Hi guys! I need to make amend before this chapter start for the butchery of elvhen which is to come here. You'll, btw, notice a point where I just gave up and where the elvhen is indicated by italic because I couldn't build these damn sentences anymore.

One other thing, I kind of struggled here because I needed to mention events of "The Masked Empire". I decided to remain quite elusive and, I don't think I'm saying anything you don't know if you played DAI. Still, potential spoilers here for this novel.

Anyway, hope you enjoy it, thanks for reading! Please, comment!

Additional translations at the end of the chapter.

Mahariel had been looking at the two reports with a scowl for endless minutes already. They were two days away from Redcliffe. She had slept little but would not even allow herself a yawn. Not until she put some sense into this.

That doesn't make any sense, thoughtheroncemore. Her glance turned back yet again towards the paper covering the left side of the book. The previous report is one-week old and he told me that Alexius had been locking himself in his study for two weeks and that he could not put a single foot in there to figure out why. She glared at the one on the right side. And now he is telling me the magister has been gone for a month for a destination he didn't share?! What the fuck happened?! This is not even the right code if he has been discovered and was forced to write this! She groaned with frustration. If not discovered, what? She could not even suspect attempt of betrayal, not considering the nonsense.

"Something the matter, Grey?" She smiled instantly to Varric.

"Not at all. Just –" She was going to accuse the Orlesian writers to provoke her morning headaches when she remembered which book she was actually holding. She chuckled. "Just trying to picture Hawke running around to avoid the Arishok's sword." Varric laughed.

"I never write that she was running around." Mahariel smirked.

"A mage? A healer? In a duel?"

"I said I didn't write it, not that it didn't happen." Admitted he, light-heartedly.

She nodded with a small smile. She realized only now the others had been emerging, Varric and Bull busying themselves with the breakfast. She chastised herself silently for being as distracted as she was. Hopefully, this will be over soon. Varric is doomed to realize I actually did not read a single page yet. She noticed in her peripheric vision Solas, looking at her with narrowed eyes. She beamed, nodding her greetings. She actually wanted to slap herself, wondering how long he had been standing there. Either he believes I'm a very low reader, or he knows perfectly I was not reading the book.

Solas gave a small smile and nod of his own as she jumped from the rock she had been sitting on. He had seen her going through enough scholar scrolls to figure out the Templar-Mage conflict to know she read way faster than that. He knew he should have withdrawn earlier. Now, little were the odds that whatever she had been reading didn't end up burnt before he even got a chance at seeing it. But he wanted her reaction. Nicely done. A genuine grin who had nothing of a Grand-Game one. He could have fallen for it.

They reached the King Road. Mahariel was relieved for not hearing back from Haven about the Templar question. She didn't want them to have a reason to resume their bickering.

The party was chatting lightly. Since they dealt with the templars and apostates around, the area was safer, if not for few mercenaries. Mercenaries who seemed to be thinking twice before attacking their large group.

Solas felt the presence of an elven artifact. An artifact he knew well, one of his work; meant to strengthen the Veil. It had been a long time since he had asked his agents to spread them all over Thedas. But he could feel the magic – his magic. He informed the Herald. She did not hesitate a second and asked him the right direction. Cassandra frowned.

"We have no time, Herald. We have to approach the mages." Mahariel turned to her with a smirk.

"Let me get this straight: we have no time because we have to approach the mages in order to gather power to close the Breach. Breach which happens to be a hole in the Veil. Is that just me, or does an artifact meant to strengthen the Veil sound like something useful suddenly? And we are looking for power. Magical kind. Why, I wonder, do I want to lose time with an ancient elven artifact? Not like it holds this type of power, does it Seeker?"

Solas suppressed a smile. Cassandra, the eyes defeated, followed. The sooner it would be dealt with, the sooner they could go back to their mission. Mahariel nothing but ignored Sera mumbling behind her. She noticed the blond getting aloof, apparently decided to gather plants while they dealt with their elfiness. She said nothing, letting the girl be.

When they got closer to the cave, they spotted a mage fighting demons. Mahariel rushed towards her. Solas' nose wrinkled. Dalish. Once the demons were dead, Mahariel looked at the mage they encountered.

"Are you wounded?"

The Dalish frowned, looking at Mahariel's face with suspicion.

"No, I'm fine. Thank you. Unexpected for some vint flat-ear to care." Mahariel crossed her arms.

"Ma she tunas, da'len." You judge quickly, da'len.

The mage's eyes widened with surprise before narrowing. Mahariel bit her bottom lips. Stupid child, you should have let the Elvhen out of this one. She took a good look at her and suppressed the urge to smash her head on a rock. Freaking idiot, you know her! An agent. A difficult one, but an agent nonetheless.

Reluctantly an agent, more accurately. And one who never forgave her for not stepping in when her clan was slaughtered. Not that she blamed her. These few months had been her worst failure. Halamshiral, clan Virnehn, the eluvians…She had been nothing but powerless, always too late.

She could not mask her eyes, not with the others right here. The mage finally froze. She had never met the assassin without her cape and hood, few had. But these eyes were hardly forgotten. She took a step back.

"Evanuris halani em, ar dirth na, ma ane – " Creators, I know you, you are –

"Stop right there." Commanded Mahariel, adamant. The mage looked at her, bewildered. Mahariel glanced to Solas to signify he could understand. The Dalish frowned and nothing but spat in elvhen.

"Tel'ise El'vhen. Teleolas." He is not one of the People. He doesn't understand.

Solas was about to put back this little brat in her place but Mahariel spoke up first.

"Dianas, da'len!" Enough, da'len!

"Dianas bora em melin da'len!" Stop calling me child!

"Dianas ena la. Ma tunas vhen la sa shemlen bor ter sule em'an. Ar'an on'el." Stop acting like one. You judge and insult people as quickly as a shem would throw a rock at us. We are better than this. She paused, her eyes turning dark and way too old for her face. "Tel'silas ahn unena? Isalan sila na mahn es en em'an melahn'an?" Are your memories that bad? Am I to remind you where these reactions already led us?

They glared at each other few seconds. Mahariel dismissed the argument with a gesture and came back to common.

"We can discuss further later. Who are you and why are you here?"

The Dalish's scowl deepened but she answered, knowing enough of the assassin not to want to piss her off. She reluctantly gave her name for the rest of the party. She was called Mihris and was looking for the same artifact. Mahariel suppressed a sigh as she mentioned clan Virnehn. She just had to smash it once more in her face. Yes, I get it, I failed. Solas noticed silently the concerned clan, having a hard-time believing the coincidence. And they know each other. So…It means THAT was likely what Mahariel referred to when she said "melahn'an". Fascinating.

Solas kept a distant ear on the following conversation. If the elvhen taught him anything, it was that the said conversation was nothing but a play for the others. Mahariel lifted a bunch of rocks, then more demons, veilfire, rune and finally artifact. He only intervened when Mihris mentioned that she found something. No way she is keeping this. The creators did not leave it for you, my agents left it there. He stayed perfectly diplomatic and it did not take much to convince her. Mahariel glanced quickly at him with a small smirk. Once back outside, Mihris was calmer and resumed in elvhen.

"Ar tel'unsilan var vir sal juvhella. Ar tel'unsilan ma dane Radalas. Garas quenathra?" I never thought my steps would lead me back to you. I did not even know you were in Ferelden. What are you doing here?

"Vis dame elvyr mya, ar tel'avy ea gonathe ma'melin, avy ar? Ar ame Inquisition" If I was easy to follow, I would not deserve my name, would I? I'm with the Inquisition. Mihris frowned again.

"Anhsul vaslasas shemlen?" Why are you working for the shemlen?

"I'm working WITH them. Considering your Clan is dead, you are welcome in Haven, by the way." Mihris considered her a time, trying to figure out if the offer was an order. As she realized it was nothing but an offer of shelter, she snorted.

"You say that as if it was what a true Dalish would do. I am no harellan. There is more than ONE of your names you deserve." This time Solas intervened before Mahariel could stop him.

"That's enough. She just helped you, da'len." Mihris frowned deeper.

"Ma dirth nada! Banal'ras ver na, flat-ear." You know nothing! May the Banal'ras take you.

Mahariel hardly suppressed a cough. For the love of – REALLY?! Mihris didn't even glance at her and spun on her heels. Solas scowled and was once more about to add something to close the mouth of this idiot but Mahariel held her hand, expression unreadable.

"Don't bother. Let's go to Redcliffe."

Her nose wrinkled with the slightest hesitation before she glanced back towards the leaving mage, loudening her voice and switching back to elvhen.

"For the records, the Sabrae in the Free Marches have room for another mage." Mihris froze and hesitated before spinning towards her.

"What?" Mahariel challenged her with her gaze.

"You heard me. South of Markham, towards the Green Dales. Dareth shiral, Mihris."

This time, she moved effectively, ignoring the looks of the others. Solas smiled slightly at her most noble reaction and the bewilderment of Mihris.

What he ignored was that, it was not noble of her. What would have been noble, would have been to share this piece of information with Mihris when she first met her, years ago. She did not. She needed the mage to remain at her service in order to deal with the mess she alone among the Dalish witnessed. So, first, she kept the piece of information, second, she reminded the black-hair how unfortunate for her it will be if the clans heard she once accepted demonic possession willingly. It was no noble gesture, just a way to remind Mihris she was the one with the upper hand, no matter if the Dalish was now able to out her.

After the release of Imshael, the destruction of Clan Virnehn, the discovery of the eluvians and Briala's claim on them, Mihris had looked for a clan to tell them what happened. Mahariel, at this time, was hiding in Tevinter, her track too warm for her to risk coming back in Orlais. Instead, Mihris ran into Oran and a Dalish hunter named Eludyssia. They traveled together to the closest clan. Mihris did not realized who they were until they handed a pile of papers to the Keeper, saying who it was from. She told what she knew to the Keeper. After heated debates, he gave a sealed letter to Oran and Eludyssia, and ordered her to follow them. She had to tell the story to someone who could deal with Briala. Someone who had proven that the Dalish cared for the city elves too.

This Keeper made of her one of the Banal'ras' agent.

Mihris had all reasons to hate Mahariel. But the assassin did not care. The fact was, the only way to keep this one loyal had been threats and, despite their issues, Mihris was more useful alive than dead. She needed her and so, she was happy to oblige.

Solas was, however, skeptical. This was not the first time someone used this curse in front of him. The last occurrence had been a Dalish hunter chasing him away from a clan. Considering, he had had no time to ask for explanations. He vaguely remembered Felassan mentioning them. No that he listened a lot, back then. After that, his agents had related some tales, but he knew very few about this assassin.

The others were talking casually how Mahariel knew this girl. Not bothering with details, she simply declared she had been once engaged as a mercenary near Clan Virnehn. He remained still despite the obvious lies. A wonder she let Mihris talk in front of me. She is well-aware I understood and could tell the others? He had no intention to do such thing, but he was surprised that Mahariel knew it too. It was pleasant to know she trusted him more than she trusted the others.

Seeing Solas was getting out of his lost-in-mind state, Mahariel quickly glanced at him. She was, weirdly, not worried about what he could say. Still, she needed to meet his eyes, at least to make him known she was grateful for his silence. He gave her the smallest hint of a smile for the silent exchange to remain unseen. He finally spoke up, thinking a change of subject will put her at ease.

"Seeker, if you could indulge me, who is this person called Banal'ras?"

Mahariel didn't flinch the slightest, despite her discomfort with the sudden topic. She did not even glance again at Solas. It was not a move against her, she was certain of that. For all his perfect composure, his hint of smile gave away that much. She knew him enough. It would have been a hint of smirk if he was about to trick her. No, he had no idea. Cassandra winced, obviously not the first fan of the person he just mentioned.

"Criminals, thieves, assassins, information brokers. They are well-known in the Empire since they attacked the Empress' forces years ago." Mahariel's features were unreadable as she was keeping her thoughts to herself. Yeah, come on, put it like that, not like she began it with purging Halamshiral's slums.

"Why an elven name?" Asked Solas.

"Orlesians came up with that. I imagine a scholar happened to know the word for assassin and found that romantic."

"Shadow." Pointed out Mahariel.

"Oh? Well, shadow then. One way or another, no one ever catch the leader. We are not even certain there is one. All we know for sure is that they are dangerous. The Empire tried to trick them several times, using someone who had been in contact with them for pieces of information. Each one ended up dead and soon, no one ever in contact with the organization dared say a word." Mahariel suppressed some rolling eyes. Sorry not to fall for a trick, how rude of us.

"You are telling a very one-sided story, Seeker." Noticed Varric. Cassandra raised a brow.

"Do you know more than I do?"

"Actually, yes. Remember Daisy? She has been in contact with them too. Did you know these criminals paid for the restorations of Kirkwall's Alienage? And they provided the Dalish with these white mounts too. Oh, and Broody, who has been chasing Tevinter slavers? He ran into slaves freed by them, several times."

Mahariel was not far from chocking. The slaves, why not we are in Ferelden. Still, you are risking my Tevinter agents' life by saying this! And the rest? For real? This cannot go common knowledge! Daisy…Fuck, who is it? She could use a reminder of how things are meant to work. Cassandra looked at him with wide eyes.

"What? No one ever mentioned – "

"Of course, they didn't. And you won't either because elven or not, they do have a soft spot for elves. And the nobles hearing that won't reconsider their position about the organization. No, they will attack the alienage for that. My point is, I don't know a lot more about them. But if you don't do anything to piss them off, they don't take a target randomly." Sera, barely reunited with the party, mumbled.

"Elves here, elves there, could ya talk about somethin' less borin' for once? Like bees."

"Wait a minute, Sera. Varric, maybe they did some good things, but they are still criminals. Do you know how many people they killed?" And you don't know half of it. Varric shrugged.

"I'm not saying they are choirboys. I'm just saying, this is not the other nobles who will tell us what the person did to provoke them." Solas nodded and looked at Mahariel. He was sure she knew way more than anyone else.

"Thoughts?" She shrugged.

"Honestly? I think they are talking about an organization just to reassure themselves. A nameless enemy is no good. But, you know, there has to be a bad guy, they just wouldn't admit they saw it coming." Cassandra stifled but said nothing more. "As for Varric's part, the other way around. A nameless benefactor is frustrating." It had been everything but honest. She didn't feel like she had much of a choice here.

"Interesting point of view."

"Beeeeeeeeeeees. Bees are fun. We need more of them. What do ya say, Queenie?"

Mahariel glanced at Sera with a hint of a smile as she made them finally dropped the subject.

Solas remained thoughtful a time. Truth be told, this organization had been useful to cover his own agents' deeds lately. They were more aggressive than Briala's people. He didn't feel like he knew a lot more, however. Cassandra had the typical lawful human opinion about them. Varric knew just what he needed to avoid troubles with them. And Mahariel…He was not sure what to think of Mahariel's words. She had a point. The organization might not be as large as the rumors suggested. It was a scapegoat to many, and a cover to more. However, there was an organization.

He could not help but wonder if she really didn't know anything. She did seem surprised by Varric's words, maybe their actions in Tevinter were quieter? That would explain that she did not hear anything about it. In any case, she sounded sympathetic to them.

They drew camp for the night less than a mile from Redcliffe.

Mahariel hardly managed to suppress a frown as the insistent whistle would not stop. That was the third time. Either her agents wouldn't take the hint of I cannot come now, or this was bad enough for them to insist. Bull had glanced at her as she straightened the slightest with the first one. She fidgeted her fingers, looking for a way to take her leave discreetly. Not going to be easy. The six of them were around the fire, taking dinner. Bull, guessing something was going on, finally offered.

"Basalit-an, I forgot. I had a letter from Isskari for you with my last report." A sparkle of gratefulness jumped in her eyes as she looked at him with genuine surprise.

"Oh? How is he? Can I see it?" Bull nodded and stood.

"Of course. Come, it is somewhere in my pack."

They made their way to their stuffs. They talked casually as she grabbed her cape in hers. She thanked him for the letter and made her way to her tent as the bird whistled yet again. Yeah, okay, I get it. Better be important. She put on the cape and adjusted the hood to cover efficiently her hair and sneaked out by the other side.

She looked at Kira with a frown. How did she even know how to find her? She had but few agents aware of her displacements, and the young elf was not one of them. For Oran to share this…

"What is it?" the dark-hair shifted from one foot to another and swallowed hard.

"My Lady, something…has been going on in Redcliffe."

"Yes, the rebel mages." Nodded Mahariel, irritated.

"No…Er…Yes. But…I don't understand how it happened, we all sent reports as soon as…But…Er…Oran seemed awfully surprised in his last letter and told me that you had to know, because you didn't and…" Mahariel raised an annoyed brow at her babblings.

"Kira, I have no time for this. Get done with it."

"WHAT?!"

Hopefully her soundproofing prevented the yell from resounding in all of the area. However, it didn't prevent the birds to take off and nugs to flee, all for a most dramatic effect.

Bull froze with the row of wings and whines of the nugs, urging in their direction. Wow. No idea who she was talking to, but he would not want to be at their place. Tough little thing. Definitely. The others looked at the animals too, dumbfounded.

"What is it? Bear?" Asked Cassandra, already reaching for her sword.

"We didn't hear anything." Pointed out Varric.

Solas frowned, knowing Mahariel's love for soundproofing. That would make sense, if she was not supposed to be reading a letter in her tent. And, despite her tendency to be jumpy, that apparently didn't make her move.

Daggers in her eyes, Mahariel grabbed Kira by the collar, daring her to say that again. The young elf looked down, swallowing hard.

"I'm sorry my Lady…I don't understand…I swear we sent reports…They must have been intercepted…"

"How? By who?" Growled she, ominous.

"I don't know…"

"To who did you send them?!"

"Oran, in Val Royeaux."

"I changed the dispatch weeks ago!" Kira looked at her, confused.

"I…I didn't get any update."

"What?! What the fuck is happening here?!"

She shoved Kira away, frustrated. So, Oran randomly passed by a cache where the birds would have let the reports and gave away her position for Kira to inform her ASAP. That made sense. The only damn thing here which was making sense. She took a deep breath, glancing at Kira. The elf was shaking with fear. She sighed. No need to dwell on that, they will figure what went wrong later.

"Go. I'm going to take care of that."

No freaking idea how, but I will. Kira nodded weakly, babbling some more excuses. Mahariel nothing but collapsed on the ground as soon as she was gone. How was she even supposed to deal with that? As if a magister reclaiming the mages wasn't bad enough, this magister knew her. She pinched her nose, feeling the headache coming. How did they not know that sooner? What did she miss?

"Boss? What is happening?"

She glanced towards Bull. Her nose wrinkled. And she was becoming stupid. Of course, her outburst scared the hell out of the animals around. And she didn't have the composure to restrain herself from the said outburst. Dahn'direlan. She spurted out, considering she was going to need the Ben-Hassrath for the mess which was to come.

"Freakin' vint enslaved the mage." Bull's eyes widened.

"What? How?"

"I don't know." Said she, irritated. "And he knows me." Bull frowned even deeper. He fell silent a time, processing. He shook his head.

"This is impossible. That all of us, all of our networks missed it? Your spymaster's, the Ben-Hassrath's, and…Whoever is tipping you? No, no way." She raised a brow.

"Whoever is tipping you?" Bull shrugged, a slight hint of respect in his eyes.

"Your ciphers are good. Three years and no one broke them." She nodded and dropped the subject.

"This is not the problem right now. You are right, it is theoretically impossible for something that big to escape one of these. So, all? Something is wrong."

"Agreed. What do we do now?" She bit her bottom lip. Hell of a question.

Dahn'Direlan: idiot. Literally, bee-puncher