Solona was right, and Howe wished she hadn't been.

Yes, the Orlesian wardens particularly could have snuck some younger wardens into Ferelden rather than send a single one near his calling. They chose not to, and delayed sending any help

Yes, the Wardens had heard of the Architect, though he had not found that information with the Wardens. He'd gotten that from a Circle Mage in Val Royeaux who had met the Architect nearly thirty years previously. Her advice had been a very very firm, "Do NOT trust him." And if what she told him were true, then he was an even bigger danger to Thedas than the mother.

Funny thing about that mage—an elf, Fiona… she had been asking after the king's health. Howe thought it might be as simple as wanting to know how the son of a man she had travelled with fared… but she seemed far more invested in it than that, somehow, despite her nonchalance.

Truly, a mystery for another day. For now, he needed to get home to Amaranthine, as quickly as possible.

"Hey, you man-skirt wearing freak," Oghren grumbled, "take yer eyes off the boss's sweet swayin' arse and stay sharp!"

Solona skidded to a halt and turned to glare at Oghren and Anders, and Zev shrugged elaborately as if to say, "Not me!"

"I would GREATLY appreciate it," she said icily, "if you could keep it down to a dull roar. Travelling through the wilds is harrowing enough; having you fighting over who is and is not watching my…. my hindquarters! is not making this easier on any of us."

"I was not staring at your rear," Anders said with as much dignity as he could. Oghren snorted.

"Oghren…"

"Look here…. If I were a delicate little mage flower I would be pissing myself right now. The last time we were here there was a sodding big dragon….."

"…and making a loud commotion is certain to draw its attention if it's still here, is it not?" She glared.

Oghren fell into a sullen silence, and she continued leading them around the edge of a lake until….

"Halt, intruders!"

Solona sighed, rolling her eyes. Why do I get that all the time, she wondered.

Out of some brush, camouflaged so well that until he stepped completely out of the leaves that he was invisible, came a Chasind archer. He glared at their little group as if he wished his looks alone could murder them.

"Hello," Solona said in her warmest, most friendly voice. "I'm Solona. It's a pleasure to meet you."

"Wait!" Another voice in the bushes, and when this Chasind revealed himself he looked somewhat… familiar.

Barkly wagged his tail uncertainly, sniffing at the dark-skinned man, then, deciding, licked his hand.

"Let her pass and be welcome," the second man said to his comrade, then turned to face Solona. "I do not know if you recall me – we… encountered each other in Lothering…."

She was glad Oghren had not been with them yet, or he might have said something insensitive like, "You're the lunatic who was screaming about Solona being tainted!" She instead said gently, "Of course I remember you. You had had a terrible shock just before we met… how have you been?"

"Well enough," he said quietly. "I thought I was seeing things – when I saw the sun reflecting off your fire hair I thought I was going mad, seeing her again…"

"I'm sorry," she said quietly.

"No, no. Not your fault." He grasped her arm in greeting. "Why are you here?"

"We seek a very cold trail," she said without preamble. "A girl, dark haired, grey-eyed. Probably with…"

"A hound, of the same breed as yours. Grey, though, instead of… that color." He nodded. "I remember her. She had come through… before."

Solona nodded. "You wouldn't happen to recall which way she headed?"

"East," he said without hesitation. "One of the junior tribesman thought she would make a fine wife – he tried to capture her. Ended up with a broken arm instead, and said she'd headed east and told him to have the sense not to follow.

Solona groaned. East meant the Brecilian Forest. She was glad they hadn't decided to bring horses – they'd be useless on this journey.

"East it is," she sighed.