Azzura opened one eye, then the other and gave Nathaniel a crossed look. The Warden put a finger on his lips and invited her to walk outside, after smirking knowingly at Cullen's sleeping form. Azzura just slapped him lightly over his backside and Nate's outraged look made her stifle a laugh.

They put a small distance between them and the camp, outside the ear shot of the remaining night guards.

Nate spoke first." We need to talk, and you won't like it. Although, I think you are crazy enough to actually consider it."

"Well, I will never know if you keep going in circles, no?"

He sighed and rubbed his eyes. "Utha was here. Our mutual friend is waiting for us at half day inside the tunnels."

"I think I need to sit." – She looked around furtively and dropped her voice to a whisper.

"The Architect is here? Why?" – Nate handed her a piece of parchment covered in elegant writing. "As you know, Utha is a silent sister, so he sent her with this message. She was a Warden after all and she is the only one who could blend in. I can't believe that she sneaked into a camp full of Wardens and into my tent without any the wiser. Makes my skin cringe, really."

Azzura finished reading the message and sighed. "Damn, a sealed chamber in a tunnel which we had no idea it existed. The Architect says that it might be from the Fourth Blight." – Nate saw the glint of her eyes and raised his hands to the sky.

"And now you want to go there! Maker help me!"

"It worth investigating and maybe I can have news from him about our unfortunate condition which is helping us die, fairly young I might say? Get packing. We leave at dawn."

Nathaniel kept her from rising and run to her tent. "Ohi! What are you thinking? Hold on, woman! We need to be careful, there will be a lot of questions and we kind of want to leave outside many answers, right?" – He tugged at his hair. – "You will make me go grey."

She snickered. "You are already grey … warden."

"Ugh! And you are the crazy woman I have as a Commander."

She composed herself and looked behind her at the cluster of tents. "All right. The thing is that we will have to go alone. Not exactly alone, but … we can't pick anyone else. We are the only two remaining Senior Wardens in Ferelden who know about the Architect." – She shivered a little. – "We are also the only ones left from our team knowing the reason behind his survival and I really hate to have that news reaching Weisshaupt or the Inquisition."

The young Howe scoffed. "Like you really are scared about the Inquisition; but you are pissing your pants at the idea of Cullen finding out."

She sighed. "Or Alistair. Yup, I am a coward. But let's face it; I don't think Cullen or the Inquisitor would be happy to hear that another Ancient Magister is roaming the tunnels under their feet. With that bat-shit crazy calling himself the Elder One, I would rather not risk dying today. Varric and Dorian are not suitable either. It will have to be us."

They had a plan. A plan reminding an Orlesian cheese. Full of holes. But it was a plan.

Azzura was up and ready when Cullen woke up.

"Good morning, my Commander." – She greeted him with a small kiss and eyes cast down. He could read her tells better than she knew him to do so.

Closing the last buckles on his armor, he asked. "You are up to something and I won't like it. I am right?"

He almost giggled, seeing her rubbing the back of her neck. "I … um … yes. Nate and I … well …" – She threw her hands in the air, exasperated. "Gods! Why is so hard to talk to you?"

Cullen raised his brows. "Maybe because it's something crazy and dangerous? At least you have the good will to feel worried about my opinion."

"All right, gloat as you like. I have to go to the Deep Roads for a couple of days. Me … and Nate only."

"You are crazy. Do you really think I will let you go? There are darkspawn there! And Maker knows what else!"

"I can't sense darkspawn, we killed every one of them." – She tried to maintain her calm. The man was worried for her and for good reason. So, she opted for a half truth. "Cullen, I am a Warden. It's what we do; go there and make sure that those bastards don't come out."

"I know, and I really want to support you; but you have a camp full of wardens, why can't you take some of them?"

"Because they are not senior Wardens and Nate doesn't trust them too much. The truth is this; since I took command of Vigil's Keep, Weisshaupt was a thorn in my back."

"But … they are your superiors! They have a right to meddle in your decisions!"

"They contested my wardens, they sent a woman to assist with the treasury even knowing that I was named Arlessa and I could take care of my own lands. Well, technically they are the Warden lands but still under King Alistair's rule. Besides, I even heard voices that in Anderfels they don't believe that it was a real Blight." – She caught herself before revealing more. It didn't bode well to remind him that the other wardens who defeated the previous four Archdemons had a nice tomb made for them in the Fortress. They died defeating the Beasts and she was up and running after a decade.

True enough that there were questions and Weisshaupt tried to learn about her survival, but how could two fresh Wardens merely teenagers - with no idea about how to defeat an Archdemon - knew what the older Wardens knew? She and Alistair played dumb and they became quite good at it.

"When I was fighting the nobles and scoured Ferelden and the Deep Roads in search for help, no Warden from Anderfels came. Now that I'm thinking, not even those from Orlais. I know that Loghain put a restriction for trespassing, but they could have come to Orzammar, sneaked in Ferelden somehow. But, no! Everyone was happy to let two juniors scratch their heads at what to do. So, no; I don't care about Weisshaupt. This is my country, my wardens and my investigation. I have to go with Nate because there are things that are better be buried and kept away from the others. Corypheus still can influence the Wardens and as much I have faith in those remaining, they are not above corruption."

"So, he can't influence you? Him?"

"I can tune it out and due to my training and the Guardian's protection I am safe. Nate is strong, but I will be on guard for any mishap." – She took his face in her hands and looked straight into his eyes. "Cullen, please; I must do this. Maybe I can find things that will help me or the Inquisition."

"I'm coming with you then."

"No. Taint and such, remember? And I need you here in case something really bad happens. I love you and I care too much about you, and even as much I would want you by my side, we both know that we have our duties." – She took a stack of papers and gave it to her Commander. "This is a full report of our time spent here, I have made two copies for you and Alistair. You have also my direct order to blow up the mountain and bury the entrance in case we won't make it back."

He shook his head vigorously. "What? No!"

She hugged him and kissed his hair. "You have to. If in three days I am not returned, put the mountain down. Some explosive charges and the mages should be enough to block the entrance. I made sure to take all the responsibility for obliterating another piece of Ferelden, just in case Alistair and Anora make a fuss out of it."

He was reluctant to let her go but in the end his discipline won.

"Just … please, come back to me."

Azzura and Nathaniel snuck out of the camp and head towards the Deep Roads entrance. Cullen had to cover for them saying that they went to hunt in the woods.

Azzura opted for the full chain armor and she brought both swords with her. Once in a while, Nathaniel will look behind them at the staff flying with its own will. When he finally had enough of keeping his curiosity in check, Nathaniel poked Azzura in the ribs. The mage jumped three steps away.

"Ow! What was that for?"

The handsome rogue found himself whispering. "Do you know that your staff is merrily flying behind us? It's that normal? Don't answer that; with you nothing is normal."

She began to laugh. "I'm sorry, I forgot to tell you. Remember when you found me and I told you about my time in Tevinter? Well, I left some things out."

Nathaniel looked again at the staff. "You don't say."

Azzura motioned to the staff to come closer and took a grip on it.

"The staff is made from normal wood and silverite. What makes it special is a Spirit of Protection."

Nathaniel almost tripped on his feet. "It is possessed?"

Azzura shrugged. "Otherwise how could I carry both swords and my shield?"

A bright light glowed ahead of them leaving behind the form of an armored Templar. Howe stopped dead on his feet.

"What the fuck?"

"Nate meet the Guardian." – The Spirit bowed slightly. "At your service, Warden Howe. Don't be afraid, I won't swoop down on you." Azzura's jaw almost fell on the floor. This was the first time the Guardian made a joke; and why he chooses the one loved by Alistair anyway? Spirits. They never behave like they were supposed to.

The Warden gawked at the ethereal being. "It talks."
She waved away his words. "Not as much I would like too. Then again, Knight- Commander Greagoir never talked much, unless it was to fight with Irving. Endurance, get out here."

This time Nathaniel literally jumped on the side of the tunnel when a fluffy cloud popped out in existence with a blonde woman stretching lazily on top of it.

"This place is dreadful mia cara! Why are we here?" – Endurance looked around her then continued to shape her nails with a small file. The Spirit saw Nathaniel. "Oh, he's cute! Look at all those muscles on his arms! Archer, eh?"

Azzura bended in half, laughing her soul off at the sight of Nathaniel turning on his heels and grabbing his head with both hands.

"Maker's blasted balls! I am alone with a mad woman!"

Endurance raised a finely shaped brow in his direction. "Two women! Although … I am somehow just borrowing this form."

The Hero dried the tears and drunk some water. "Come now, Nate. You wanted a Spirit who can talk. I told you that we won't be alone down here. Besides, it won't be the first time when we have a spirit coming along with us. Justice was your friend, even if you won't admit it."

The Guardian took his place inside the staff but the other Spirit just moved along with them, sitting on top of her cloud.

Still wary of the Fade denizen, Nate fell in step with his companion and continued their journey. From time to time Nate would throw glances at the blonde woman on top of her cloud.

"So, what are we doing here? It has to do with that letter?" – asked Endurance.

"Yes. The Architect said that he found a room dating from the Fourth Blight and it might be of some interest to us. Since we killed the spawn guarding the entrance and I can't sense others around, I suppose it was him who cleared all the tunnels."

Curiosity got better of Nate again and he poked the cloud with the tip of his finger. The cloud seemed to be well defined and more or less material, but his finger went through it.

Endurance giggled in delight. "It's a piece of Fade. I am here and I am not. Same goes for the things surrounding me."

"Good to know. So … you don't feel desire to take on someone's body? Because you know … the last time a Spirit did it, it blew up a Chantry."

Azzura and Endurance rolled their eyes in the same time. The Warden spoke. "Justice and Anders are a different matter. When Justice joined with Anders, he changed. A mortal will always influences a Spirit if they join. Anders' desire to free the mages and Justice's desire for what was right got them confused. Don't worry; I won't join with any of my Fade friends."

Endurance pouted. "If I would join, then I wouldn't be able to peep on the naked Templars. I am better like this."

Nate sputtered. "Naked … Templars?"

Azzura explained to him the better she could about the nature of her companion Spirits and what they did.

"So if we need help they will lend a hand? Or … cloud?"

"The Guardian can fight; it's his purpose to defend. Endurance can only give us strength."

"And if you ask her … I thought that the Spirits don't have a gender?"

Amell shrugged. "She took a female form. I don't see why I shouldn't address her as a she."

So she won't fight?"

"No. If I would ask her to do it, she would comply, but then … she would change into a desire demon. Or it was Pride?"

"Wonderful! More things to worry about. I should assume that only several of your new friends in the Inquisition know about this?"

"Yes. I don't think going around and trying to make friends with the mortals would go as I wish." – Endurance sighed and for a moment she looked sad.

Both Azzura and Nate stopped. Endurance disappeared leaving the road in darkness. Muttering, Nate lit up a torch and drew a dagger from his belt; Azzura followed with her weapons unsheathed.

A voice she never thought she will hear in a long time, spoke.

"Hello there friends. Don't have fear, it's just me and Utha."

The Architect's voice was deep and lacked any inflection but very well it could stand in an Orlesian salon. Amell still wondered how the darkspawn magister succeeded in being both a monster and something similar to a scholar. Maybe trying to awake the Old Gods required a certain amount of ancient wisdom or stupidity?

Their feet hurt after the long march. She had no idea how much they walked or how many hours had passed, but a small stop was needed if she wanted to feel her feet again.

"Well, since the Architect arrived and we are tired, I say that we should camp for the night."

Azzura took the first watch letting Nate to rest. However since she had to stay awake, she had to find a way to occupy her time and that was to bother the Architect. The creature didn't seem surprised when she went and sat beside him. The ancient magister was the first to speak.

"You were gone a long time, Warden. I gather that the last events on the surface made you come back from your journey?"

"For someone hiding underground you are very well informed in the latest events." – Azzura took a piece of dried meat from her backpack and started to chew on it. It was difficult to get used again with the horrible smell coming from the darkspawn and she had to keep her mind on the discussion taking place. Spilling her guts out would wake up poor Nate and she wanted him to get some well-deserved rest. Her friend was always happy to help her with crazy missions without saying a word; such was the friendship he had for her. Amell felt guilty for a moment. Now Nate had a wife and daughter waiting for him and he should be outside on his road to Highever instead hunting ghostly hidden chambers in the company of a crazy darkspawn magister.

The Architect made a grimace which could pass nicely as a smile. "It's easier to send my brothers out there to listen to the humans. With the wardens spread so thin the danger of being discovered is small."

"Oh yes; the Wardens are missing, indeed. I still investigate as of why and there is an order from another Warden- Commander saying that I should be captured. I was meaning to ask if you know this Elder One or Corypheus? He's one of your fellows apparently."

"I still don't remember how I woke up and what I was doing before. I will take your information as true."

"There is also the problem of the red lyrium showing up on the surface. Have you encountered any deposits in your travels?"

"Some. This type of lyrium is … strange. It carries the Blight."

"Yes. I felt strange being near of it. It's calling, it is hungry and it is very infective for the people on the surface. Corypheus fed it to the Templars and they are harvesting it from the infected. The Inquisitor works to shut down any known locations. Also, the Wardens are hearing their Calling. All of them."

The Architect cocked his head on a side. "Interesting. And yet I haven't encountered any of them."

Utha made a few signs and from the expression on what was once her face, she was worried too.

"Utha says that it shouldn't be possible."

"She's right. Besides, all the Wardens are gathering somewhere. We don't know what they are planning yet. Do you think there is another Old God on the loose? Have you attempted another crazy Joining?"

"No. I keep my word Warden. No one is disturbing us and I learned my lesson. The two remaining Gods are sleeping. However I was in this area because I was chasing for the locations of a few broodmothers."

Azzura sent a shiver walking down her spine. "How many?"

"I killed one but there must be at least other three. The group of those mindless fiends we killed was hunting. The women they took are from the tribes living in these forests."

"Chasind. Thank you for keeping the order. I beg you to find and kill them. We have already other things to worry; I can't spare any wardens right now."

"This arrangement benefits both of us, Warden- Commander. None of us needs more of them. If you could satisfy a curiosity of mine? When we met the first time, we couldn't talk that much. Your reluctance to support my plan made me question your desire for peace, but I held my part of deal."

"The differences between our worlds are immense. You act like a one mind and as individual in the same time. You know only this way of life; humans can't function like that. Since their birth, a component of my society knows that they are unique. Their thoughts are only theirs, everyone can choose and they alone are responsible for their actions. It's called free will. No one takes lightly having their free will stripped from them. We cling to our humanity and independence."

"And still you make other people slaves. How is that an option?"

"It's a wrong thing and we fight to eradicate it, unfortunately without success for now. Even as slaves, people retain their individuality. If there is a thing that slavery can't take way, there would be the ability to dream for a better life and a way to make it happen. I believe that slowly, we will get there someday."

Her eyes drifted to Utha for a moment. The ex-Warden's eyes were blank; the irises covered by a sheet of withe. The wrinkled skin barely covering her cheekbones and teeth showing behind from long gone lips made Azzura uneasy looking for a long period of time.

"I ask forgiveness to Utha for what I will say next. Humans are also huge egocentrics when in it comes to their beauty. Esthetics counts as much as individuality, I suppose. No one would take easy on being transformed into a ghoul, not looking like this."

The Architect closed his fingers in contemplation. "Beauty comes to pass. Why would this be so important?"

She actually snorted. "You were Urthemiel's high priest. He was the God of beauty; that should mean something to you?"

"I … don't remember. He is dead now, isn't he?"

"Yes. The Archdemon is dead and his remains were taken to Weisshaupt. I wished so much to have a nice set of armor and a sword made of his hide and bones; but I had to let them take it."

"Interesting. Why couldn't you? It was your trophy after all?"

"We had no warden smiths. It's easy for normal people to work a high dragon's bones but the Archdemon was carrying the Blight."

The Guardian in her mind spoke; his voice carried a hint of wickedness. "Nice choice of words. The Archdemon is dead."

"Of course he's dead. Why?"

"Playing semantics with me it is fun. You said Archdemon , not Urthemiel."

"At least I don't lie, eh?"

She almost had to slap herself for not realizing sooner. "The Inquisitor said that Corypheus is using an Archdemon! What are the chances for it to be real? Will we have another Blight on our hands?"

"You have no fear. I can't say how he achieved to master an Archdemon's will, but the beast doesn't have an Old God's soul in it. I know for a fact that Razikale and Lusacan are sleeping."

When Nate woke up, Azzura was so excited about the good news that there won't be another Blight that she couldn't get herself to fall asleep. Nate was at loss of words when she dragged his head in her lap and began to brush his hair. He tried to protest but she kept him pressed down. "Stay still, will you?"

His jaw fell out of its hinges when he heard her voice in his head. The Architect watched them curiously. "Is he, your mate then?"

Azzura bit her lips to keep a straight face imagining Nate's face as it was covered by his hair. "Yes. We have been together a long time. See, he is the main reason that I don't want to become a ghoul. My Nate doesn't like ugly women." Utha gave her a killer look but Amell ignored her.

Not knowing what to do, Nathaniel just obeyed his Commander. That was another crazy day in his life following her, apparently.

"It's all right, love. He can't hear us. You can think, I will hear you."

Nate did as he was told. "I have to admit. This … surpasses everything I knew about you. Care to explain?"

"We have to talk, but since we have guests, I had to take an alternate route. Our minds are linked with my companions' help. There is nothing to worry about. The Shadowhunters use this type of communication often. It's not a big range for the link to work, but sometimes when is need it, is very useful."

"Another of your magic-y trick then. Sometimes I wonder how much you mages know. Anyway, I wanted to talk to you too but I couldn't figure out how to do it without our friend here listening."

She treaded her fingers deeper in his hair and touched his ear. With the Architect watching them they had to keep up the show somehow. Nate jerked a little when she moved her fingers around his jaw.

"Stop that! You will raise suspicion."

Endurance's laugh rang in their linked minds. "There is something else rising too."

"Shut up, Spirit." – Azzura's fingers felt Nate's skin warming under the deep blush covering his cheeks.

"I so much hate you right now. So, what is in your mind?"

"Madness."

"Very funny."

"We will have to finish the job we started long time ago. The Architect must die here."

"So … let me resume. You avoided killing him when we got the chance and there were four of us; now, suddenly you think that we have better chances without Anders and Justice covering our arses."

"He will turn on us as soon we arrive where he's taking us. He needs us somehow because otherwise he would have taken whatever he is after."

Nate shifted uncomfortably under her hands. "Care to tell me why you have to manhandle me? I don't say I don't like it ... but … things are awkward?"

"Because this type of connection has to physically link two people together?"

"Oh, right. So ... why you decided to kill our friend? From the way you were listening to him it seemed like you wanted to be buddies for life? As short you want to make it right now."

"He's lying. You know that none of the Wardens told us about Chasind women being kidnapped lately."

"It's the exact thing I wanted to tell you. He seemed too committed to help. Besides, the Chasind are long gone from this area and he had no idea that the Wardens were still around."

"Another thing. Don't you find strange that this section of road is devoid of the taint and it's elvhen style?"

What Azzura said it was true. They were travelling on a road that missed only the lighting and merchant caravans moving from a place to another. She didn't express her wonder aloud and the fact that the Architect didn't point it out it made her suspicious for the first time. A hint of magic she couldn't define yet lingered in the air.

The more they approached to the place she came to investigate, the more she felt the old magic searching for her. It had a tinge of elvhen and something tainted also. She imagined that it belongs to a Warden Mage once and he or she was the one who warded that section of the Deep Roads. The Architect and Utha stopped several steps behind her; ahead there was door made of stone like any dwarven construction, but it has carvings on it. From where she stood she couldn't make the shapes though.

"Hey, Flemeth! Something is fishy here. I will need your help, because without magic I can't get over those wards."

"I can read your mind, girl; and I approve. Remember, treat the artifacts with respect and do what must be done."

Amell's figurative ears perched up hearing the word artifacts. Flemeth cackled in background.

The old Magister pointed towards the invisible barrier in front of her. "This must be dispelled by a Warden's pure blood. I have tried with Utha's but I almost lost her when the energy backlashed at us."

I could bet the Arling that you would have tried before calling in for us. She gave the barrier a critical look. Blood magic, of course it had to be the only thing she didn't liked. She closed her eyes and began to strip down the layers of that spell. Maybe if she could find out how it was cast, maybe she could also find a way to enter without having to give her blood. The points of the Wards converged in one section of the barrier, leaving a tiny portion free of magic. It was impossible even to her to see, but the blood magic left a perfect trail in its way.

The blood was a fluid and not fade remnants. The normal magic would leave marks in the Fade without a definite shape. The blood however had to be shaped to take the form one wanted. A blood mage, especially one grown up in a Circle would know the difference; the Architect however was born before the Circles were formed. Amell's lips quirked up a bit. They said that ignorance is a bliss; in this case the Architect's ignorance was welcomed.

She massaged her eyes with her palms. If they wanted to pull this over, she and Nate will need more than luck. Everyone knows that the best laid plans …. go to fuck up majestically.

Azzura catches Nate's hand and gives him a hug; the man felt something slipping in his pocket but said nothing.

"I won't be able to get into that room; you will have to go and tell me everything."

"But I will have no idea what to look for. What if I miss something important? And if it is important, how I would know? I can't certainly yell for others to hear; that goes against our intentions. Are you sure that this connection can't be used otherwise?"

"It is, but you wouldn't like it. We rarely use it because it's an interrogation tool. I will have to enter your mind and see through your eyes, so to speak."

"Great. Do you want to control my body too?"

"To do that I would need to tap into your blood flow."

"For someone who hates blood magic, you know a damn lot of it."

"I hunt blood mages; that's my job. How can I do my job if I can't understand how the blood magic works? Take a look at Templars, Chantry and Mages here. There are only a few trusted members of my organization who can do this. The Spirits need a pure mind who knows how to stay back from the temptation of actually influencing someone's thoughts."

"I'm not sure I like it. But hey, we are with crazy here. I lived around Velanna for the last years. That should say something."

He felt a presence shifting through his mind and accessing things that he kept out from others.

"Hey! Why would you want to see that?"

Azzura giggled. "It was you who let it slip. So it's like this how you tune out the Calling. Having dirty thoughts about your wife. Not bad."

"It's not fair. Why I can't see anything of yours?"

"Because I have a barrier. Building shields is the first thing we learn before being an interrogator. What the interrogated would say if they could move in our mind at leisure?"

Aloud, she said. "I know another way to get there. Nate will enter and I will keep the barrier."

The Architect raised a missing eyebrow. "A little of your blood would dispel it."

"I don't do blood magic, sorry. My plan will have to do."

She placed both hands on the barrier then pushed herself in the middle making a small gap for Nate to pass through.

"Somehow I know that I will have to hurry. Our common friend looks like he would gladly spill your blood only to get rid of this barrier."
"Right you are my Warden- Constable. Leg it."

Arrived at the first door, Nate pushed it open and revealed a passage large enough to let one person to walk freely. On both sides of the walls there were carvings of hallas playing, fighting or resting under leafless trees. Nathaniel felt Azzura's excitement like it was his own.

"Do you know why we see elvhen things here, in the Deep Roads? The only thing I have learned listening to Velanna's stories is that these hallas are sacred and their protector is some goddess called Ghil'nen, Ghil…"

"Ghilan'nain, the Mother of Hallas. Yes and the leafless tree is Mythal's symbol. Go ahead."

"Do you see anything of interest, Warden?" – The Architect's voice sounded a bit impatient.

"Uhm … just weird dwarven carvings, maybe their paragons or something. I'm going ahead."

"I don't want to play in his defense, but what if he says the truth? What if intentions are genuine?"

"Well, we will see when you get back. Want to bet that he will attack us the moment you step out of this barrier?"

"I won't let you see me naked. Last time we had a bet I was lucky enough to win. Anders pouted all day because he lost his chance to see me undress. "

"Nate, if I wanted to see you naked, I would have done it long time ago. Strange enough, I feel like I would want to see my brother without clothes. Unsettling, really."

Nate opened the second door and the last in his way, and gasped. A round chamber with a high ceiling letting some light filtering from above made them think that it was deep inside the mountain, in a caver of some sort. Several bookshelves lined on the left wall and hidden behind them it was a bed with something laying on it.

With Nate's eyes, Azzura thought that she saw something else on the right side, but for now she left it alone. The bookshelf beaconed to her.

Nate thought slyly. "I think I know what you are thinking.'

"Grab the books; all of them."

From his pockets, Nathaniel fished two bags and began filling them with the old, dusty tomes. When everything was in place and the books secured in his backpack, he approached the bed.

"This guy died in his sleep." – He looked at the skeleton dressed in ragged, old mage robes.

"Yes. I know. Loot the long dead body." – Not waiting for a reply, he took several rings, crushing the bones in the process. From the folds of the shattered robe, a small book fell on the bed. Swiftly, he pocketed that one too and turned around.

"Holy Maker's underthings! Look at that!"

They watched in awe the frame of something resembling a huge mirror. At the bottom, two natural height carved hallas supported the frame with their horns. Pieces of what was once the actual mirror littered the ground.

"Andraste's shiny butt!" – Azzura added promptly – "This is an eluvian! What is doing here, of all things?"

"What is this eluvian?"

"The ancient elves didn't use roads to travel between their cities; they used this. Each network of eluvians was dedicated to a certain elven God. Since we see a lot of hallas, I suppose this was one of Ghilan'nain's ones."

"And you know this … because?"

"I research elven lore for clues, obviously. Some of the tomes in the Minrathous' Imperial Library contained information about them. This is the first time I see one, though."

"Too bad it is broken. From the way the glass spreads on the floor, I suppose that our skeleton over there broke it. Why would he do that?"

"Or maybe it was a she? That small book you found, maybe it is a diary of sorts. I can't wait to read it. Also, to access any eluvians, they needed a key."

Nate's eyes hovered around trying to figure out any object looking like a key.

"I don't think they mean a key as we know it. Give a close swipe of the room, again; then get out of here."

They couldn't find anything else of interest, but Nate at Azzura's recommendation, took both of the glowing stones nesting between the carved halla's horns.

"They will look really shiny on my staff. I hate to do it, but it is necessary. Take the small rocks I slipped into your pockets earlier and plant them around the eluvian and in each corner of this room; leave some for the door too."

Nate did as told and spread the rocks with intricate symbols around.

"Explosive runes. We will blow up this place. Ir abelas, Ghilan'nain. Nathaniel, once you come out wait to see what the Architect will do. If he swoops on us, leave him to me and kill Utha. Still can throw a dagger?"

"I improved greatly since the last time you saw me."

"Good. I will maintain the mind connection until we are out of these tunnels. We stun them in the worst case scenario, and then you grab my hand and close your eyes."

"Remind me again why I trust you?"

"Because I am your friend? I will fade step often. For someone without magical abilities, this can be a bit rough. If you keep your eyes open, you will feel dizzy and sick."

"After I stop screaming and shitting my pants?"

She giggled. "We will have to run like hunted by dragons. This place will go kaboom behind us. I planted runes every now and then since we got inside. Runes are linked between them."

"Got it. So, crazy time!"

Nate arrived at the barrier and mimicked a ragged breath slopping down his knees to make it believable. He glared at Amell.

"You sent me there for a bag of books and a long dead body?"

She shrugged. "I hope it's worth the pain."

The Architect came closer and hovered above Nate's bended body.

"Are you sure that there was nothing else? These ruins are elven."

Nathaniel didn't lose a bit. "Are they? I thought they were dwarven! What I know about ruins?"

Utha gesticulated madly at her master.

"I know, my pet. I should have used the Warden's blood from the beginning."

Azzura stifled a laugh. "Pay up, Howe. Plan B incoming."

"I hate you so much."

Nathaniel slipped a dagger between his fingers and then -quick as a snake – threw the knife hitting Utha square in the eyes.

In the same time, Azzura's eyes began to light with blue fire and her body warped the reality around it. In the immensity of the tunnels, her cry resounded ten times louder. A pillar of blue light materialized from tin air and crashed on top of the Architect's figure. The darkspawn howled in outrage and clasped his face between both hands.

"Take my hand Nate. Now!"

Nathaniel did it and then felt his body losing all its weight. The last thing he heard before Azzura's Fade Step it was the sound of a loud explosion and a desperate cry.

Now and then the mage would stop back to reality only to resume her strange trip; half in the real world, half in the Fade. Each time behind them another explosion sent rippling echoes and they felt the mountain creaking and shifting under their feet.

The tunnels became unstable even in front of them and entire sections of the ceiling began to broke and fall.

In the Inquisition camp, Cullen felt the earthquake and started to shout orders to his men. One of the soldiers cried and pointed towards the mountain top several miles away from their base.

As in a dream, everyone assisted to an incredible phenomenon. The earthquake grew in intensity and then the wind carried the aftershock of the mountain collapsing on it.

Cullen froze with his eyes locked onto horizon.

It can't be! She told me to wait!

Fear gripped his heart and he began to run towards the horses.