a great deal of her during my time here. You must be proud to have so skilled a sister."

"I'd be proud no matter what. Lucina is my sister. But she's spoken of here?"

"Yes, I was asking if there were any mages who might be… less welcoming of the alliance, and her name came up. It seems she dislikes the Rebellion as a whole." Miss Samantha's eyes widened ever so slightly before reverting back to calmness. But it was obvious to me what caused her shock. "Ah, do not fret. I mean her no harm, so long as she doesn't attack me. I do like living." That wasn't why she was shocked. She was shocked… because I doubted it had ever occurred to her that Lucina might hate the Rebellion. Admittedly, I only had suspicions myself. Lucina… kept herself locked away tightly. …I still hadn't had a chance to talk to her. I needed to do that soon. "Though, I am curious to speak with her. She seems to be making strides in Bounded Fields, and it has always been a fascination of mine."

"I will pass on the message. She recently attended a salon hosted by Madame de Fer, and by all accounts, made a wonderful impression." Had she? I hadn't heard anything yet? Wasn't good to lie, Miss Samantha, about things you aren't sure of. "Regardless, much as I adore gushing over my little sister, we are far off topic."

"Ah, yes." Magister Alexius looked amused. "Forgive a scholar's rambling. I had meant to ask if you were the survivor of the Conclave I had been hearing about first." Oh, well, that was just great.

"I am." Miss Samantha's smile was polite enough to be a sword of it's own. "However, if you are the leader of the mages now, might we get to negotiations? You can imagine how confusing all this has been."

"Yes, I imagine so. It's always so nice to talk to someone reasonable." He looked to the younger man. "Felix, would you send for a scribe, please?" The man, Lord Felix, nodded. "Ah, where are my manners? This is my son, Felix." I was right, then.

"Samantha Trevelyan, second child of the head of our house." Despite wearing gauntlets, she held out her hand as if she were at a ball, and Felix took it with a smile, bowing over it before leaving. Human customs were strange sometimes. "I imagine you know why we're here?"

"Yes, and I am not surprised. Containing the Breach is a feat not many could even attempt." He leaned forward slightly. "There is no telling how many mages would be needed for such an endeavor. Ambitious, indeed."

"But necessary." Could we go to the templars too? That seemed like a really good idea right now. "Will you lend us your aid?"

"There will have to be-" He cut himself off as something caught his eye. Lord Felix, coming back, and moving quite… awkwardly compared to his earlier grace. Noticing the muscle weakness, I lunged forward, catching him just as he fell. "Felix!"

"I'm so sorry, my lord," Lord Felix mumbled. Miss Samantha immediately vacated her seat and I helped him sit down. "Please, forgive me." I stilled when he pushed a slip of paper into my hand, but nodded slightly to let him know I knew I had it. This was an old trick.

"Are you all right?" Miss Samantha asked, crouching slightly to look at him. Drawing attention from me, whether she meant it or not. "You're quite pale."

"I'm fine, my lady. Just a passing attack." Attack?

"Come, Felix, and I'll get you your powder," Magister Alexius murmured. The deathly worry in his eyes made one thing clear. This was a chronic thing, and there was a good chance it would kill him. "Please excuse me, friends. We will continue this another time." He helped Lord Felix limp off. "I'll send word to the Inquisition when things are a little more settled for negotiations. Fiona, I require your aid at the castle."

"Good health to you, and Maker watch over you." As they left, Miss Samantha sighed. "This is all so messed up." I nodded silently, unfurling the slip of paper. "Kost… does Lucina really not like the Rebellion?" Ah… "I thought… she'd be happy. She had always been so sad when she had to leave us and return."

"That might've just been the sadness of parting with people you love." Still, Miss Samantha looked heartbroken. "Does it bother you that much that you didn't know that?"

"She's my little sister. Of course it does." She sighed. "I am the worst." Subject change, now.

"We should see what Iron Bull and Miss Pentaghast found." I smoothed out the paper and frowned at the words. "Ah." She gave me a curious look. "Well, this is what he was sneakily telling us." I passed her the note and watched as her heartbroken look turned to a frown of confusion. 'Come to the Chantry. You are in danger.' "Shall we?"

"With Iron Bull and Cassandra as our hidden backup." Smart. "Let's wander a short bit first, though."

"Good idea." That way if anyone was watching, they'd be slightly less suspicious. In theory. "Let's go.

It had taken quite a bit of convincing to get Miss Pentaghast and Iron Bull to stay back. Miss Pentaghast worried about us walking into a trap, while Iron Bull didn't like the idea of having to wait to crack heads. And was worried about us walking into a trap. But Miss Samantha and I prevailed, and so we entered the Chantry, to find a man beating some demons to death with a staff. Demons falling out of a Rift that… made everything look strange as it pulsed. It was like the Chantry was a mosaic, but each pulse replaced a 'piece'.

"Oh, good, you're finally here!" he greeted, voice jovial even as he looked exasperated. "Now, come help me close this thing, will you?"

"Yeah, sure?" Miss Samantha replied, wide eyes and stiff posture hinting the words were automatic. Still, she lifted her hand, a light shooting from her marked palm to the Rift. I quickly cast a barrier around the demons falling out of the Rift and crushed them before they could reach her. The other mage whipped up a fire wall to trap the remaining, and it wasn't long before they were gone, and the Rift was closed. Miss Samantha stumbled back from it, panting and sweating, grimacing in pain. I really worried about what closing the Breach was going to do to her. It was even worse knowing we had no choice.

"Fascinating," the man breathed, eyeing Miss Samantha's hand. "How does that work, exactly?"

"Painfully," Miss Samantha deadpanned. "I hurt all the time now."

"Well, that makes sense. Bounded field of magic embedded into one's body… I can't imagine much good of it, and it's not really a study that can be done. Ethics and all." Still, he laughed. "But you just wiggle your fingers and boom! Rift closes. No idea of how, right?" Did anyone know?

"If you're done mocking me, who are you?" Miss Samantha shifted to stand near me, and I moved to better guard her back, a barrier spell half-prepped in my head. "And what was with that rift? The Chantry was all mosaic." And now it wasn't.

"Ah, getting ahead of myself again." The mage bowed, as formal and graceful as Felix had been earlier. "Dorian of House Pavus, most recently of Minrathous." Another from the Imperium then. "How do you do?"

"Confused as all flames." Miss Samantha's voice was deadpanned again. Yeah, she was done with this. So was I, truth be told. "What is going on here?"

"Well, Master Alexius was my mentor, so I imagine my assistance to you would be quite a bit of help, yes?" Assistance? For what?

"You're acting like you're waiting for applause." Miss Samantha scowled. "Question. Answer. Give."

Master Pavus sighed. "Look, you must know there's danger. That's obvious even without the note. After all, Alexius claimed the allegiance of the Southern Mages out from under you." Yes, he did. "As if by magic. Which is exactly what it is."

"I tested for blood magic," I informed him. He nodded, looking a little impressed. "Got nothing for it, mind."

"Because what he did to the mages is nothing but clever manipulation. Playing on their Grand Enchanter's paranoia," he explained. I nodded, mostly expecting that. "But he did use magic. To reach Redcliffe before the Inquisition, before Fiona even left for Val Royeaux to hear you, Alexius distorted time itself." What.

"That's impossible." Miss Samantha opened her mouth. "If you're bringing up Haste, that is body manipulation, not time."

"I do so love talking to intelligent people." Master Pavus certainly sounded happy. "Before you ask, it's even more dangerous than it sounds." WELL, THAT WAS JUST GREAT! "Now, the Rift you saw here. Those 'pieces' you mentioned were pieces of the past, and the future, bleeding through as it distorted time." This was beyond the scope of anything I knew. Let's get the templars. Get the templars, free the mages from mad scientist Magister Alexius, and then force them to cooperate to end the Mage-Templar War. Everyone won! "If you two had been here longer, you would've noticed how it sped some things up, slowed things down."

"And that's because the time magic is unstable."

"And unraveling the world, yes." Master Pavus glanced at Miss Samantha. "You okay there?"

"No." Miss Samantha's voice was blunt and no-nonsense. "This is a lot to swallow," she grumbled, eyes narrowing. "And, honestly, a lot of information to take on faith alone." She believed in the Chant and the Maker. How was that different?

"I know what I'm talking about." Master Pavus's voice and tone were deadly serious, heightened by his narrowed eyes. "I helped develop the magic. When I was still Alexius's apprentice, and it was pure theory. It could never work. And now it does, for reasons unknown. Which I hate, because I know everything." Ha! "I don't get why he's doing it either. Ripping time to shreds just to gain a few hundred lackeys? Ridiculous."

"Yes, so he didn't do it for them." I whirled, hand up to cast a spell, or just punch the interloper, but paused when I saw it was Lord Felix. "You have very fast reflexes, my lord," he murmured with a small smile. "I'm here, Dorian."

"Took you long enough," Master Pavus replied, smiling warmly and giving Lord Felix a hug. "Is he getting suspicious?"

"No, but I shouldn't have played the illness card. I thought he'd be fussing all day." Lord Felix sighed, and bowed to us again. "I'm glad that worked, though. Now, for actual information, since I'm sure Dorian has been speaking around the issue. Please forgive him; he's allergic to blunt truths." Master Pavus playfully scowled and Lord Felix grinned before becoming serious. "My father has joined a cult." Oh, here we go. Cults. Because why not. "The Venatori or something. Tevinter supremacists." His eyes focused on Miss Samantha. "And whatever he's done, it's to get to you, Lady Samantha." Miss Samantha's eyes widened. "I'm very glad your sister wasn't here. She'd be a hostage by now, with other Venatori members keeping her doped up on drugs to keep her from breaking out or killing herself." That… was luck. That was a lot of luck. "Assuming some wouldn't just use blood magic. Father doesn't, yet, as far as I know, but…" But he'd turn a blind eye. That's what he was saying. We were beyond lucky, it seemed, that Lucina had walked out of the meeting then.

"I am so flattered he thinks I'm worth breaking time for." Miss Samantha's words were light, but she was wound as tight as a spring, and her eyes blazed in fury. "What do you suggest, then?" she asked, words still far too light for her demeanor. It was honestly very creepy. And I knew I wasn't the only one. Master Pavus gave me a worried look; I just shrugged. "Besides me hunting him down and eviscerating him." I should just accept that the Trevelyan's were all creepy. I really just should.

"Well, since you now know you're his target, I say you can turn his little trap to your advantage," Master Pavus replied slowly. "Also, no eviscerations. It would take forever to clean the blood out of your pretty red hair."

"It's not that hard. Blood comes out easily if you know what you're doing." Mildly horrified looks around and she answered with a droll one. "I am, biologically, female. I have periods, once a month. Periods will stain clothes. That's why there's a stereotype for women changing clothes a lot. Are you all daft?"

"Since your starting point was 'evisceration', I don't think you're allowed to blame us for forgetting that." Master Pavus sighed. "Regardless, I can't stay in Redcliffe. Alexius doesn't know I'm here, and I'd like to keep it that way for now. But I'll be in touch. You're going to need to deal with him, and I want to be there." This… was true. Regardless of what else, we couldn't allow Magister Alexius to operate. "And Felix, try not to get yourself killed by crazy cultists."

"There are worst things than dying, Dorian," Lord Felix replied softly. The slight wince Master Pavus had gave more hints to my earlier suspicion. Whatever Lord Felix was ill with, it was killing him. And he had long since made peace with it, even if those around him hadn't. "What will you two do?"

Miss Samantha and I exchanged a look. "I suppose head back to Haven and wait," Miss Samantha murmured. I nodded. There wasn't much else we could do here.

"Then allow me to see you to the gates. I have a good excuse for Father already." And that would give us a good alibi. "Shall we?"

"Yes. Many thanks."

Author's Note: I will admit. The first time I played through this, I was very creeped out. Something just felt off and then you hear about time magic? And see first-hand how the past changed? Creepy!

Next Chapter – Samantha in Haven