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Cumberland
Cumberland was easily the most vibrant city I had ever visited. Though there was nothing restrained about the decoration and architecture of Val Royeaux, nor even anything I would call especially elegant, it was harmonious - matching gilded lions on every available surface saw to that. And its citizens, ever-cognizant of their own cultural superiority, were scrupulously courteous.
Cumberland didn't care for superiority, elegance, harmony, or scruples. It was a wild - admittedly rather gloriously wild - mix of many cultures, all spilling over in an ornate waterfall of colors and styles. We were met at the gates by the Duke of Cumberland himself, along with a number of his courtiers holding lesser titles, and conducted through the city along a pre-planned route which allowed the Duke to point out historic and particularly beautiful portions of the city, as well as giving its population the chance to gawk.
Duke Sandral rode beside me, and we engaged in the careful conversational dance always played by two people with a great deal of power upon first meeting, trying to ascertain each other's loyalties and motivations. I was pleased when he mentioned the poisoned wells. "I had hoped the College of Enchanters might help, but so far nothing seems to have been accomplished - either in discovering what the poison is, or if the rest of the city yet remains at risk."
There were so many questions implied in the comment - it was everything from an attempt to assess my local knowledge to a bid to tease out my loyalties, especially with regard to mages. "The poisoned wells aren't the reason for my visit," I told the Duke carefully, "but Fiona's communications did mention it, and I have brought with me specialists who may be able to aid her investigation into the source." My reply demonstrated I was indeed informed regarding recent events in the area, served as a mild defense of Fiona and the College, and also confirmed the Inquisition's dedication to helping with matters that seemed relatively small - when we could.
Genuine relief showed on Duke Sandral's face. "It is good to know measures are being taken, and the problem has not been overlooked." The Duke seemed to understand how vital a consistent and safe water supply was, which likely should not have raised him in my estimation - but I had been dealing with aristocrats for several years now, and not all deigned the understand the importance of basic necessities like clean drinking water. At least, not all Orlesian aristocrats did - Fereldans were stubborn to the point of pig-headedness on a shockingly regular basis, but they were also legitimately devoted to practicality. "Ah - on your left," the Duke said, ending the conversation by drawing my attention to a courtyard with a beautifully-carved marble sculpture. "This is Nephram Pentaghast, captured in the act of asphyxiating the last of a dragon's offspring bare-handed, after his axe stuck in the ribs of its sibling."
Well - I supposed that was a feat worth immortalizing.
The new College of Enchanters was in many respects similar to the old College of Magi, right down to the palace that housed it. I had seen paintings, but never visited myself, until now. Pictures didn't do it justice. The complex was awe-inspiring in the grandness and opulence of its design, rivaling even the Grand Cathedral and the Winter Palace. The Sun Dome alone was worth the trip to see, and I found myself hoping there would be time for at least an abbreviated tour of the interior and grounds.
I wondered how put out Vivienne was that she hadn't been able to claim the location for her Circle. The only thing she liked better than a good show of wealth was a good show of power, and she had drilled into me just how closely the two could be related.
Of course, diplomacy meant not gawking like a Dalish elf fresh from the aravel, which should have been easier than it was considering all the wonders I had already seen. I managed it, mostly, and my wonder upon first seeing the Sun Dome didn't seem to do me any harm in Duke Sandral's eyes. He was clearly proud of his city and its beauties, and rightly so. Even granting I had only been shown the best parts of it, it was a marvel of a city.
Fiona knew how to plan a reception, or at least how to delegate it to the proper people - the College hosted us all in the red auditorium, an enormous space topped with a tall mahogany dome. Rather than mundane decor, the auditorium was lit with streamers of magic, knotting and unknotting themselves in a dance of complex, ever-changing patterns that chimed in soft, soothing chords. It wasn't quite music, but it wasn't quite not music, and it made a pleasant counterpoint to the harsher sound of a hundred conversations being held simultaneously. The food and drink could only be described as lavish, featuring preparations of various delicacies from ports all along the Waking Sea, including a few Dalish dishes - which, in their relative simplicity, admittedly looked out of place. Still, it was a generous nod toward my background, and I enjoyed once again tasting dil'dalavast - a little package of spiced venison wrapped with vegetables in a feladara leaf and then fermented - which had been one of my favorite foods before I left my Clan.
As it turned out, it was still one of my favorite foods.
I had to be polite through many boring conversations, of course, but apparently I was becoming accustomed to it, and it didn't chafe. I was just glad that the food was good and the decor worth looking at - many parties I had been to couldn't say the same. I tried to gather up all the details so I could recount them to Josephine the next time I wrote.
At some point, Harding disappeared from circulation, and I knew she had left to begin her investigations.
After the reception ended, I was shown to a lovely suite of rooms on the top floor of the building, which, I learned shortly, was right next to Fiona's suite. I changed into less formal clothing, and a servant arrived to offer an invitation from the Grand Enchanter, which I immediately took up.
"Well," Fiona greeted me as I was shown into her parlor, "it is good to see you, Your Worship, rather than merely communicating via terse message."
"Terse message in cipher," I agreed. "You look very well."
"Far better than I did in Redcliffe, you mean, and you would be quite correct," she replied. "Please, sit down and have some tea. It is a blend I am particularly fond of - difficult to come by, and so I only allow myself to drink it on special occasions."
"I'm honored," I told her with a smile, taking a plush chair. "Might we dispense with titles, though? The reception was enough Your Worships for the next month."
"Of course. Silea." She busied herself measuring and pouring cups for us.
"Fiona," I replied. "So, what orders - sorry, very reasonable requests - has Leliana given you?"
The Grand Enchanter laughed. "Only that I help you find the lyrium you seek, and offer any other aid you - or your Scout Harding - request. Within reasonable limits, of course. Do you take cream? Sugar?"
"I will try it without, and then decide if I want either," I answered.
"Wise," she commended me, handing me my cup with a smile. Then she sobered. "I am naturally as concerned about the lyrium as anyone, and I do worry about the poisonings…"
"Harding and I were thinking the same thing," I told her, taking a sip of the tea, "though I intend to leave that investigation to her. I am looking for a monster of a spider that may or may not be linked to Qunari sightings in the nearby countryside." If I decided to have a second cup I might add some cream - but perhaps not. The slightly bitter tang began to grow on me after a second sip.
"Ah, yes - our apprentices tell tales of the beast," Fiona said, another smile flitting across her face before she sobered again. "It has not killed so very many, though it is strange that it has yet to be caught. The Duke put a bounty on it several weeks ago - that usually clears such dangers quickly. This is the first I have heard of Qunari, though."
"Well, I don't have many details and my sources aren't terribly reliable." In point of fact, they were a demon that wanted to possess me and word-of-mouth from a former Ben-Hassrath agent, emphasis on former. "For the most part I intend to seek the spider, and keep my eyes open for a Qunari connection." Not entirely true - I would certainly ask about the Qunari in a more roundabout fashion as I asked after the spider, but near enough the truth.
"What in Thedas would Qunari be doing here?" the Grand Enchanter wondered aloud.
"Chasing the spider, perhaps?" I replied. "My information implied as much, but, as I said - unreliable."
"Well, I wish you - and Scout Harding - the best of luck on all fronts. If you need mages to assist, I can certainly assign two or three as guides and bodyguards," she offered.
"Thank you, that would be helpful," I agreed. "Now, I assume you have a synopsis of the political situation with Duke Sandral?"
"I do," she replied with a brief smile. "And as he will certainly invite you to dine with him tomorrow or the next day, I had best give you an overview. How much do you know about Nevarran politics, my dear Inquisitor?"
The answer was: not nearly as much as I knew about Orlesian, Fereldan, and Tevinter politics, so I sipped my tea - an unusual but pleasant blend - and listened very carefully.
My conference with Fiona lasted long enough for a second round of hot water to become necessary, and I wasn't certain I had all the factions vying to succeed King Markus straight in my mind by the time I left. My takeaway, however, was this: whatever faction Duke Sandral supported in reality, he had played his hand well enough to gain some favor with each of the most viable contenders for the throne, and could easily come out in support of any of them at an appropriate moment. In that, he was like many of the more conservative nobles of Nevarra - at least those not eyeing the throne for themselves.
By the time I returned to my own suite, it was time to begin the laborious process of dressing for dinner. I was Inquisitor, after all, and I was there to be splendid. My gowns had been freshened and steamed to remove any hint of a wrinkle, and hung up for me to choose from. For tonight I chose the one with the most goldwork, and set aside one with less costly decoration but better tailoring and design for dinner at the Duke's residence. Nobles wouldn't be dazzled by goldwork, but likely would appreciate the heights of Orlesian design, while my appearance tonight would serve to remind everyone of the power and splendor of the Chantry.
Dinner began with canapés in a hall adjacent to the one where we would dine, allowing the mages to circulate - mostly past me, since I had had my attention largely stolen by the nobles present at the reception. The conversations I had here were far more interesting than the remarks I had smiled my way through there. I remembered some of the mages from Skyhold, and it always impressed when someone in power, like me, remembered names and fields of study from years before - a trick Josephine had taught me that came particularly easily as I was already trained in noticing and remembering details. I wouldn't have been much of a hunter if I hadn't already possessed a talent for it. I asked after apprentices and research projects, and the mere fact that I could, flattered those I spoke to. It was pleasant to remember those days, though it made me miss my former home.
The conversations were also interesting because, as little understanding as I had of magic on the level of personal practice, its theory had more or less taken over my existence. Lectures from well-read scholars were quite welcome, even when the subjects were particularly esoteric.
For dinner, Fiona had seated me between two senior enchanters with competing theories on the structure of the Veil, and so my education continued through the meal. I raised my wine glass to her in a show of appreciation when she glanced my direction, and was rewarded with a conspiratorial smile.
After dinner the real work finally began. I took the time to change - again - into a more practical costume: one that allowed for free movement while also providing some value as armor. Harding was already waiting in my sitting room when I emerged, and Fiona arrived with three other mages in tow moments later.
Harding apparently knew one of the additional mages: "Amalia - last I heard you were in Starkhaven. Glad to find you here."
"The Grand Enchanter asked that I come when the Divine wrote to her of the lyrium problem," the mage replied with a nod.
"Please, everyone sit down," I invited them, taking a seat myself. "I remember seeing you in the Emprise du Lion, helping with the clean-up, Amalia, but I don't believe we ever met. Were you at Skyhold?"
"No," she answered, as the mages chose places to sit. "I was in Emprise with Roland, one of the Tranquil - we have worked together for many years - and prior to that we were conducting business in Orzammar. I did very little to actually aid the destruction of the lyrium, as it is not safe for mages to work with it. I spent far more time aiding Scout Harding in securing the areas surrounding Suledin Keep."
"I assume that means Roland is here, too, then?" Harding asked.
"He is," Amalia confirmed, "and ready to examine any sites we find - once they are secured, naturally."
"Naturally," Fiona agreed before Harding could. "He will not be placed in any danger. Let me introduce my other selections for your teams," she continued, gesturing to the other two mages. Like Amalia, they were both nearing middle age and presented a stoic aspect that seemed to imply confidence in their own abilities. I trusted the confidence was well-earned - Fiona would hardly be assigning them to us if they weren't competent. "These are Endris and Gils," she said, nodding to each as she said his name, "both natives of Cumberland, to help guide you through the city and surrounding areas."
"I'm pleased to meet you both," I told them. "And you, Amalia."
"I...don't suppose they have knowledge of the cave network under the 'surrounding areas'?" Harding asked. "Because...I've got one hell of a report for you, Inquisitor."
"That there are caves is known," Endris said, "but I do not believe anyone has mapped them. They contain no useful resources, and often many rather deadly smugglers."
Harding and I exchanged a glance - that would have been nice to know earlier, perhaps before Bonny Sims and the Irregulars were sent hunting. But, then again, we couldn't know exactly how they had been briefed. Perhaps they had known, and it had only been overlooked when Harding received her instructions.
"If these are the native guides, I suppose that puts Amalia with Harding, which is probably wise," I reflected. "Gils, Endris - do either of you have a preference for which team you belong to? My job is monster-hunting, but there is a good chance I will still be dealing with the lyrium problem, at least tangentially."
"A better chance than you know," Harding muttered.
"It matters little to me," Endris said.
"Or me," Gils agreed.
"I had chosen Gils for you, Inquisitor," Fiona put in. "He is more skilled in defensive magics, and your survival is, of course, vital."
I wrinkled my nose, but Harding was already giving me a look, so I acquiesced with what grace I could manage. "I suppose that makes sense. Shall we hear what Scout Harding has to say?" I turned to her with a teasing smile. "Before you burst with it."
"Thank you," Harding sighed, not even pretending to take offense. "I know what the difference is between the two wells that were poisoned, and all the others we examined in Cumberland. The cave network that runs through this area opens into them, and not the others."
"Easy access," I concluded.
"Yeah, and it's definitely red lyrium," Harding went on. "We found small crystals already growing in the caves. I had samples taken from all the other wells around town. I'll have them sent to Roland as soon as we're done here, so he can check, but based on the way red lyrium spreads…"
"It will get into the soil and water, and we will have, at best, periodic outbreaks of poisoning," Fiona finished for her.
"Sorry," the scout replied with a sympathetic cringe.
"I know this is long-term," I told the Grand Enchanter, "but the best solution may be to clean up the Cumber, so that the city's main water supply can come from there. Since it flows down from other places, it won't be as contaminated - perhaps won't be contaminated at all."
"I don't know a great deal about farming, or how the run-off can be contained," Fiona admitted.
"I do," Harding replied. "And you won't be able to do it with traditional tilling methods. Switching to a permaculture model is probably the best idea - orchards and berry farms, that sort of thing - along with maybe some ranching."
"Write that up for me," I told Harding, "or find me another resource I can refer to. Alternatives can only make it easier to convince the Duke. But that's long-term, and there's time - the lyrium probably won't spread quickly through the groundwater, especially if we can clean up the poisoned areas to some degree. Now, how does this relate to the spider I'm looking for?" I asked the question even though I felt I probably already knew the answer.
"We didn't find a nest - like Endris implied, the cave system is pretty extensive - but we did find spider tracks. A lot of them, especially right around areas that opened up onto the water the wells drew from. I don't know whether the spider brought the lyrium or the lyrium corrupted the spider, but...if it's been exposed to that water, it's definitely been corrupted."
I sighed. "You always bring me the nicest news," I told her dryly.
"I know. After I retire I should probably start delivering love letters, maybe in song, to make up for my entire career so far," she replied in the same tone.
"You sing?" I asked, letting myself get distracted.
"I was one of the founding members of the Sing-Quisition," she reminded me indignantly, making me laugh. "Anyway - that's not the end of the good news. We found what might be old Qunari tracks in a few muddy places in the caves, but it was hard to get a good read on them because pretty much all of them were covered with newer spider tracks."
"Better and better," I agreed. "No sign of Bonny Sims or the Irregulars?"
"Not unless I made a mistake interpreting some of the boot prints - or they put on Qunari boots," she answered.
"Well, for the moment we may as well continue to assume they're more related to your problem than mine," I told her.
"Probably for the best," she said. "I'm not envying you your problem at the moment."
"I suppose I had better go scout out those caves and see if I can't find the nest," I said. "Are you coming, Harding, or will you send one of your people?"
"Two of my people, actually," she replied. "I don't have anyone with heavy armor, so...I'll give you the best I've got, but try not to get killed. I'm going to deliver the water samples to Roland personally - maybe watch over his shoulder while he tests them."
I waved away her concern for me. "Leave a note with whatever servant is assigned to me when you know," I requested. "Gils, are you ready to go?" He looked ready, already clad in a heavy cloak and carrying his staff, but some mages liked to carry more gear than others.
"Yes, Your Worship," he replied.
"Inquisitor will do - or Silea, if you're feeling particularly bold," I told him. "If you Your Worship me too often, I'll be tempted to trade you for Endris, and then all the Grand Enchanter's plans will be foiled," I added with a smile and a shrug.
"I would not be any better, Your Worship," Endris informed me with a carefully bland expression, but what might have been laughter lurking in his eyes. "I'm far more intimidated by authority than Gils."
"Don't even think about stealing Amalia," Harding put in. "She's mine."
Fiona gave me a complacent smile and I threw up my hand in resignation. "Show me to a back door, and have your scouts meet us outside, Harding."
"Yes, Your Worship," the scout teased, and I made a mental note to buy her several yards of lace at Satinalia as revenge.