My father is planning something.
I fear for what it may lead to.
Please come to Redcliffe, but be careful.
Situation is dangerous.
Felix
Dangerous indeed. While the trail from Tevinter to Ferelden was no walk through the Chantry gardens, by any means, the danger was truly felt once he arrived in Redcliffe. It was as if he stepped directly onto slow burning coals, and Redcliffe was the pot of simmering water, ready to boil. Mages and their few allies stay huddled in small corners and shadows, as if the sun was the very eye that would determine their fate. Exploring the town, there was no denying the fear in those who felt resigned to staying. Luckily Dorian was able to keep his identity unknown rather easily. Turns out people don't care who you are when they're dealing with a war on their very existence. A hood and some coin was enough for everyone to leave you alone. There were eyes, that much he was sure of. But it wasn't him they were looking for.
His mind had been buzzing since he received the letter weeks ago. Alexius. A name etched into his mind, and one that somehow kept returning to his path. The last time they spoke, he was furiously digging through old Grey Warden letters as Dorian shouted at him. With words falling on deaf ears, he realized there was nothing he could do and walked out for the last time. He hadn't caught sight of either Felix or Alexius yet, but based on the wary chatter throughout the village, the arrival of a Tevinter "magister" was a recent event.
Keeping a careful eye on the town, he kept his distance in a small stone overpass hidden among some large boulders gathered at the edge of the village. Eating small rodents and the occasional fish, he spent every night cursing himself to sleep as he drooled at the memory of the cured meats and cheeses at home. Thankfully, he finally caught sight of Felix's gaunt form standing beside the Chantry one evening. Despite the wear of time and the taint, he actually was still himself.
As quickly and surreptitiously as possible, he slid over rocks and through bushes until he finally found himself at the shadowed side of the Chantry wall. A soft whistle, a familiar call between the two, reached him. A few seconds later, Felix stepped forward and pulled Dorian farther into the shadows until the two were surrounded by moist leaves.
"Felix!" Dorian exclaimed, wiping the droplets from his cheek, "A little warning might have been nice."
"I don't have much time." Felix's eyes locked at the corner of the building where he once stood, "Father doesn't let me spend much time on my own so listen carefully: I don't know how familiar you are with the war here in the south, but we are in the makeshift base of the rebel mages, led by an elven mage named Fiona. A few weeks ago, Father had become very distant and distracted by some project with some other mages I'd never met. Then out of nowhere, he says we have to come to Ferelden for some business, but he never told me exactly what. Next thing I know, the same day we arrive here, he meets with this Fiona woman and he negotiates a deal for the rebel mages to become indentured under him in exchange for protection. I don't know if they will follow through but based on the state of the war, it's looking like they might agree."
Dorian followed closely, his eyes not leaving Felix's face.
"I got the same feeling." Dorian muttered, "Can't imagine what Alexius will do with over a hundred slovenly mages."
"Exactly. But there is something else. My father seems to be expecting something, spending a lot of time on his own when he's not watching me. I don't think he's really here for the mages. And just yesterday, I walked in on my father working on an artifact, I couldn't exactly see what it was. But as I walked in the room, everything felt slowed. I thought it was just me, but I am no stranger to magic. And this was magic. I think… I think he's working on some sort of magic to alter time."
"Alter time…" Dorian repeated softly, finally lowering his gaze in thought. The idea was not as far-fetched as some would deem. Prospects such as time and space were mere tools in the eyes of a skilled mage. But the question was why? He could have done this in Tevinter instead of dragging Felix and his entourage to some rundown refugee village.
"I need to go." Felix breathed, the both of them catching the shadows of some passersby, "I don't know when we will meet again, but just come by the Chantry every day at noon just in case. I'll try to get a better idea of what my father is up to. You know as well as I do, magic involving time is nothing to play at. And if my father is planning something with it…"
"I understand." Dorian nodded, looking at him directly, "Hurry back before they notice. And be careful."
Felix nodded once before carefully slipping out of the bushes and disappearing around the wall. An immeasurable moment passed before Dorian slipped out as well.
The rest of the day was spent in a haze. Dorian brewed on the things Felix suggested, keeping a distracted eye on the village. Time magic. As ridiculous as it sounded, in Tevinter it was just another goal for ambitious pioneers in magic. Thankfully, affecting time through magic was not exactly a goal for most mages in Tevinter. There were far more effective ways to gain and keep power than using time. So what could Alexius want with it? The question never left his mind.
The next few days were slow and rather boring. Felix had been quiet, Dorian wasn't even sure if he had been outside at all. What talk he managed to sneak in on from some of the mages, it was clear Felix's words were true. Some were eager to latch onto any protection after what they had been through to get there. Others were not ready to roll over to some Tevinter noble. But if the situation was as bad as most of the mages made it out to be, then perhaps they would have no choice either way. Besides the talk, not much else was going on. He hadn't even seen Alexius at all yet.
It was almost a week after he'd arrived when, as he stood near the entrance of the Redcliffe gates, the echoing clap of thunder rocked across the skies and shouts of fear erupted. The air shifted noticeably, raising the hairs on Dorian's arms as he carefully approached the source of noise without being noticed. Guards and late arriving refugees sprinted through the gates, nearly crashing into Dorian himself.
"A rift! Right at the gate!"
Shit. Was he willing to risk approaching a Fade rift right now? But the curiosity of the strange shift in the air pushed him on enough to peek around the gate wall. There it was. A glowing tear in the air that sparked with the purity of magic straight from the Fade. Near the bottom of the rift were two shades and one rage demon, shrieking and tearing the earth with hungry fervor to destroy. Then that's when he saw it: small gaps in the space around the rift. One shade crossed through one such gap and its actions slowed to a near crawl until it passed through completely. Time magic… combined with the Fade rift? The echo of more shouts came from down the path and that was enough for him to finally slip away and back to his hideout.
Once again, a million different ideas raced through his mind. It wasn't just time magic, now it was having to do with the rifts from the Breach. While he hadn't truly experienced much from the Breach, there was no doubt that it was a threat. If Alexius truly had a hand at what was happening here, then this was a much bigger problem than just experimenting with aspects of time. He took a deep breath: it was time to make a move.
He let himself recoup in his hideout, stuffing a dumpling in his mouth and refilling his water canteen. He needed to see Felix. As the sun began to set, he managed to slip by the small force of young mages ready to protect against any demons who come through. Most were stowed safely in whatever shelter they had, the rift heightening the already high tensions in the village. He hadn't even reached the stairs that led into the Chantry when the familiar low whistle reached him. It came from the docks, the sun blazing the water with a tangerine glow.
Leaning against the stone barrier beside the docks was Felix, his posture hunched in deep thought. One last glance around, Dorian approached. Felix didn't look up until he was right beside him.
"It's worse than we thought." Felix sighed.
"It usually is." Dorian answered with a grim smile, "Are you free to talk?"
"I paid my guard off, we should be okay for now. Did you see the rift?"
"Yes. Have… you? Would Alexius risk that?"
Felix scoffed, "He is risking so much more than me. I hadn't seen it, but I received word. Including some strange details about it."
"Time alteration, in both directions. It's affecting anything and probably anyone who enters its area of effect. I had seen some theoretical experiments, and fewer in action. But definitely not while being connected with a Fade rift."
"I'm sure you understand it's no coincidence." Felix turned directly to face him, his shadowed face turning him almost skeletal. Dorian was momentarily speechless before swallowing and going on.
"What have you heard?"
"The Venatori."
Dorian blinked, "Venatori?"
"That's what they're calling themselves. And my father is the head of them. I found a letter, sent from Tevinter. They're a group of mages working for something, the letter didn't specify. But they are using the power of the rifts, and thus the Breach, to be manipulated into powering these time gaps. It's all part of some plan."
"Plan for what?" Dorian sighed sharply, "Their convolution is starting to get annoying. What do these Venatori want?"
"I can't say yet, but I know for sure that something is supposed to happen here in Redcliffe and soon." He paused, "What do you know about the Inquisition? The one here in Ferelden?"
The question had taken Dorian off guard, forcing him to think back, "...I had seen some of their flags on my way here."
"Have you heard of this Herald of Andraste?"
Dorian gawked at him before bursting laughing, "Is that a person? What a poor soul to be dubbed the Herald of Andraste."
"Regardless, word about him has spread after he appeared in Orlais. Some consider him more or less the spokesman for the Inquisition's goal to close the Breach."
"Really? I'm surprised the Orlesians didn't laugh him off the courtyard."
"Well, regardless, he was directly named in the letter. Whatever the Venatori want, it has to do with this man. I believe that is who they're waiting for here in Redcliffe, and I have a feeling it's not something good."
Silence fell between the two of them, the lapping of the lake occasionally complementing the soft brush of the trees and croak of frogs. Damn it, Alexius… What are you hatching now? Dorian let out a heavy sigh.
"What's your plan?"
Felix smirked, "You mean you don't have one yet?"
"I have a plan, it just hasn't come to me yet." Dorian retorted, crossing his arms. His stubborn precociousness was worth the laugh that erupted from his friend.
"Then I await your grand scheme before the end of the world." Felix's body began to turn to leave before Dorian rushed to reach his hand onto his shoulder, stilling him.
"...If I find this 'Herald of Andraste', you believe it will stop this - whatever this is?"
Felix fixed a stormy gaze onto him, "If you find the Herald, it will be the beginning of the end for my father. I don't know if that's good or bad, but it will probably be the cause of either many lives saved… or many miserable deaths."