"Herald, it appears you require the services of my mages." The snide voice managed to inject a significant amount of distaste into Solea's unwanted title while still being polite. She would have been impressed if she hadn't been too distracted by the ridiculous outfit the middle-aged man was wearing. She assumed the sharp points of the hooded monstrosity of a robe the man was supposed to be intimidating. To her it seemed as if the seamstress hadn't known what do with the extra fabric and had just thrown it on wherever.
The man's accent, along with the stories she'd heard on her approach to the quaint tavern located in the shadow of Redcliffe castle, told her he hailed from the Tevinter Imperium. His pompous air, arrogant tone, and the potent magic she sensed in his veins, told her that this man was a Magister. Her gut told her that he played some part in this messy situation that she was only beginning to scratch the surface of.
Why couldn't anything in her life ever be easy?
"Magister Gereon Alexius, at your service."
"Solea…S-Sabrae." She returned the introduction using the pseudonym that fit her cover story as a simple Dalish elf from the clan that had spent almost a decade in the lands outside Kirkwall. It was risky to be associated with the city at all, given her fear that someone might recognize her from her resemblance to her mother. However, given how obvious her close relationship with Varric was, they'd decided a story that was closer to the truth would be easier to maintain.
Her unfamiliarity with the name made her stumble over the words and she caught Alexius smirking condescendingly at her.
"I believe you came here to negotiate acquiring the assistance of the mages now in my possession?" He gestured for her to sit at a nearby table. "Shall we begin?"
Solea spent the following conversation with her hands hidden under the table, red fabric gripped tightly in her fingers. However, as much as she despised the Magister's arrogant and patronizing demeanor, she was grateful for it. Most strangers she met, both recently and throughout her life, saw a short, youthful elven girl and immediately assumed she was harmless. Her mother had taught her from a young age to take advantage of this in fights and Varric had taught her how to use it to her advantage in conversation.
The closer she got to adulthood, however, the more she came to resent people's constant dismissal of her. Especially from a man such as this, who spoke of the former Circle mages as if they were simply objects in his possession on which a price was to be haggled not living beings who'd suffered greatly of late. She knew slave trade was rampant in Tevinter, but being confronted blatantly with the utter disregard for human life was horrifying.
Solea was thankful when their negotiations were interrupted by a gaunt-faced young man stumbling into her. Quick reflexes ensured she caught him before he fell, grunting slightly from his weight. They also ensured that she caught the note he slipped subtly into her hand and, with a sleight of hand perfected from a lifetime spent around rogues, ensured it was hidden into her pocket without notice.
Solea was surprised to see genuine concern as Alexius helped steady his son, Felix, and then made promises to continue their negotiations later before abruptly leaving the tavern, followed by Fiona and the guards he'd brought with him. In moments, silence rang out in the flickering lamplight and Solea fingered the note in her pocket thoughtfully.
"What a revolting man." Cassandra commented bluntly.
Solea hummed in agreement before unfolding the paper note which read simply: 'Come to the Chantry. You are in danger'. How mysterious, she thought, while feeling pleased - it was so nice when people made things easy. She loved when she had a clear direction to head in.
Varric's fingers itched with the desire to feel the sturdy wood of Bianca's comforting weight. Everything about this situation was discomforting to the dwarf, whose desire to drag Solea back to her parents rose with every passing day. The kid was going to send him to an early grave at the rate she managed to dive into dangerous situations with an ease he'd only ever seen replicated by her mother.
At least Hawke had been a grown woman when they'd met, and he'd been less worried about her ability to take care of herself. He'd known Solea since she was just a few days old, nothing more than a tuft of ebony hair and flickering blue eyes peeking out from a bundle of blankets. He'd been lost the moment her tiny grasping fingers had latched onto his finger.
Despite a recent growth spurt that left her nearing her father's height, Solea would forever remain the small toddler that had spent evenings in his room at The Hanged Man, listening raptly as he spun wonderous tales of heroic journeys and epic battles. It was this same child that he longed to shelter away from the politics she'd been dragged into, far away from the ulterior motives of people who wanted to use her for their own gain.
Varric remained alert he watched the young Hawke bandy words with the Magister. She appeared confident and calm although he could see her mother's red scarf clenched tightly behind her back. It was a new nervous tic he'd noticed recently, and once again he felt his ire rise. It'd take him less than two seconds to draw Bianca and fire an arrow between Alexius' eye. Then he wouldn't have to listen to another moment of the arrogant man talking down to his godchild.
The dwarf's attention was drawn away from his young charge with the former Grand Enchanter interrupted the conversation to argue against being cut out from the negotiations. The Magister shot the elven mage a disgusted look, clearly displeased about the interruption.
"Fiona, you would not have turned your followers over to my care if you did not trust me with their lives." He motioned casually for two guards to escort the woman out of the great hall but before they made it two steps before Solea's voice rang out.
"I see no harm in allowing her to stay." She shrugged with feigned carelessness. "She at least deserves to hear the negotiations take place."
Alexius conceded this and motioned the guards back. Varric felt his chest warm with pride as he watched the young elf navigate the conversation and hide her disgust for the Magister while they waited for the signal from Leliana's agents.
It wasn't nearly as long as he expected before he saw Solea's ears twitch slightly and he saw her stance shift slightly as her hands readied to draw her weapons. The change was only obvious to someone who knew her well and Varric himself shifted, readying to draw Bianca if necessary. He sensed both the Seeker and Solas tensing slightly beside him.
At the same time, Alexius seemed to tire of the negotiations that Solea had been leading in circles to bide time. In exasperation he exclaimed, "Simply put: the Inquisition needs mages to close the Breach. I have them. So, what shall you offer in exchange?"
Solea gave an exaggerated sigh, glancing back at Varric. "And here I thought stopping the end of the world was reward enough." She turned back to Alexius. "Pray tell, what exactly do I have to offer the Venatori?"
Alexius looked stunned at this and before he could respond Felix stepped forward. "She knows everything, Father."
"Felix, what have you done?"
Solea quickly curbed the Magister's rising anger. "He was only worried about you. He thinks you've become involved in something terrible."
"So speaks the naïve thief." Alexius burst up from the throne he'd been lounging in. Varric caught spittle flying from his mouth as he spoke. "You think you can turn my son against me? You walk into my stronghold with your stolen mark – a gift you don't even understand – and think you're in control? You are nothing but a mistake."
Varric flinched at his choice of words but although he could see Solea's rising ire, the young Hawke's curiosity seemed to win out. He was grateful to see her maintaining control of her temper and her powers despite the situation.
"If you're so omniscient, do enlighten me about the mark on my hand." She flourished her left hand before her, but her right fist remained hidden, clenched as if she could physically restrain her temper.
Varric sent silent prayers for Leliana's agents to hurry up and scanned around the throne room for signs that the trap would soon spring. He did not like the tension he sensed in the girl's body and was worried for the consequences if she did lose control.
Thankfully, Dorian – Felix's friend and their new ally – emerged, sending Alexius reeling back in surprise yet again. The elder Magister soon began ranting about how he had to save his son and rambled on about a lot of things that sounded to Varric like nonsensical cult brainwashing. He tuned out the raving and focused on tracking the movements of the Inquisition agents out of the corner of his eyes.
Alexius demanded his guards attack Solea just as the last of his entourage was taken out by Leliana's spies. Varric breathed a sigh of relief as they were surrounded by their own people and the danger of the situation was ended. There would be no need for Bianca after all.
Alexius gave a cry of rage at his failure but instead of surrendering as Solea demanded, he gestured wildly at her, his hand crackling with green magic. Dorian cried out, sending a counterattack of golden light that struck the older man just as he released his spell and suddenly a crackling green portal exploded into existence, splitting the very air as it emerged.
Varric had a split second to register his surprise before, like a whirlpool, the portal sucked both Solea and Dorian forward. The two disappeared with a brilliant verdant flash. The portal boomed with a burst of green lightening and then it snapped shut, leaving nothing but an empty room before him.
Solea was gone.
