Chapter 51: Brother and Sister
"Maker…watch over us all!"
It was with those words that Mother Giselle ended her latest sermon. As one the Inquisition officers and noble guests rose from where they had been kneeling, at their head stood the Inquisitor who had introduced and then stepped back as the priest began the Morning Prayer.
Nicholai was far from a pious man. He had been raised a good Andrastian, but his years in the Circle had lessened his opinion of the faith as a whole. Even in a liberal Circle like the one in Ostwick, there had been both priests and Templars who believed that it was their duty to remind the mages that they were somehow more sinful because they had been born with magic, and those priests and Templars always seemed to gravitate towards positions of power and prestige among those that watched over the circle, despite what the mages in their charge said….
That fact had left Nicholai with a sense of bitterness, and never failed to raise his sense of disdain.
No man can help the way he is born, he had thought many times. Why should I be punished because in the distant past, my noble ancestors had thought it politically wise to interbreed with the Tevinter conquerors that swept through the Free Marches? Any magic within the noble bloodlines of Thedas originated from that very source, despite the fact that most of the highborn tried to forget it.
It would have been very easy to turn away from any religious ceremony held at Skyhold, he could have said the business of the war kept him too busy to attend, yet that would never do, as Natalya had reminded him.
He was not just the Inquisitor but the Herald of Andraste; the faithful expected him to be there. It was part of his duty to the Inquisition.
In this, he realized, his sister's reasoning was without flaw. It was his duty as leader of the Inquisition, which was after all a holy order, to do what was expected of him to please the faithful. They expected him to play the symbol, so that is what he did.
He rose from his place of honor. Natalya, who had been at his right hand, rose as well. He offered his sister his arm, and she took it with a nod of gratitude. Nat was dressed more conservatively this morning, a gown of dark red velvet with silver embroidery. Around her neck she wore a simple metal chain which bore the symbol of the Inquisition.
Nicholai had seen such chains before. A merchant, who had made his way here from Redcliffe, had been hawking the things to any and all members of the faithful who wished to show their devotion to the cause. The Inquisition had allowed such sales, provided that the merchant donate a small share of their profits to the holy order's coffers, an idea of Josephine's that he completely supported.
Anyone who wished to profit from the Inquisition's name needed to put at least some of their profits back into the order. It was only fair after all.
Natalya glanced up at him, a coy smile on her face, as she guided him over to where Mother Giselle was speaking with several initiates.
"You should thank the Mother for her kind words," she reminded him, "And welcome those sisters that have come to our side."
Nicholai nodded.
"Always the politician, eh, sister?" he said.
"It is simply the game, brother," she said with a slight shrug, "You will need to sharpen your skills as we move into Orlais."
She smiled and nodded to a passing man clad in the mask and clothing of a highborn of the empire.
"Those who serve on the Empress' court have much sharper teeth."
Nicholai snorted.
He had spent quite a bit of time with Madame Defer in the field.
He knew just how sharp the teeth those of the imperial court could be.
After addressing the mother and the rest of her priests, he led his sister back towards the great hall. He let his eyes drift over his fellows, trying to gage what may have been happening here in Skyhold while he had been off to war. Natalya had filled him in on a few details, but he liked to see such things for himself.
He noticed Varric interacting with several of the dwarven traders and masons that had been brought in to help with the restoration of Skyhold, he would ask his ally about that later, see if they had heard anything he might need to know. Several of the sisters looked at Dorian suspiciously, not surprising given the chantry's stance on Tevinter's chosen religion. The Andrastian faith of the south rejected everything about the Black Divine of the Tevinter chantry. Some of them likely suspected that Dorian was here to spread heresy.
He watched as Cousin Byron led Cousin Rhaena back to the main hall, though her gaze remained on Commander Cullen as he turned to speak with one of his officers, to call the look on the girl's face doe-eyed would be a grand understatement. Evelyn saw it too by her reaction. The older girl's eyes narrowed as she tried to catch up with her younger siblings.
Nicholai smiled in amusement.
He suspected that Evelyn would have much to say to her younger sister. The older girl had had a bad experience with Templar, or so he had heard.
She likely would not wish her little sister to follow down a similar path.
He leaned in closer to Nat, what he had to say was for her ears only. She tilted her head slightly so that she could hear him better.
"Is something going on between Commander Cullen and Cousin Rhaena?"
"Not that I am aware of," she replied, "Though it may be in our best interest that something does develop between them."
They paused to let a pair of nobles pass by, the both of them nodding and offering greetings. Nat did not continue speaking until the two were out of earshot.
"With Seeker Cassandra away, you could use another voice that is completely on your side on the war councils. Rhaena could deliver that, with a few kind words in the commander's ear."
Nicholai sighed.
As always, Nat was thinking about political advantages, and how to exploit them. The Inquisitor could play that game too, but was not overly fond of it. He preferred to speak plainly when he desired something, and trust in fact to deliver him what he wanted. Of course that tactic did not always bear fruit, his sister's way worked better sometimes.
The thought made Nicholai shake his head.
It was a shame that his mother had never taken with Nat. Lady Tatiana was an equality skilled political player, it had been many a time that his mother had helped smooth over some issue or that for House Trevelyan.
In many ways, Nat was the child that his mother had always wanted. She had always wanted a little girl, but had been given two boys instead. Nat could have been that child, yet the circumstances of her birth made his mother reject her from the very start.
It was a shame.
Nat had grown into the woman that his mother would have liked, or at the very least respected.
"Cousin Rhaena has many admirers," Nat said continuing their conversation, "We should try to encourage her to give ear only to the ones that advance the cause. Byron will likely help us with that. Evelyn might need a little convincing though, mage to mage."
She gave her brother a warm smile.
"I trust that you can help with that?"
"I will speak with her," he replied, though he doubted it would do any good. He could play the "I'm Inquisitor" card, but did not want it to go that far. He did not want to make this a direct order; he had no desire to alienate his prickly cousin.
She was good in battle. He did not want to lose her support.
They entered the hall that served as the Inquisition seat, the song of hammer, saw, and wench greeted them. The restoration of Skyhold continued, with the outer defenses all but completely restored, now the cosmetic needs of the castle were being tended to. Ambassador Montilyet had stressed during the last council meeting that it would not serve that their base of operations looked overly shabby. The Empire had finally taken note of the Inquisition. What was needed now, perhaps more than anything was a show of strength to the Orlesian nobles. Orlais had to see the benefit of Inquisition help, without it, the empire would likely continue its descent into chaos.
The Inquisitor glanced around the hall; it was here that he would also be expected to deliver judgement upon any captured Inquisition enemies. Nicholai had no desire to become an executioner, which Josephine had understood when they had spoken about it.
She suggested that justice did not have to be as base as a headsman's ax, in fact, if the application of justice was clever, some might come to see execution as a mercy.
He considered her words, though the thought of passing such judgement still disturbed him. He had seen the knight-commanders of the circle dispense enough such justice that he knew he would need to be very careful about it.
Nat seemed to be completely ignorant of his concern. She nodded in satisfaction at all the changes going on around them.
"A hall fit for greatness, brother," she murmured to him.
"Yes it is," he agreed.
Now I just have to live up to such a place, he thought.
He escorted her outside and down the great steps. Warriors drilled in the courtyard, while merchants haggled from hastily constructed stalls. They spotted Varric emerging from the newly opened tavern that had sprung up to meet the needs of the soldiers seeking diversions.
The dwarf smiled as he made his way up to them.
"Master Tethras," Nat said with a respectful nod.
"Varric," Nicholai added.
"Hey Boss," he said jovially, "Songbird."
He turned back to the tavern.
"It isn't the Hanged Man back in Kirkwall," he said with a touch of sadness, "but it will serve for now."
"Agreed," Nicholai said, "This place will serve nicely until the fighting is done."
His expression turned thoughtful.
"Maybe then, we can all return home."
Nat gave him an arched look.
"And where exactly is home for us brother?"
Nicholai's mouth opened and closed just as quickly.
He was about to say Ostwick, but part of him wondered if he would ever be welcome there again. The Circle had been his home, and that was now gone. Whatever came next would be different than what he thought of as home. Nat was in a similar boat, it was not like she could return to their father and pick up her old duties when the fighting was done, too much had happened, too much had changed.
He looked down at her.
"I guess that is something you and I are going to have to find out."
She nodded, accepting what he had said, for now.
Varric followed them as they made their way through the courtyard, acknowledging this person or that. The topic on almost everyone's lips was the Orlesian Empire.
When was the Inquisition going to make its first move?
The Inquisitor did his best to assure those who asked that everything was moving as expected. Both Leliana and Ambassador Montilyet were working their contacts, finding the best way in for the Inquisition. When that door was open they would have a better idea of how to aid the Orlesians against Corypheus' schemes.
Despite her political interests, Nicholai got the feeling that his sister was only half listening, she seemed distracted, and not her usual sharp self. She was clearly much recovered from her kidnapping and imprisonment, but that did not mean that she was fully recovered yet.
He asked her how she was feeling.
"Well enough," she responded, "some strange dreams, nothing you should concern yourself with."
"What kind of dreams?" he asked.
Natalya shrugged.
"It is nothing."
"I would still like to know."
She sighed.
"I get the feeling that someone has been coming to my room at night."
Varric chuckled.
"Already found a bit of companionship here, songbird?"
She gave him an icy look.
"I will have you know that I'm engaged master dwarf. I'm not the type of person to forget such a thing."
"Any idea who might be looking in on you?" her brother asked.
"It is not someone I know," she admitted, "Though I don't think these visits are hostile ones, if anything I've felt a sense of safety when he is around, like I'm being watched over, protected.
"He?" Varric inquired.
She sighed again.
"I remember a young man, common born by his dress, I have never gotten a good look at his face though; he keeps his head down, his features hidden by a wide brimmed hat. He…"
"Cole," Nicholai said flatly.
Varric rolled his eyes.
"Great." He murmured.
Natalya gave them both an arched look.
"You know this person."
"Yeah," Varric said shaking his head, "Though I don't know if person is the right word."
She looked at her brother.
"Care to share with me what this is about.
The Inquisitor sighed; he was not surprised that Nat had not heard about Cole. The spirit boy's presence was slippery with most of the people here in Skyhold.
He told all they knew about Cole and what he was. He was afraid that his sister might be angry when she learn the truth, at him most of all for allowing a fade spirit free run of the castle.
Nat's response was…not what he expected.
"So he is some kind of benevolent fade spirit?"
"Yes," Nicholai said.
"One with the power to make people forget his passing, or that he was even there in the first place?"
"Sounds about right," Varric agreed.
Natalya nodded thoughtfully.
"You were wise to allow such a being to stay brother," she said, "Such a…person could be most valuable to your work."
Nicholai gave her a wry smile.
"I'm not going to task him to be my assassin Nat," he said.
She frowned at him.
"Don't give me that look," he said, "I'm not going to risk having Cole go full demon on us. For the moment all he wants is to aid the sick and the wounded here. I don't want to jeopardize that."
She shook her head.
"It still seems like a waste."
Varric laughed.
"On the upside Songbird, you probably won't even remember we had this conversation, most people forget the kid is even here, even if they have known about him since the beginning."
"You seem to have no problem remembering him?" she reminded them both.
Nicholai nodded.
That was a very good point.
There were people in Skyhold that Cole's abilities did not work on as well as others. Ambassador Montilyet and Cousin Rhaena barely remembered him. Leliana seemed to have no problem knowing about him; neither did any of Nicholai's inner circle.
It was quite curious, no doubt there.
"I will speak with Cole," he promised his sister, "Ask him to leave you alone, maybe then you can get a good night's sleep."
"That is unnecessary brother," she said, "As you say, this Cole means us no harm, and I've certainly felt anything hostile in his…visits."
She shrugged.
"Leave the boy be, now that I know what I'm dealing with, I will be able to act accordingly."
Nicholai frowned.
He did not know what his sister meant by that.
Perhaps he did not wish to know.
"Inquisitor."
Her turned to see Leliana approaching. The spymaster's expression remained as guarded as ever, but in her hand she held a piece of parchment.
"Sister Leliana," he said releasing his sister's arm and turning to meet the former bard, Varric and Natalya took a step back.
"You have something for me?"
The red haired woman nodded.
"It is Cassandra," she said offering him the parchment...
Nicholai felt a brief frisson of concern, as he opened the note, his expression turning serious. Both Nat and Varric looked at him curiously.
"She needs our help," Leliana added.
Nicholai nodded grimly.
"So it seems," he said, heading off to find the stable master.
Leliana was right.
The Seeker needed their help.
He was off to see that she got it.
