Shatter Me
Chapter 4
When morning came, the snow crunched with the night's cold and frost. Andreas was happy when by midday, the snow was mostly gone, though the cold remained. Thanks to Inquisition soldiers that had passed through, they ran into no trouble, but found plenty of signs of fighting and bodies that were left on the sides of the road.
"I've heard the fighting has been pretty bad on the roads- the King's Road especially." Varric murmured as they passed what seemed like the umpteenth large pile of bodies.
"Leliana's reports say the same." Cassandra answered, kicking a forgotten sword off the road.
Andreas frowned when he spotted something odd off the side of the ride. Stepping off the path, he walked to a body laying behind a fallen tree.
"What is it?" Cassandra asked, following him.
Andreas knelt down and rolled the body over gently. "It's a child. She's wearing mage robes. She can't be any older than ten."
Varric approached with Solas, both frowning. "She was hiding. Looks like she was cut down where she hid." The Dwarf murmured.
"It doesn't feel right to leave her out in the open like the others." Solas remarked.
"The ground is too hard to dig." Cassandra frowned. "A pyre?"
"Only downed wood I see is the tree." Varric said, peering around. "Wood looks bad, we might be able to hack it in half."
Cassandra nodded and moved a bit further down the tree and drew her sword and started chopping. Indeed the wood was soft from decay and she was able to make good head way in cutting it in half. As she neared past the halfway point, she put her sword away and began tugging the top half back and forth in an attempt to break it.
Andreas joined her and in a few moments, the top half of the tree cut and broke away from the bottom. The pair of them dragged it closer to the girl, where Solas and Varric began to assist, breaking some of the branches away.
Once they had the tree cleaned up, Solas lifted the little girl up- stiff in the cold and in death. Andreas and Cassandra butted the two pieces of the tree together before they placed the girl nestled between the two- cradled by the two pieces of the tree. Carefully, all four began to pile the branches around her. When they finished, they stood back and Andreas summoned a fireball to his hand. He bent down and placed the flame into the quickly made pyre rather than tossing it.
"Ashes we were, and ashes we become. Maker give this young one a place at your side." Cassandra murmured as the magical flames began to eat at the wood, and the body.
"Who looks at a child and thinks- you deserve to die?" Varric asked, frowning.
"Evil, Varric." Andreas murmured. "Only the evil."
The four stayed a bit longer, ensuring the pyre wouldn't go out before they began on their journey again.
When they camped again for the night, they barely spoke. Varric told a few stories to fill the silence, and they gave laughs at the grand tales he told. Blessedly, no one mentioned mages, Templars, or children that night. Even Cassandra seemed more somber than normal.
"I will take the first watch." Andreas murmured to the rest of them. "Get some rest."
When they reached the Hinterlands days later, the bodies seemed to pile up more. Luckily, none of them had spotted any more small bodies. They just found mages, Templars, and a few unlucky travelers who had been caught in the middle.
By midday they arrived the forward camp where Inquisition soldiers and scouts had already set up a small base.
At their approach, they were greeted by a Dwarven woman. "The Herald of Andraste! I've heard the stories. Everyone has. We know what you did at the breach. It's odd to see such a tall human and a mage in our camp. But you'll get no back talk here. That's a promise." She told them. "Inquisition Scout Harding, at your service. I- all of us- we'll do whatever we can to help."
"Harding, huh? Ever been to Kirkwall's Hightown?" Varric asked.
"I can't say I have. Why?" Scout Harding answered.
"You'd be Harding in...oh, never mind." Varric trailed off.
Cassandra let out a groan that even had Solas smirking.
"What's the situation out here in the Hinterlands?" Andreas asked, steering them back to the reason they were there.
"We came to secure horses from Redcliffe's old horse master. I grew up here, and people always said the Dennet's herds were the strongest and fastest this side of the Frostbacks. But with the mage-Templar fighting getting worse, we couldn't get to Dennet. Maker only knows if he's even still alive. Mother Giselle's at the Crossroads helping refugees and the wounded. Our latest reports say the war's spread there, too. Corporal Vale and our men are doing what they can to protect the people, but they won't be able to hold out for very long. Honestly, you best get going. There's no time to lose." Harding filled them in.
"Right. Make a game plan then." Andreas muttered, pulling out the maps Cullen had given him. "We should find other locations we can put forward camps. The Hinterland's are vast, and we need to push forward and hold a presence where we can. I was also given notes to mark any large deposits of ore we find that could assist in our efforts and the healers asked we pick plants if we can." He shuffled through the papers.
"If we find large concentrations of it, we can mark it on the map and when we make camp- the scouts can send word back to Leliana. From there, they will send some workers to collect the stone for the Inquisition's use." Cassandra stated, motioning toward a table that Harding had retreated too. The scout was currently tying something to a bird's leg and sent it off- probably reporting they had arrived.
"Sounds good. Let's get to the crossroads and see Sister Giselle and work from there then." Andreas murmured, putting the maps away. Cassandra nodded and moved back for him to lead the way.
Since they had laid the child to rest, the Seeker had been more quiet and reserved. She had said very little except to add opinions on things that were small in scale. From inane conversation like what vegetables were best in a hearty stew- to what weird things Orlesians tended to add in, etc.
As they began to make their way down the path, the signs of fighting were the worse they had seen. Yes, there were the bodies- but there was magical ice with bodies still frozen within it. Mages lay slain with arrows or even swords still stuck within them.
As they closed in on the Crossroads, the sound of fighting began to get louder. Hurrying their pace, they rounded the bend to see Inquisition soldiers fighting both mages and Templars.
"Inquisition forces are trying to protect the refugees!" Cassandra called, drawing her sword and readying her shield.
"Looks like they need some help." Andreas agreed, removing his stave from the sling on his back. As they rushed into the battle, he sent lightning streaking across the ground as he slammed his stave down briefly. He kept moving though, getting closer to the stunned Templars. Spell after spell, he flung in quick succession. The more on the defense he put them, the less of a chance they had to smite him.
What felt like hours finally slowed down as Cassandra cut down the last Templar. The man leading the charge. The Mages had been much easier to defeat, in Andrea's mind. They didn't have the armor to protect them, and while a mage could learn to not harm themselves with their own magics- another's was something else entirely.
"The veil has gotten incredibly thin here." Pride whispered. "It would take only one mage slipping to destroy this place."
"Good thing I'm the only fuck up here then." Andreas chuckled softly. He turned back to Cassandra as she sheathed her blade.
"I'm going to go talk to Mother Giselle. Please assist with helping gather the wounded or carrying the bodies off to be burned." He ordered.
"As you say." Cassandra didn't argue and motioned for Varric and Solas to follow her.
Andreas made his way to the Mother as she tended to a wounded soldier. "There are mages here who can heal your wounds. Lie still." She whispered comfortingly.
"Don't... let them touch me, Mother. Their magic..." The soldier gasped.
"Turned to noble purpose, their magic is surely no more evil than your blade." The Mother cut the soldier off. She further talked over them and said, "Hush, dear boy. Allow them to ease your suffering."
Andreas made sure to get a good look at the soldier. He wanted to remember his face when he wrote his reports to the Advisors. The last thing they needed was their own soldiers sneering at the mages when their own 'Herald' was one.
"Mother Giselle?" He asked once he was a bit closer.
"I am. And you must be the one they're calling the Herald of Andraste." She responded, standing to turn to him.
"Not by any choice of mine." Andreas grimaced. "I am more surprised at your willingness to use mages for assistance."
"We do not teach that magic is evil. We teach that pride is evil- and does not corrupt only mages. But I did not ask you to come here to simply debate with me." She answered.
"That's good, because for a second there, that pride statement felt very pointed." Pride whispered.
"That's good then, I wasn't feeling up to a debate." Andreas joked.
"I know of the Chantry's denouncement, and I'm familiar with those behind it. I won't lie to you; some of them are grandstanding, hoping to increase their chances of becoming the new Divine. Some are simply terrified. So many good people, senselessly taken from us..."
"Is that supposed to be an excuse? They're making things worse!" Andreas jerked his head to the wounded. "They don't see this. They stay in their pretty little Chantry buildings and close their eyes and pretend everything will be okay if they wish it hard enough."
"They don't know they're making it worse. That is my point." Mother Giselle soothed. "Go to them. Convince the remaining clerics you are no demon to be feared."
"Why does she keep saying things like that?" Pride hissed.
"They have heard only frightful tales of you. Give them something else to believe." She finished.
"They want to execute me, and you think I should just walk up to them?"
"You are no longer alone. They cannot imprison nor attack you." She pointed out.
"That doesn't mean they won't try." Andreas answered.
"Let me put it this way; you needn't convince them all. You just need some of them to doubt. Their power is in their unified voice. Take that from them, and you receive the time you need." She nodded her head as if agreeing with her own plan.
"You make it sound so simple."
"I honestly don't know if you've been touched by fate or sent to help us...but I hope. Hope is what we need now. The people will listen to your rallying call, as they will listen to no other. You could build the Inquisition into a force that will deliver us...or destroy us." The Mother trailed off for a moment and looked around. "I will go to Haven and provide Sister Leliana with the names of those in the Chantry who would be amenable to a gathering. It is not much, but I will do whatever I can."
Andreas watched the Mother walk off and begin talking to some soldiers, obviously looking for a few to escort her to Haven. While he mulled over her words, Cassandra joined him again.
"There are a few things we can do here to help these people. There's a hunter over there who asked if we could spare the time to hunt down some rams to help feed the people. Corporal Vale is also just up the hill over there. Perhaps he has news for us as well." She gently interrupted.
"Sounds as good a place as any to start assisting these people. I would also like to scout some of these hills and cliffs." He motioned to the same direction as Cassandra. "I think another camp or two will help block people from attack from those directions, and maybe give us more of a warning if we can see them coming."
"Very good, Herald." Cassandra agreed.
Andreas flinched at the name again but walked off. The relative peace had been nice the past few days and he didn't truly feel like arguing at the moment.
They talked to villagers, taking small odd jobs, taking note of any useful information they could. They gathered personal notes and journals left behind by any who had fled, for more information on the past. They returned to the hills near the first forward camp and hunted the rams before returning them to the hunter.
They managed to make another forward camp just above the King's Road. By then, the night had fallen. Andreas read through everything they found, setting aside anything useful and burning what wasn't. Once again, proof of the Templars' depravity came from a journal someone had left behind. The man's words had bothered Andreas enough that he barely ate his supper and instead moved up the waterfall next to camp. He scaled to the next level out of sight of everyone.
The water roared loud enough that he could curse to his heart's content and not be heard. Taking the brief chance- alone for the moment at least, he striped to his small clothes and waded into the water feeling the need to wash the filth from the skin and his mind.
"The Seeker approaches." Pride whispered.
"Herald?" her voice rang.
Andreas didn't answer- as she would see him soon enough. He stood under the water, letting it flow over him, even if it was several degrees colder than was probably healthy.
"You should come out of there. It's not safe and cannot be good to be in such frigid waters." She called out now, closer still.
"I have no intentions of running away Seeker. You can return to camp." Andreas answered, opening his eyes and gazing at her.
"I do not fear that. I rather fear what might happen when you are upset." She answered.
Andreas felt his mouth twist into a rather ironic smile. "Like what? Become an abomination?"
"I was thinking more of just letting your magic get out of control. Has that not happened before? Your scars seem like they are from magic out of control."
Andreas lifted his arm and looked at the almost lightning mark patterns that covered him from head to toe.
"Try your body growing to accommodate a pride demon." Pride hissed.
As much as he wanted to tell the Seeker to leave again, he settled for a partial truth. "They're stretch marks. I hit my growth spurt quiet quickly. At the same time I started to try and do something with my newfound size. The results of such quick growth are all over my skin."
Never-mind that Andriana had worked night and day on him to make sure the scars didn't become tough or ropy.
"I, ah, didn't realize." Cassandra remarked.
Andreas walked out of the water to stand in front of the Seeker. "Take a look all you want. You will find nothing on me suggesting I failed to control my magic. Or maybe you want to make sure you don't find cut marks. Sorry to disappoint, but the only marks you will find from a blade are the result of Templars." He ran his finger along the scar that started at his hairline and ended at his chin. It crossed over his left eye and went through his lips. "Even this one."
"Will you ever stop assuming the worst of me?" Cassandra asked in exasperation.
"Will you do the same of me?" Andreas countered, he moved closer into the Seeker's personal space. "You seem to have made up your mind about me. Should I not be allowed the same courtesy?"
He stepped back and bent down to start putting his armor back on.
"Maybe...we can get to know one another better?" She asked.
Andreas sat up and fastened his belt with a raised eyebrow. "What would you know of me?"
"Where are you from?" She asked.
"I'm sure you know a lot about that already." He sat on the ground to begin to pull on his boots. "Or maybe you want something you can't find from just my lineage alone?"
"I would prefer to hear it from you."
"Let's see..." Andreas reached for his other boot. "I am the fourth born son of the Lord and Lady Trevelyan of Ostwick. It was decided I would be given to the Chantry to be a Templar at my birth. When my sister was born two years later- it was decided at her birth to give her up to the Chantry as well. You know, vows to ensure we didn't come for the family fortune and all that."
He stood with both boots on and reached down for his tunic and pulled it over his head. "I understand that since both Andriana and I turned out to be mages, our next oldest brother would take his place with the Templars. I'm sure Gerard loved that. My brother Dominik is the heir and my brother Everette is the spare, so to speak." He raised his eyebrow at the Seeker. "Now you."
"Me? Why would you want to know anything about me?" Cassandra asked, eyebrows furrowing.
"Because that's how this game is played. I told you a bit about me, so tell me about you." He reached down and started to fasten the leather armor on. Buckle after buckle was deftly done up while he waited for the Seeker to speak.
"My name is Cassandra Allegra Portia Calogera Filomena Pentaghast. I'm seventy-eighth in line for the Nevarran throne." She began.
Andreas barked out a laugh. "You know that off the top of your head?"
"The Pentaghast's value blood above all else. They can tell you all about it and even keep charts. Trust me." She snipped.
Andreas grinned. "So I only have to ensure the deaths of seventy-seven people to get you on the throne? I need to get to work."
"Not funny." But Cassandra's lips tilted up.
The silence fell about them before Cassandra spoke again. "I do want to apologize. I know that some atrocities happened in the circles. I know that some things have to change, but I still don't think we should abolish them. However, I think it should be more of a partnership- of working together rather than a feeling of jail and jailer."
"Mighty big of you. What changed your mind?" Andreas stood up fully, gazing down at the Seeker once more. "Was it the child?"
Cassandra looked away. "As you said, only evil strikes down a child. Even a mage child does not deserve such a thing."
"Might I suggest something then Seeker?" Andreas posed softly. At the Seeker's nod, he continued. "To move forward. To change things- it can no longer be us versus them. Mage and Templar. We are human. I know Mage is a descriptor for a magic user- but when you say it that way... 'even a mage child'- it sounds no better than some Magister claiming 'it was only a slave'. "
"I will bear that in mind and think on it. Thank you Hera...Lord Trevelyan."
Andreas still grimaced but let it go and headed back down to the camp.
The next morning found Andreas up early and scaling up the small stone walls to work off the abundance of energy he found himself with. By the time he scaled the wall a few times, he found Cassandra waiting for him when he climbed down again.
"Good morning Cassandra." He settled on being civil. "I actually wanted to ask you if we should go down the King's road and clear it out or if we should go back toward Dwarfson's Pass. There's a fade rift just over there I seen as I scaled this rock ledge the first time."
"Isn't there a rift near the King's Road too?" Cassandra asked, glancing back over her shoulder.
"There is," Andreas headed toward the waterfall to wash the dirt from his arms. "But those demons are at least attacking the mages and Templars fighting down there. The one over there is on a path that some unfortunate soul could stumble upon. Plus there is a crumbling ruin over there that might be wise to clear out as well."
"Clearing the King's Road puts us closer to finding Master Dennet." Cassandra pointed out.
"Also a very good point." Andreas flicked the water from his hands and then placed them on his hips. He pursed his lips in thought. "I need to look at the map again."
The two peered over the map before together they decided to double back toward Dwarfson's Pass. "This is a choke point and could be a great place for another camp. That closes off the path an enemy could use." Andreas took another bite of the apple he was eating for breakfast. He pointed at the open path. "Once we establish a camp, we can come back here. Hopefully won't take very long. Once we are back here, if we haven't somehow wasted the day- we can start clearing the King's Road. If not, we can start on it tomorrow."
"We will be ready to establish a new camp at your command." A soldier saluted, having stood by them while they planned.
"Very well." Cassandra nodded as well. "You are taking to your new role well."
"What choice do I have? If I don't do my best, I die. No one is going to say: Oh, you don't want this job? My bad. Please step aside so I can stab your friends." Andreas tossed the core of his apple away. Nearby- they could hear Varric snickering. "Besides, I have something personally invested as well."
Solas and Varric approached, seeming to realize they were about to be off. Andreas nodded to the pair and placed his stave in the sling on his back. They moved toward the fade rift, eyes watchful to ensure they didn't get pinned between the rift and enemies.
"That tower is impressive, even as a ruin." Solas commented as they stopped just far enough to not trigger the fade rift. "I wonder what dreams it holds?"
"My sister mentioned you could navigate the fade to learn it's history. That's extraordinary." Andreas commented, while removing his stave from the sling. "When we camp tonight, or even back in Haven, you will have to tell me more."
"I'm always happy to share what I've learned." Solas answered, also freeing his own stave.
Andreas walked forward a few steps, and the fade rift shift- spitting out demons.
They battled their way through two waves of terrors and shades before Andreas felt that tug in his palm again. He lifted his palm- that same rope of energy forming before he ripped his palm away, sealing the rift.
He shook his hand and muttered, "That feeling will never get better."
"What does it feel like?" Solas asked, as he knelt down to collect the remains of a terror's claws for study.
"Its a tugging sensation, but its hard to explain beyond that. It feels wrong. I have to make myself keep the connection until I just feel when its time." Andreas murmured, looking at the glowing mark. "After I have used it, it almost feels like I have a constant itch in my palm hours later. The more I use it, the worse it feels."
"Fascinating. I wonder if its because its a foreign magic, or if its a physical connection with the fade?" Solas wondered, standing. "I should like to speak more of this later. Should something else occur with the mark, we need all the information about it recorded that we can."
"Not the only thing it does." Andreas muttered, clenching the glowing fist. "I can feel another fade rift nearby."
"Now that is useful." Cassandra remarked. "Where?"
"Up there." Andreas pointed toward a small rock cliff. "In the direction of Dwarfson's Pass."
"That thing is useful!" Varric joked as they headed toward the crumbling ruins next to them, to clear them before heading toward the next rift.
"I'm pleased to report that word has been sent ahead, the Hart should be here by the end of the week." Cullen smiled as he handed Andriana the letter he had received.
"This is wonderful news!" She remarked, scanning the letter. "Seeing such a magnificent animal might also help some of the Dalish that decided to join us feel at home too! I seen one just yesterday! They seemed amused about my questions on their vallislin. I hope I didn't insult them by asking..."
"Nothing wrong with curiosity Lady Trevelyan." Josephine smiled at the younger woman.
"The more I know now, the less chance of me making an idiot of myself later." Andriana smiled. "And its much more fun learning from the source than books."
"We received a generation donation of coin from Teryn Cousland as well as a few books he thought could benefit the Inquisition." Josephine brought the conversation back to course. "They are mostly books about past divines."
"We can just hand these off to the scholarly mages for study." Adriana wrinkled her nose at them as she set them aside. "I read enough of those in the circle."
"Now a much more serious matter." Leliana handed her a letter. "We have some people claiming to be your family causing some trouble. Throwing around the Inquisition's name as if it is a force at its personal beck and call."
Andriana read over the document with furrowed brow before scoffing. "They don't even know our names. She called me Adeline!"
"At least they got the first letter right." Cullen chuckled. "Best they probably have."
"Are they a threat?" Josephine asked.
"I don't even know these people. I've been at the circle since I was six. I had just received my dress to attend my first formal event when my magic manifested itself. I never got to meet any of my extended family as the Templars were sent for immediately. I truly have no idea anything about them." She sat the paper down and tapped it with a finger. "Can we just denounce their claims?"
"As you say." Leliana nodded, taking the letter back. "I will have one of my agents handle this personally."
"You don't mean?" Andriana asked softly.
"No, we will just publicly shame them. I don't order everyone killed." Leliana answered, a little icily.
Andriana nodded and looked back at the table. Sister Leliana hadn't been happy when she protested her killing of one of her own agents, even if the man had betrayed them. "Murder won't solve all of our problems!" She had told the older woman. In the end, Leliana had agreed to apprehend the man alive, but had coldly dismissed her after that.
"In the meantime, I have found someone to help you with learning to ride." Cullen changed the subject smoothly. "He's a chevalier and is quite skilled in not just horse riding, but fighting on horseback. He thinks we might be able to train a horse to get used to you firing magic off it's back. Should you ever find yourself in need of such."
"I hate to be a disappointment but I focused more of myself in my healing studies than anything. Those who can heal are more likely... to get to leave the circles to aid others. Even just for moments at a time." Andriana drummed her fingers on the table. "I only put enough study in the offensive magics to control them. Not being able to control them, no matter how skilled you are in other areas, can be just as disastrous."
"I am glad you know enough of yourself to cater to your strengths and weaknesses." Cullen nodded.
"Which brings me to something I wanted to bring up." Andriana met the Templars eyes. "There are many young mages who followed others here, or didn't attend the conclave for safety reasons. They haven't been given space to train. And one even tried to go off and practice on their own, so they wouldn't hurt anyone. A Templar followed and smite him. If these young initiates do not have a place to train, study, or let out their magic- someone will get hurt."
"We will find a place for them to train immediately." Josephine began to scribble.
"Absolutely not!" Cullen objected, slamming his fist down on the table. "We do not have enough Templars to-"
"This is not a circle!" Leliana interrupted the Commander.
"We cannot let magic go unchecked!" Cullen barked. "That is asking for-"
A wave of magic washed the room. All three advisors turned to Andriana who stood there, hand outstretched.
"Did you just?" Cullen seemed shocked, his anger faltering.
"I cast peaceful aura. I specialize in healing and spirit magic. As I have stated." Andriana raised an eyebrow at them. "And this same spell, cast over a large area can ensure a peaceful study for the initiates." She lowered her hand back to the table. "I understand why you are hesitant, Commander Cullen. I have heard you were at Kirkwall when a mage blew up the Chantry. But if we do not give these budding mages a chance to focus an outlet for their magic, you will end up with real blood on your hands."
"We cannot risk-" Cullen began again.
"A Templar is more than welcome to watch. However, I believe they should not wear their Templar armor. If they were to dress as any other soldier and simply hang back until an enchanter called for their aid, we could ensure safety for all." Andriana began gently. "Whatever... demons you fear, you cannot paint us all with the same brush you would paint a blood mage."
Josephine wrote something else on her board and then said, "There's an open field surrounded by plenty of cliff edge. It would be a perfect place for the mages to practice their arts."
"I even welcome the Commander to check in on us." Andriana continued.
"They do need to learn control, Cullen." Leliana said softly.
"Fine. Do what you will. You were going to anyways." Cullen murmured before he rounded the table and left. Though his words were spoken softly, the slamming of the door betrayed his anger he couldn't outwardly feel.
Andriana waved a hand and cast dispel over the room. Immediately the peaceful aura disappeared and she sagged, breathing ragged. Immediately Josephine and Leliana came to her. "I heard from mages that he was a cold Templar in his time at Kirkwall. I seen it. I could see that in his eyes."
"He has come a long way." Leliana assured her. "When he calms down he will feel terrible and come to apologize-"
"How many people like me has he killed?" Andriana whispered. "Will he kill Andreas? Me- if we step out of line?"
"He would never hurt the Herald." Josephine answered, rubbing a hand down her arm. "He would never hurt you."
Andreas sat at the camp near Master Dennet's farm and frowned as he read over the letters he had received from Leliana. As soon as they secured the horses, they were to return to Haven so they could plan on moving toward Val Royeaux. They would need to move quickly from there to try and secure the Chantry's aid, or at least promise to stop spreading false truths.
That, however, wasn't what had him worried. It was the note scribbled by his sister. Though she just wrote the standard words of care of well wishes, he could feel the touch of magic. What did his sister write that she hid from the Advisors?
Making sure that Cassandra wasn't nearby- he waves a hand over the paper. Immediately the ink began to rearrange itself to form new words:
Andreas- I fear I might have made a target of myself. I forced the Commander into championing a space for the younger mage initiates to learn their talents. He was vehemently against it, and so furious. At that moment, I thought he might cut me down- if we were only still at a circle. I used magic on him- a peaceful aura. He has not forgiven me for it, I do not think. I feel like I made a hasty decision when I should have gone to Leliana and Josephine first. But when a young initiate told me he had tried to sneak away to practice magic, because he could feel it building up within- a Templar followed and smite him.
I do not see why that can be the only course for those who have yet to control their magic or don't know safe outlets for it? Either way, I will feel much better if you came back and, I don't know, backed my thoughts on the matter? Unless you too think I was rash. I love you- Andriana.
Andreas stood and threw the letter in the fire- making sure it burnt before he turned back to the table where he could pen his reply. He wouldn't be able to return for a week or two at least. They had to build the watchtowers before they could return to Haven. He had sent off the requisition orders already- demanding aid of the mages when they built. Using mages to float the heavy stone would cut back a lot of time, and they could have the towers built in a third of the time.
Often if something in the circle had broken- it was the mages who did the backbone of the labor. Using magic to levitate heavy stone or hold wood in place until it could be tied off or a nail could be placed to keep it. Within a few days- the required people should have arrived, if Leliana's letter read correctly.
"Parchment and ink please." Andreas requested of the Requisitions officer. After she had given it to him he retreated to his tent and summoned a wisp above him to light the space within. Ensuring he was alone again, he took his dagger and pricked his finger, adding a few drops of blood to the ink. Dipping the provided quill, he stirred the ink.
Carefully he penned the letter back for his sister. Though it was polite for anyone who might read it, he put his real meaning behind it before waving a glowing hand over it. Sealing the magic so his sister could rearrange it to see the real message.
Afterwards, he penned a letter to the Advisors informing of his impending return- granted nothing went wrong. All the while, they would continue helping the locals and expanding the Inquisition's reach.