Cassandra let the horse plod along before the other seekers as they neared the path taking them to Haven. It brought back memories, as always, of that night long ago, of leading the sobbing, frightened citizens of Haven down the path of pilgrimage. The snow had begun early that day. It had been cold but bright as they tried to keep the children quiet in the night. All the while, she'd felt the burden of knowing she'd likely left a friend to die.

The torment of it. She'd had orders. El had been very clear. The moment it went bad, the second they suspected there was no escape for her, they were to go and not look back. Their orders were to safeguard her people. Even back then, the Inquisitor saw them all as her people. It had been the moment she'd decided to talk to the others about their leadership, but they'd not been able to do that until after that terrible night.

The sounds of nature were returning to Thedas where the presence of demons and rifts had forced the animals to run or killed them altogether. At one point in the worst of it, one could ride for miles near a Fade rift and never hear birdsong. She'd missed the birds most of all, but here they were, singing again. It gave her hope as they approached the small village that was being rebuilt one board at a time. The Chantry stood proud and sturdy in the early light. Gray, stacked stone gave it a modest appearance just as it always did. Cassandra drank that in a moment.

Once, the Chantry had been her shelter. It had been where she went in storms, safe harbor. She didn't sing the chant much these days. It wasn't a lack of faith in the Maker. Perhaps, she wasn't sure she deserved the Maker's attention these days. Had she done everything she should?

Marcus suddenly overtook her on his own horse. "We're beyond the Chantry, Lady Seeker."

She cut a sharp glance his way. "I wish you wouldn't insist on calling me that, Seeker Landover. At least until we have a formal means to decide on leadership."

He placed a hand on the saddle and shifted his position, adjusting the reins in front of him. Clearing his throat, he said, "It's just there. Follow the path around the stables."

She did, and the Seekers' new home came into sight as morning dew still glittered on the thatch. It was much like the Chantry but low slung, rustic, and spacious. There was only one floor which she approved. The practical, unassuming facade was just as she would have wished. For she wished the Seekers of Truth this time to be humble servants, not simply police or spies as in years past. They would oversee Templars if Templars there were to be, but Cassandra felt the need to make the Seekers more.

She dismounted and stared up at the eaves where someone had etched a phrase into the wood. "To seek truth is half the war." Leave it to Eliana to know everyone around her better than they knew themselves. It was part of her genius at command, and it was a quality that Cassandra lacked.

"Go inside, milady. I'll see to the mounts."

She thanked him and went inside.

Much like Haven's Chantry, this building opened up onto a large hall edged with candles and archways along the walls. The primary difference was that this hall was set up as a place of learning. Cassandra smiled. Chairs and desks and books lined every available space, but none of the furniture was heavy so it could be moved for gatherings. Practical, she thought. Tables for dining lined the walls behind the archways. She could see a fire and a door beyond that with a servant carrying cabbages to what she presumed was a kitchen. She drank in the hall.

"It's quite nice, isn't it?"

The voice belonged to Dorian Pavus, the Inquisiton's … Cassandra didn't actually know what Dorian was these days, only that he hadn't returned to Tevinter after escaping the occupation. It wasn't in his character to just give up on his beloved homeland, but something had happened she believed.

Cassandra ran a hand along a bookshelf. How much had the Inquisition spent on the Seekers?

"It's beautiful." Her voice rang with reverence.

Dorian appeared surprised. "That's not a description that I'd expect from you, Seeker. I've been here for a few days. It is excessively comfortable considering its purpose is train warriors."

"Its purpose is to protect Thedas," she insisted. "And mages. We must not let things come to rebellion this time. We must provide justice for everyone, including mages."

Dorian inclined his head acknowledging her point. "I believe if anyone can pull it off, it would be you, Seeker. Shall I give you the tour?"

She studied him closely. "Did you have something to do with this, Dorian?"

"El conceived the notion and built the place. I was sent to get it ready for you. You know supervision is one of my best qualities."

She snorted. "That's not a quality. It's a skill. It appears you are very skilled. Thank you."

"Wonder of wonders. I'm pleased to have been of service to Thedas."

Cassandra shook her head. "Now you are mocking me."

"Not much," he said with feeling. "In truth, I've needed the break from Skyhold. It's become somewhat domestic of late." The words were light-hearted and jovial, but his expression when she turned to see was sad.

"Dorian, what happened to you?"

He shook his hand at her and returned to the typical mask he wore, a careless showman waiting for applause. "Nothing of great importance at all. We should probably get your tour finished before dinner. Anna, your cook, is a stickler for punctuality. Maker protect any of your charges who do not appear precisely at dinnertime. She's horribly fierce."

"Sounds perfect," Cassandra returned. "All right, show me." She gestured for him to go before her.

He took her to a large door at the back of the hall. "This is your war room." Inside, he was indeed correct. It was basically identical to the one they'd had in the Chantry during the early days of the Inquisition. He turned down the hallway to the right then left. This led to sleeping quarters. Two large dormitory rooms with stacked cots for the single soldiers and the trainees. At the end of that hall were several well-appointed chambers with the basics and larger beds for officers, she assumed. Command had to have some privileges, she thought.

Dorian took her to the very last door in the hallway and opened it. "I've given our Lady Seeker the largest room with the best fire." He waved a hand in a showy way at the fire burning away making her smile.

"Thank you, Dorian. I had no idea you cared so much."

His guffaw filled the room. "Lady Cassandra, I begin to wonder if I've truly known you at all." He sobered after a moment. "In all seriousness, we've been through quite a lot, milady. I wish the best for all of us."

"That seems a very somber thing for you to say. Dorian, are you leaving us?"

He threw a sheepish glance toward Cassandra. "Perhaps. It's… I've become restless of late."

"Does Falon know?"

"It's Falon. Of course, she suspects, but I've not had the heart to tell either of them what I'm thinking."

His first and second favorites elves. No, he'd not be able to tell them, and Cassandra glared at him sharply, suddenly seeing his game. "You want me to tell them? Oh, no. I'll not be any part of that. Falon will cry!" That last was said in absolute horror.

His dark eyes plead the case even as he opened his mouth. "She will, Cassandra, and I'll never be able to go if she does. How easily I've fallen for a woman's wiles."

"Watch that. Cullen might have something to say about that sentiment. Why must I tell them, Dorian? You're a grown man." At his skeptical grin, she finished, "Well, mostly."

Suddenly more serious than she'd ever seen him, Dorian said, "I must go. I… there's something here that makes this difficult."

She felt compassion immediately. Leliana had suggested this once, and Cassandra had laughed at the idea. "Bull?"

Shock registered on Dorian's face. "Maker, I really am transparent, aren't I? All the more reason. I must go."

"Where will you go, Dorian? Tevinter? There's a good likelihood you wouldn't survive that."

"I can't fight the Qunari now." Sudden realization broke over her. Of course. This was it. He had been so conflicted of late.

"I see," she said allowing him to see her compassion before letting her practical side take over. "When would you be leaving?"

Again, he dropped his gaze to the floor. "I thought I might leave from here. Tomorrow."

"Maker's breath," she said tiredly. "All right. I'll break the news to them, but you will owe me for this."

Dorian smiled. "I'll bring you something splashy from Orlais, hmm?" His humor never seemed to reach his eyes anymore, she noticed. "You'll tell them I love them both. Make it just romantic enough to bother Curly for me?"

She shook her head wryly. "One of these days, Cullen is going to snap and break an eluvian over your head."

He clapped his hands together. "Well, the tour is over anyway. I'll let you settle in. Supper is at six sharp. Be there or Anna will hunt you down."

She smiled. "It will be too quiet around here without you."

He laughed. "Oh, I'm sure you'll find something to try and kill you to fill the time as it goes idly by."

That was sadly a possibility so she didn't argue, only watched him close her door and leave. Cassandra stared sadly at the fire. It felt more and more like something was coming to an end. She should be grateful that it wasn't the world, she supposed, but the Inquisition had been so much a part of her life. Probably the most important part.

The next day she'd seen Dorian off with the dawn, and called all eleven of her fellow seekers to the hall after breakfast. They all milled around the tables and chairs, uncertain of whether they should stand or sit. She indicated that they all should sit.

"Gentlemen, today we begin training in earnest. Renoy and Clancy will be accompanying me back to Skyhold where we are being issued a fresh stock of weapons." She looked at the two men. One much older than the other, a man she'd trained with once. "You'll need a cart and horse from the stables. It's a big delivery, I believe."

"There are things to be done. We must compose our charter. We must choose new leadership, and we must resolve ourselves to our purpose. But all of that is for another day. Today, you will all settle into barracks and arrange the training equipment to Seeker Landover's satisfaction, and you will keep up with your daily combat drills. I'll return on the morrow, and we can begin the hard work of rebuilding our order."

There was a soft murmur in the room. The youngest of the recruits awkwardly raised a hand then said, "Lady Seeker, why do we need new leadership?"

Landover, who'd been sitting on the corner of a desk in his trademark silent brood, gave a soft huff and then studied his boots as if they were the most important equipment he would ever be issued. Cassandra glared his way.

"The Seekers of Truth need to be more than they've been. We must do better. That means we need a process, a legitimate process," she said pointedly, "In order to ensure our leaders have our authority when they give orders. It's not enough to just be in charge. We must be of one mind."

"Milady," the boy said looking around the group with a troubled expression. "I believe we are of one mind. We follow you, Seeker Pentaghast."

Landover stood casually. "All in favor?"

Every man in the room gave an assent. Well, shit, Cassandra thought. So much for a process.