Chapter 26 – The Great Divide

And when you're lost and out of time

I will be right here waiting

10:19 Harvestmere; 9:31 Dragon

The ancient Kirkwall mansion smelled of death and filth. The bodies of the slavers that had been occupying it had been removed, their captives had been freed. But the stench of their trade lingered. Bethany's nose wrinkled and Carver had covered his face with a rag, but they followed the older twins in spite of their discomfort.

"I still don't understand why we're here," the younger son complained. "The property belongs to the city now. I don't fancy seeing the girls sent to the Gallows if we get caught."

"That's why we're here," Garrett replied, leaning over the balcony and staring down at his siblings. "We need to get it back. For Mother. For all of us. If this Deep Roads expedition pays off..."

"We could get our status as nobles restored," Bethany finished for him, eyes widening as she realized what Garrett had in mind.

"Exactly! And the status comes with immunity from the Circle."

"It's not guaranteed," Carver argued halfheartedly, sharing a knowing glance with Marian. "But if there was a Templar in the family..."

"You still haven't given up on that, have you?" Bethany observed.

"Not really," her twin admitted. "I had put it on hold when we came to Kirkwall, but after taking care of that problem for the Knight-Captain, I'm thinking about it again."

"I don't like it," Bethany scowled.

"I don't either," agreed Garrett, brows furrowed as he prepared to explain exactly why having Carver join the Templars was a bad idea. But before he could continue, Marian interrupted.

"I do."

Both of her siblings were stunned into silence, so she took the opportunity to elaborate. Boosting herself onto a table that she cleared ceremoniously of debris, Marian leaned back and explained.

"Knight-Captain Cullen has had over a month to turn me in, but hasn't. His isn't a rank to sniff at, and if he's sympathetic tomages, chances are there are others. Meredith is the worst of the worst, but she won't run the show forever. You want change in the Circle? You want the Templars to be more lenient with apostates? Pull out that bug Anders has planted in your ass about them being the enemy and turn them into allies."

"It's not that easy, Sis," Bethany complained.

"It is, actually, but with everybody playing the us versus them cards, they're forgetting how to compromise."

Marian let them absorb her words, with Carver moving to stand next to her, and Garrett coming down the stairs to take a place with Bethany. It looked entirely too much like battle lines, and the lavender-eyed mage prayed silently it wouldn't come to that.

"We leave for the Deep Roads in less than a fortnight,"the rogue reminded them.

"Just the two of you," Carver amended. "Marian and I will stay here and take care of Mother."

Marian winced. She had hoped only to bring up Mother as a last resort argument. But she and Carver had set their plan. Getting the Amell name and estate back for their family was one of many things they would take care of while their siblings explored the dwarven ruins.

With luck, Garrett and Bethany would return to the building they now stood in, and call it "home."

**Author's Note** Happy 2018! Just a quick update here. I've been on vacation and have been filling my journal with new chapters during my downtime. More goodies on the way as soon as I can get them typed up. Chapter/lyric credit: "The Great Divide" by Breaking Benjamin