Disclaimer: I own none of the recognizable characters. I simply borrow them for my amusement

Chapter 29

Kadan,

You've been gone for approximately three hours. Hurry back.

Bull

Bull,

What did you threaten Cullen's recruit with? The poor boy looked ready to wet himself as he came tearing up to us. I've been gone for five hours. Five hours. You can't be sending recruits after me every three hours. For one, you'd end up sending all of Cullen's army across Thedas, which seriously impacts his ability to fight this war. And for two, I can't blend if I've got a train of Inquisition soldiers following along behind me. Take a deep breath. I'll be fine.

Take care of Tommy.

CJ

Kadan,

I didn't threaten him. Only encouraged him to move quickly. Cullen should be glad that I'm whipping his recruits into shape. They could use it. Considering it took him two hours to catch up to you, I'd be worried. I'll use one of Leliana's birds this time. And I'll wait a day before sending it. Happy? And the boy's fine. Just missing his mother.

Bull

Bull,

Yes, thank you. Sorry I didn't reply as quickly as you did. We ran in to some trouble at an abandoned farm. We'd thought it looked like a good place to camp for the night. A group of darkspawn thought the same thing. We're fine, though Sera's got a new apprehension about Cole. He grabbed one of her arrows out of flight and stabbed a darkspawn in the eye. It was actually pretty cool. And if you want to help Cullen train his recruits, lead them through routines. Have them spar your chargers. Run drills. Do not send them after me.

CJ

Kadan,

Here's that amulet for the kid. Let me know how it works. Red want's a detailed report.

Bull

Bull,

Well, the results were . . . . . . . unexpected to say the least. Long story short, the amulet didn't work. I know Krem's writing a more detailed report, so I'll leave it to him. Solas is confused as to why it didn't work while Varric is cocky. Like he knew it wouldn't. I wish he'd inform me of his ideas before things start going downhill. I'm writing this quickly as we pack up camp. Cole's got a feeling that we're going to follow. Don't laugh!

CJ

Bull,

Cole's feeling led us to Redcliffe. Where a Templar was hiding. One of the Templars who were at the tower where Cole, the original human mage Cole, died. They left him alone and forgotten in a cell. I would have been pissed. And Cole was. Varric gave him Bianca. I almost smacked the dwarf for that. But Cole made his decision. He didn't forgive the man, but he didn't kill him either. That's a good thing, right? Solas says the amulet won't work on Cole, but that Cole won't be able to be possessed either. That's good (though Solas looked like he was sucking on sour grapes). Here's Leliana's amulet back. Maybe there's another use for it? How's Tommy doing?

CJ

Kadan,

I could have told you that it wouldn't work as well. The kid's been becoming more and more human every day he spends around you. You've got that effect on people. Making them better. Tommy's fine. I've started teaching him some basic fighting skills so he's able to protect himself. There's a punk kitchen aid who was making fun of Tommy's leg. So Tommy kicked him hard enough to fracture bone. You've got a fighter on your hands.

Bull

Bull,

I'm sending this message with Sera and Solas. We'll be moving more quickly now, and I don't know when the next time I'll write is. Damn right Tommy's a fighter. I'm proud of him. And I know you'll teach him well. We're headed south towards The Fallow Mire. Krem says he's got an easier way to get to the Emerald Graves. Hopefully he knows what he's talking about.

Stay safe,

CJ

Kadan,

Krem's got a decent sense of direction. Usually. But south? Why not just head straight west from Redcliffe? On one of the main roads, or main until you hit Orlais, at least. There's been reports of Red Templars starting to pop up all over. It's not looking like a good sign. Be careful out there. And hurry home. Tommy misses his mom.

And I miss her too.

Bull

Bull,

We've crossed into the Emerald Graves. Let me tell you, cross-country trips are not nearly as fun as you've talked about. I'm beginning to think you were just messing with me. And some of the stories Krem tells? How have the Chargers survived long enough to join the Inquisition? Baiting giants? Flooding camps and just swimming away from the fight? Though I am interested in hearing more about those magic trees. You'll have to tell me that story when I get back. I wonder if Talon knows more about them? We'll be meeting with some of the locals in the morning to see if they've heard of a Qunari wandering about. How are things on your end going?

CJ

Kadan,

Oh, the stories I could tell. Don't believe what Krem says. He likes to cast me in a bad light. And the trips are all about who you've got with you. I guarantee you'd feel differently if I were there with you. A month you've been gone now. That's too long, Kadan. Much too long. Things are going well here, or as well as can be expected when we're getting ready to fight ancient evil.

Keep your wits about you,

Bull

Bull,

We've found something that Cullen definitely will be interested. Red lyrium smugglers. The first group we stumbled on were just a couple of lackys. Cole and Varric had taken care of them before they even realized what had happened. We destroyed their hoard lyrium, but they had a letter and map marking other spots. The letter also mentioned a qunari with a scar across his throat. How much do you want to bet it's the one I'm looking for? I'm getting closer to finding Blatt. I can feel it. I'll pass on more information about the smugglers as I gather it.

CJ

Kadan,

You were right. Cullen is definitely interested in the smugglers. And one particular name included in the letter. Samson. Cullen knows him from his Templar days. Nasty piece of work, if you ask me (he didn't, but oh well). And apparently, Samson's got himself a set of armor made out of red lyrium. Can you find where the bastards are getting their supply? And if you are getting close to your prey, be careful. Revenge can really mess a person up. I don't want that for you, Kadan.

Bull

Bull,

Dragons. Sodding dragons! For a creature that's supposed to be almost extinct, how the hell are there so many around?! The last smuggler hide out was just over a hill from a sodding dragon den! Seriously, am I like dragon bait or something?! Varric wanted to fight it, the crazy dwarf! Insane dwarf! Addled dwarf! He was very quickly overruled by Krem and I, who have actually fought a dragon before. No, we destroyed the red lyrium and then got the hell out of there. This is the third dragon I've seen in the past year. That doesn't sound like an extinct creature to me! The smugglers were getting their supply from a mine in Emprise du Lion. We'll be heading there in the morning. Blatt is definitely with them. I got that much from one of the smugglers before he met a rather abrupt end.

I've seen enough dragons to last me a life time!

CJ

Kadan,

By the time this letter reaches you, you'll probably already be there, but going to that mine is a very bad idea. Very bad. Red lyrium is nasty stuff, and if it is really their supply, no doubt Corypheus will have some pretty powerful people protecting it. Your group alone isn't strong enough to take them all on. Please, wait for reinforcements. Cullen's getting some troops together and they'll be marching out in the morning. If this letter reaches you in time, just wait. Be patient. As for dragons, you have a tendency to attract dangerous attention, I'll agree with you there. Just look at who you fell in love with.

Please, wait

Bull