Something was very wrong in Redcliffe.

On the surface, it was a village like any other. It stood in the shadow of the arl's castle across the river and was home to many a fisherman and his family. Merchants had stalls set up along the docks to sell their wares; a few of the most prominent merchant families had their own shops built along the edges of the town's central plaza. There was a single tavern, a blacksmith, a chantry, and little else of interest.

Kira stood on the outskirts of the village with Cassandra, Solas, and Varric as one of their scouts gave a report. She stared at the scout, surprise written all over her face. It was unusual for her to be rendered speechless, but the scout's report had done just that. It seemed that the Inquisition's arrival had come as a surprise to the mages in Redcliffe, despite the invitation the Inquisition had received only weeks before.

Now we know why it was so difficult to get into the village, Kira thought. Their forces had been denied entry several times over the past weeks, and Kira hadn't quite understood why. The Inquisition's advisors had written it off as more people who would deal only with the Herald of Andraste, but Kira hadn't been so sure. In the end, it appeared she had been right to wonder. "No one was expecting us?" she asked the scout, brow furrowed. "Not even Grand Enchanter Fiona?"

"If she was, she hasn't told anyone," the scout confirmed grimly.

Kira rubbed the mark absently, her mind racing. Why would the Grand Enchanter rescind her invitation? Or, stranger still, how had she forgotten it altogether? It seemed like an odd way to lay a trap, but what alternative was there?

"Right," Kira said firmly, shaking her head. "Report back to Sister Leliana immediately. We'll see what's going on here." It hardly mattered how or why this had happened now that the Inquisition was here. All they could do now was to procure the mages' support in closing the Breach - if that was even still possible. What if the mages were no longer interested in helping the Inquisition? I suppose we won't be any worse off than we were before.

The scout departed hurriedly, casting a worried look over his shoulder. Just then, an elven mage approached from the village. Ah, good, thought Kira. Perhaps he's come to clear things up.

"Agents of the Inquisition, my apologies! Magister Alexius is in charge now, but hasn't yet arrived. He's expected shortly. You can speak with the former Grand Enchanter in the meantime."

Or not. Kira hid her confusion behind a mask of polite interest. "Thank you. If you'd be so kind as to show us the way to her?"

As their guide began to lead them towards the village, Solas sidled up to Kira. "The Veil is weaker here than in Haven," he murmured in her ear. "And not merely weak, but altered in a way I have not seen."

Kira nodded, brow furrowed ever-so-slightly, and Solas disappeared behind her. Their guide made pleasant small talk as he led them through the village. Meanwhile, Kira made mental notes on the little they'd discovered so far.

Grand Enchanter Fiona had invited the Inquisition to negotiate with the mages for assistance with closing the Breach. At some point between then and now, it appeared that Fiona had made a deal with a Tevinter magister - a deal that seemed to have stripped her of her title and rank. She'd also either forgotten about her invitation to the Inquisition or tossed it aside in favor of Tevinter, neither of which were particularly appealing thoughts. If that weren't quite enough to be dealing with, add to it Solas's concerns about the Veil.

Something was very wrong in Redcliffe, indeed.

They needed to know what kind of deal the Grand Enchanter had made with Tevinter, and if she'd made it without undue influence. Tevinter was known for its powerful mages and their blood magic, and Kira wondered if perhaps that was at work here. If this was all a plot by Tevinter, did that mean they were responsible for the Conclave, too? Or were they just taking advantage of the chaos in Thedas to attempt to invade their southern brethren?

She had too many questions, and not nearly enough answers.

Their guide led them to the small tavern that sat in the center of town. It was called the Gull and Lantern, and had apparently been secured for their negotiations with the magister. Negotiations that Fiona allegedly knew nothing about, Kira noted silently. The tavern itself was unremarkable; it was a dimly lit building made primarily of stone with high wooden beams supporting the thatched roof. At this time of day, Kira would have expected the tavern to be nearly empty, but the tables were all completely full except for one small corner at the back of the room, which appeared to have been hastily cleared. There were still crumbs scattered across the table. Something sticky and unidentifiable remained on its surface.

Grand Enchanter Fiona stood to one side of the table, and came forward to greet their delegation pleasantly enough, though Kira noted a flicker of suspicion in the woman's eyes. Does she really not remember inviting us here? wondered Kira. Or is she really that good an actress?

To Kira's relief, Fiona did not waste time with needless pleasantries. As soon as polite greetings had been exchanged, the Grand Enchanter turned to Kira. "What has brought you to Redcliffe?" she asked.

"We're here because of your invitation back in Val Royeaux," said Kira, her tone pleasant, but firm. She knew what she'd seen and heard in the city. Fiona was there, and Kira wasn't about to let her pretend otherwise.

And yet, that seemed to be precisely what Fiona planned to do. The older woman frowned. "You must be mistaken," she said. "I haven't been to Val Royeaux since before the Conclave."

"I'm quite certain," Kira insisted. "If it wasn't you, then who invited me here?"

"I… I don't know," admitted Fiona, looking confused and troubled. "Now that you say it, I… I feel strange." The Grand Enchanter shook her head. "But whoever, or whatever, brought you here, the situation has changed. The free mages have already… pledged themselves to the service of the Tevinter Imperium."

"Andraste's ass… I'm trying to think of a single worse thing you could have done," muttered Varric. "And I've got nothing."

Fiona stifled a sigh. "As one indentured to a magister, I no longer have the authority to negotiate with you," she said.

Kira was dumbfounded. Whatever diplomatic answer she should have given flew out the window. "An alliance with Tevinter is a terrible mistake," she said flatly. Around her, she heard murmurs of assent. It seemed that some of the free mages were less than pleased with Fiona's decision. Kira was relieved; she had hoped that not all of her brethren had lost their minds as their leader had clearly lost hers.

Fiona's mouth flattened into a thin line. "All hope of peace died with Justinia. This… bargain with Tevinter would not have been my first choice, but we had no choice. We are losing this war. I needed to save as many of my people as I could."

"There is always a choice -" Kira began hotly, but she was interrupted by the sound of the tavern door opening. She turned to see two men enter the tavern. The first, a middle-aged man wearing a red hood, had a simpering smile on his face. The second was younger and his face was carefully blank. They were both armored.

"Welcome, my friends!" said the older man. "I apologize for not greeting you earlier."

"Agents of the Inquisition, allow me to introduce Magister Gereon Alexius," said Fiona.

"The southern mages are under my command," said Magister Alexius smugly. He stopped before Kira, looking her up and down, his gaze lingering on the mark on her left hand. "And you are the survivor, yes? The one from the fade? Interesting."

Kira had to stop herself from clenching her fist to hide the mark. Something about this man set her teeth on edge, and she didn't think it was just because he was from Tevinter. "A pleasure, Magister Alexius," Kira lied through a pleasant smile. "I am Lady Kirana Trevelyan. We have come to request aid from the free mages. If you are leading them now, then let us talk. I'm sure we can come to an arrangement."

Although Kira had great many questions regarding the Imperium's rather timely appearance on Ferelden soil, something told her she'd be hard-pressed to get answers from Alexius. Perhaps, if they were lucky, they could question Fiona after the mages' aid was secured. Right now, all that mattered was their ability to barter with this magister and free the mages from their newest leash. Unfortunately, Alexius had what the Inquisition needed, but they had no idea what he wanted. It made for a difficult negotiation, to say the least.

Alexius smiled. "It is always a pleasure to meet a reasonable woman," he said, gesturing to a nearby table. The two of them sat. Fiona hovered nearby, looking distressed, while Kira's companions settled a short distance away.

To the younger man who had entered with him, Alexius called, "Felix, would you send for a scribe, please?" He turned back to Kira. "Pardon my manners. My son Felix, friends."

Felix bowed, then left to fetch the scribe.

"I am not surprised you're here. Containing the Breach is not a feat that many could even attempt. There is no telling how many mages would be needed for such an endeavor. Ambitious, indeed," said Alexius, a smirk on his face.

Kira forced a nonchalant grin, "Well, when you're fighting a massive tear in the sky, you can hardly afford to think small."

"There will have to be—" began Alexius, but just then, Felix returned. He looked unexpectedly ill as he shuffled toward the table. Frowning, Alexius rose, Kira close behind. Suddenly, Felix stumbled. Kira stepped forward to catch him and, as she did so, felt him slip something surreptitiously into her hand.

"Felix!" cried Alexius, genuine concern written all over his face.

"My lady, I'm so sorry," said Felix as he straightened, still looking at bit faint. "Please forgive me."

"Felix, are you all right?" asked Alexius.

"I'm fine, father."

"Come, I'll get your powders. Please excuse me, friends. We will have to continue this another time. Fiona, I require your assistance back at the castle."

If nothing else, he seems to be a caring father.

"I don't mean to trouble everyone," said Felix, but his protests fell on deaf ears.

"I will send word to the Inquisition," said Alexius as he ushered Felix out, followed closely by Fiona. "We will conclude this business at a later date."

Kira watched them go before looking down at the note she held in her hand. Her companions clustered around. "Come to the chantry," Kira read aloud. "You are in danger."


Simply put, the chantry was in shambles.

Wooden pews had been unceremoniously thrust aside. Books of prayers and hymns lay tattered and torn across the floor. But perhaps the most concerning thing in the entire building was the massive rift that had spawned in place of the pulpit, flickering against the stained glass windows. A steady stream of demons poured forth from the rift's gleaming emerald center and, in the midst of it all, fought a single man.

As the only person in the chantry, the man was notable enough; but when Kira noticed that he was a mage, and then that he was a mage who was electing to beat the demons about the head with a staff rather than fling magic at them, she grew even more intrigued.

In a break in the waves of demons, the man glanced at their group with a domineering grin. "Good!" he said. "You're finally here! Now help me close this, would you?"

Kira raised her brows, but nodded. "Help him!" she told the others as she rushed into the fray.

The battle was short-lived, but challenging. Kira was not used to fighting in such a confined space, and she had to work hard to avoid tripping over a fallen pew or slipping on the loose pages of hymnals that lay throughout the space. She flung fire at an approaching demon, only to cut the flame off with a gasp when Cassandra stumbled into its path. Was she moving too quickly, or was it Kira's imagination? But no - when she looked to her left, she saw Solas moving as though through molasses.

It was then that Kira stumbled into a shimmering plane of something - a glowing green wall of the spirit essence that made up the rift's core - and felt her entire world grind to a near-halt. She saw a demon approaching, moving far faster than she was able to, and tried desperately to swing her staff to block the beast. She blinked, and the demon was gone, slayed by the unknown man. She was falling sideways through the essence of rift that had briefly surrounded her, and everything was moving its normal speed again.

When she finally closed the rift, she shared a bewildered glance with her companions. What in the Maker's name had they stumbled into now?

The man who had fought beside them stared at her. "Fascinating," he mused, watching her with interest. "How does that work, exactly?" When she didn't answer, he laughed. "You don't even know, do you? You just wiggle your finders and boom! Rift closes."

"I'm sorry, but who are you?" Kira asked, tilting her head to one side. She felt her companions close ranks around her. They were still on guard, just in case the stranger was a threat.

"Ah, getting ahead of myself again, I see." said the man wisely as he leaned against his staff, seemingly unperturbed by their group's collective suspicion. With an elaborate flourish, he bowed. "Dorian of House Pavus, most recently of Minrathous. How do you do?"

"Another Tevinter," Cassandra said with disgust. "Be cautious with this one."

Kira said nothing. As much as she hated to make judgments based on one's history - just look where mages were because everyone always assumed the worst of them - she had to agree with the Seeker. The appearance of yet another Tevinter in Redcliffe did not bode well for whatever was happening there. At least this one didn't give off the distinctive vibe of someone who desperately wished to kill her.

At least, he didn't want to kill her yet.

Now that she had a moment, she looked over their newest adversary. He was a handsome man who clearly came from a wealthy family. He wore a fine silk half-cloak with neat, detailed embroidery along the hem atop a matching set of trousers that were as well-made as the cloak. His hair was carefully coifed, cropped close on the sides and left long on top. He had high cheekbones and delicate features, the most notable of which was a thin mustache along his upper lip that curled up at each end. For a moment, Kira was a little jealous. How could someone appear so well put together just after defeating a small horde of angry demons?

When it became clear that Kira was not going to rebuke Cassandra for her immediate distrust, Dorian appeared to falter ever-so-slightly. "Suspicious friends you have here," he said jovially, trying to lighten the mood. "Magister Alexius was once my mentor, so my assistance should be valuable - as I'm sure you can imagine."

Well, that was certainly a surprise, but Kira wasn't sure she could take him at his word. She crossed her arms over her chest. "I was expecting Felix to be here."

"I'm sure he's on his way," Dorian assured her. "He was to give you the note, then meet us here after ditching his father."

"Are you a magister?"

Dorian sighed dramatically. "All right. Let's say this once. I'm a mage from Tevinter, but not a member of the Magisterium. I know southerners use the terms interchangeably, but that only makes you sound like barbarians."

Torn between being offended and amused, Kira held back a snort and waved a hand dismissively. "All right, you're not a magister. You're the one who sent the note, then?"

"I am. Someone had to warn you, after all."

"Warn us?" Kira's brows knit together in confusion.

"Look, you must know there's danger. That should be obvious even without the note."

"Well, of course, but I've been in danger since I walked out of the Fade," Kira said drily. "What specific danger are you referring to?"

"Let's start with Alexius claiming the allegiance of the mage rebels out from under you," said Dorian.

Kira blinked. How could he possibly have known that?

Undeterred, Dorian continued. "As if by magic, yes? Which is exactly right. To reach Redcliffe before the Inquisition, Alexius distorted time itself."

Dawning realization mingled with horror. "He arranged it so he could arrive here just after the Divine died?" she gasped.

"You catch on quick," Dorian said approvingly.

"That is fascinating, if true," mused Solas. "And almost certainly dangerous."

"The rift you closed here? You saw how it twisted time around itself, sped some things up and slowed others down. Soon there will be more like it, and they'll appear further and further away from Redcliffe," explained Dorian grimly. "The magic Alexius is using is wildly unstable, and it's unraveling the world."

Kira swallowed hard. "You're asking me to take a lot on faith."

"I know what I'm talking about," Dorian insisted. "I helped develop this magic. When I was still his apprentice, it was pure theory. Alexius could never get it to work. What I don't understand is why he's doing it. Ripping time to shreds just to gain a few hundred lackeys?"

"He didn't do it for them," said a voice from the shadows. Kira and her companions whirled, weapons at the ready, and froze when they saw Felix striding towards them.

"Took you long enough," said Dorian, who had not moved from where he leaned against his staff. "Is he getting suspicious?"

"No, but I shouldn't have played the illness card," Felix admitted. "I thought he'd be fussing over me all day." To Kira, he explained, "My father's joined a cult. Tevinter supremacists. They call themselves 'Venatori.' And I can tell you one thing: whatever he's done for them, he's done it to get to you."

"Why would he rearrange time and indenture the mage rebellion just to get to me?" asked Kira.

"They're obsessed with you, but I don't know why," said Felix. "Perhaps because you survived the Temple of Sacred Ashes?"

"You can close rifts," Dorian pointed out. "Maybe there's a connection? Or they see you as a threat?"

"If they Venatori are behind those rifts, or the Breach in the sky, they're even worse that I thought," said Felix.

Too many questions, and not enough answers, Kira thought grimly. If Tevinter was behind the Conclave - even if it was only a small subset of Tevinter - it made things infinitely more complicated. The Inquisition's advisors needed to know about this, and soon.

"All this for me?" Kira said lightly, feigning confidence. "And here I didn't get Alexius anything."

"Send him a fruit basket," suggested Dorian. "Everyone loves those."

"One thing I don't understand," said Kira, looking at Felix. "Alexius is your father -" She turned to Dorian. "- and your mentor. Why are you working against him?"

"Former mentor," muttered Dorian.

Felix rolled his eyes. "I love my father, and I love my country. But this? Cults? Time magic? What he's doing now is madness. For his own sake, you have to stop him."

"It would also be nice if he didn't rip a hole in time. There's already a hole in the sky," added Dorian drily. "You know you're his target. Expecting the trap is the first step in turning it to your advantage. I can't stay in Redcliffe. Alexius doesn't know I'm here, and I want to keep it that way for now. But whenever you're ready to deal with him, I want to be there. I'll be in touch."

And with that, Dorian sauntered away.


Not for the first time, there was shouting in the war room.

"We don't have the manpower to take the castle!" Cullen yelled. "Either we find another way in, or give up this nonsense and go and get the Templars!"

"Redcliffe is in the hands of a Magister," Cassandra argued. "This cannot be allowed to stand!"

"The letter from Alexius asked for the Herald of Andraste by name. It's an obvious trap," said Josephine, looking troubled.

"Well, isn't that kind of him?" Kira said, fluttering her lashes. Out of the corner of her eye, she thought she saw Cullen frown at her. "What does Alexius say about me?"

"He's so complimentary that we are certain he wants to kill you," replied Leliana, her mouth twitching. Ever since the spymaster had returned Kira's phylactery, the two had become fast friends.

Cullen was unamused. "Redcliffe Castle is one of the most defensible fortresses in Ferelden. It has repelled thousands of assaults. If you go in there, you'll die," he all but shouted. "And I - we'll lose the only means we have of closing these rifts."

"And if we don't even try to meet Alexius, we lose the mages and leave a hostile foreign power on our doorstep!" Leliana shot back.

"Even if we could assault the keep, it would be for naught," pointed out Josephine. "An Orlesian Inquisition's army marching into Ferelden would provoke a war. Our hands are tied."

"But the magister -" started Cassandra.

"Has outplayed us," said Cullen firmly.

Kira turned away from the war table, massaging a temple with one hand. All of the shouting was giving her a headache, and it wasn't getting them anywhere. They had approached the mages, discovered the alliance with Tevinter, been exposed to rifts that distorted time itself, and some of her advisors wanted to just give up? Not likely.

Cassandra, apparently, was of the same mind. "We cannot accept defeat now. There must be a solution."

Kira turned back around to lean on the war table. "Other than the main gate, there's got to be another way into the castle. A sewer, a watercourse, something."

Cullen was already shaking his head. "There's nothing I know of that would work."

But Leliana held up a finger. "Wait. There is a secret passage into the castle, an escape route for the family. It's too narrow for our troops, but we could send agents through." She glanced at Kira, who nodded.

But Cullen was glaring at the spymaster. "Too risky. Those agents will be discovered well before they reach the magister."

"That's why we need a distraction," explained Leliana, as though she were speaking to someone who wasn't very bright. "Perhaps the envoy Alexius wants so badly?"

Cullen rocked back on his heels. "Keep attention on the Herald while we disable the magister's defenses," he realized, looking impressed. But then, his expression shuttered. "No. It's too much of a gamble."

The war room door swung open to a voice that said, "Fortunately, you'll have help."

Cullen and Cassandra reached for their weapons in surprise as Dorian strode into the room, a harried-looking guard right behind him. "This man says he has information about the magister and his methods, Commander."

"Dorian," greeted Kira. "Welcome to Haven."

Cassandra released her weapon, but Cullen kept his hand on the hilt of his sword. "Friend of yours, Herald?"

"This is Dorian. He helped us in Redcliffe," Kira explained.

"Your spies will never get past Alexius's magic without my help," said Dorian. "So if you're going after him, I'm coming along."

Cullen still looked suspicious, but released his hold on his sword. "I don't like it," he said, turning back to Kira. "This plan puts you in the most danger. We can't, in good conscience, order you to do this," he added, glaring at the others. Unfortunately for him, he had no support. Desperately, he turned back to Kira. "We can still go after the templars if you'd rather not play the bait."

But Kira shook her head. "This is our best chance to defeat Alexius. We have to try."


The rest of the day passed in a flurry of activity as the Inquisition prepared for their assault on Redcliffe Castle. Cullen departed as soon as the meeting ended, stalking toward the practice fields, his face a thundercloud. Kira did not envy the recruits. She thought it likely they were going to have rather a difficult afternoon. Leliana gathered her most trusted agents in the war room, briefing them in secret on their mission. If anyone wondered how she knew about this secret passage into the castle, no one asked about it. Everyone else went their separate ways to get ready. They would all leave the following morning, and everyone wanted to be prepared.

Kira spent some time that afternoon with Dorian, learning about him, his homeland, and his former mentor. Although some in their group were hesitant to trust him, Kira was instinctively drawn to the Tevinter mage. He was charming and funny, and he had an air of honesty about him that Kira found refreshing. He may not say things outright, but he was no liar. Besides, cleverness was part of the fun.

They parted in the early hours of the evening, just as the sun began its final descent over the horizon. Kira returned to her cabin, where she set about packing. She had just finished restocking her stores of healing herbs and potion ingredients when there was a loud knock at her door. She opening it to a still-angry Cullen, who glowered at her from across the threshold. Kira sighed. She'd been expecting this for hours, but it didn't make things any easier now that he was here.

"Commander," she greeted him, her voice polite. "Would you like to come in?" He just nodded, his jaw set, and stalked inside. Once he heard the door shut, he turned, opening his mouth to begin speaking, but she held up a hand. "A moment, if you please."

He shut his mouth, crossing his arms over his chest as he glared at her. Kira ignored him, instead raising her hand and, slowly, watching Cullen carefully as she moved, flicking her fingers towards the edges of the room, casting a silencing ward over the cabin.

Cullen shuddered, clearly feeling her magic as it washed over him, though he didn't move to stop her. "What are you doing?" he asked, jaw clenched.

She finished her spell and clasped her hands in front of her. "A silencing charm," she replied calmly. "If you are going to yell at me, I would prefer that the entire village not be privy to the conversation."

"If I'm - Maker's breath, I'm not here to yell at you!" Cullen said furiously, his voice hushed as though to purposefully prevent himself from doing just that. "But have you lost your mind?"

"You're going to have to be a little more specific, Commander."

"You're knowingly walking into a trap set by a Tevinter magister, alongside a second Tevinter magister who just so happens to know all about Alexius and his plans, with no more than a handful of Leliana's people at your back, all so that you can save your blessed mages instead of just going to get the Templars!" Cullen said, his voice growing in volume until he was shouting. "You can't go in there. I won't allow it."

Kira's eyes flashed angrily. "Commander, I am not one of your charges," she said sharply. "You will not allow or disallow anything where I am concerned. Furthermore -"

Cullen stepped closer, his face anguished, and reached to grasp her shoulders. He shook her gently, as though to shake some sense into her. "You'll die if you go in there alone," he said, his voice softer now, his eyes pleading. "I - I can't - "

Realization struck Kira like a lightning bolt. This wasn't about the Inquisition, or the rifts, or the Herald of Andraste. This was about her, and about a friend Cullen stood to lose if this plan went awry. She swallowed a lump in her throat. "Commander…" she whispered, wanting to reassure him, to promise him that she wouldn't die, that she would emerge victorious from the battle to come, but knowing that it would be a lie. However much she wished it wasn't, this was about the Inquisition, and the rifts, and the Herald of Andraste. She had a duty to their cause. To their country. It wasn't - it couldn't - just be about Kirana Trevelyan and Cullen Rutherford, and all the things they might have been if none of this had ever come to pass.

"Commander," she said again, with more force this time, as she placed her hands over his. "We don't have a choice," she reminded him gently. "Redcliffe is in the hands of a Tevinter magister. With everything else, we can't afford to add invasion by a foreign power to the list."

Cullen dropped his hands and turned away, running a hand through his hair. Kira took a step towards him, reaching out as though to pull him back, but stopped herself. She had no right to console him like that, however, much she might want to.

"With the templars -" he started, but she could hear in his voice that he'd accepted defeat. He knew she was right. He'd known it earlier in the war room, and he'd known it when he showed up at her door, and he knew it now. There was no other way.

"We don't have time to get the templars," Kira reminded him gently. She hesitated. "I… I haven't forgotten the templars, Commander. I want to keep trying to contact them, but we can't afford to wait. We have to act now."

"By putting you in danger," he muttered, turning back to her, concern etched in the lines of his face.

"The Breach will not wait for deliberation," Kira said. "Nor will our Tevinter friends."

"But -"

"I'll be fine," she said with a smile, giving voice to the lie that she'd tried so hard to keep silent. She hoped she looked more confident than she felt. Even with Leliana's people and Dorian's assistance, Kira was terrified of everything that could go wrong with their plan. But she couldn't afford to be frightened. Everything was riding on her.

Perhaps some of her fear was evident in her face or voice, because Cullen took a deep breath and forced a smile. "Of course you will. I don't know why I was so worried," he tried to joke.

It was a poor attempt, but she took it nonetheless. "Honestly, and they say that women are dramatic," she agreed with a smile, twitching her fingers to remove her silencing wards. "Come on, Commander. Let's go to the tavern for some dinner."


Kira strode into Redcliffe Castle, doing her best not to reveal how frightened she was. Cassandra and Varric accompanied her, their presence at her back comforting. She knew that Dorian lurked nearby, though that made her nervous. For one, she still wasn't entirely certain he was on their side. For another, she wasn't sure how he was planning to get into the castle, and, frankly, she'd been afraid to ask.

The entry to the castle was formidable. Cullen had not overstated its fortifications. As far as Kira could tell, there was a single way in or out of the castle, bordered on both sides by tall, thick walls of stone. In an invasion, those walls would provide valuable cover for archers, who could target attacking armies forced to funnel onto the narrow bridge. The Inquisition, however, was decidedly not invading, and all the walls did was make Kira feel trapped.

They had made their way to the throne room, striding past imposing soldiers who watched, impassive, behind masked helms. Kira threw her shoulders back and held her head high, clinging to anger to fuel her confidence. She had little else to help her in this situation, so she'd take what she could get.

They'd been kept waiting in the outer throne room, as had been expected. Alexius, they had reasoned, would want to show that he held the power in the situation. And, unfortunately, he was right. Still, she couldn't think of that now. Not when so much was riding on her performance.

And so, when a fair bit of time had passed and a servant finally came to collect them, Kira strode up to him with her head held high. Her voice, when she spoke, was calm and clear (though she couldn't have said how she managed it). "Announce us," she said in a tone that brokered no argument.

The servant sneered at their small group. "The magister's invitation was for Lady Trevelyan alone. The rest will wait here."

Kira smiled coldly. "Where I go, they go."

The servant looked between the three of them, looking a bit nervous for the first time, as though not quite sure how to proceed. It seemed he'd expected them to bow and scrape just because his master was a magister. It was a pleasure to show him that he'd been incorrect. In the end, the servant nodded and began to lead them to the throne. Masked guards fell into step behind them.

No way out now, thought Kira nervously. Maker, I hope Leliana's people are ready.

The servant led them up a set of stairs and into the throne room, where Alexius sat in an ornate chair on a raised dais in the middle of the room. Felix stood to one side, his face impassive, and Grand Enchanter Fiona stood on the other. "My lord magister," the servant said. "The agents of the Inquisition have arrived."

Alexius was seated on the throne, but rose to greet them, that simpering smile on his face. "My friend! It's so good to see you again." His gaze flickered over Cassandra and Varric dismissively. "And your associates, of course." Sneering, he returned his attention to Kira. "I'm sure we can work out some arrangement that is equitable to all parties."

Fiona stepped forward, the tone of her voice bordering on desperation. "Are we mages to have no voice in deciding our fate?"

For the first time, Alexius began to look annoyed. "Fiona, you would not have turned your followers over to my care if you did not trust me with their lives."

Kira held up a hand, drawing the pair's attention. "If the Grand Enchanter wants to be part of these talks, then I welcome her as a guest of the Inquisition."

Fiona looked relieved. "Thank you."

Alexius turned, sauntering to the throne, and took a seat. He lounged upon the throne as though to reinforce that he held all the power. "So," he said. "The Inquisition needs mages to close the Breach, and I have them. What shall you offer in exchange?"

It was time. "Nothing at all," Kira said with a sweet smile. "I'm just going to take the mages and leave."

Alexius laughed. "And how do you imagine you'll accomplish such a feat?"

Felix stepped forward. "She knows everything, Father."

"Felix," Alexius said, surprise coloring his face, quickly replaced with anger. "What have you done?" Without waiting for an answer, he stood suddenly and strode toward Kira. "Do you think you can turn my son against me?" he snarled. Kira stubbornly stood her ground, refusing to cower from the magister's approach. "You walk into my stronghold with your stolen mark - a gift you don't even understand - and think you're in control? You're nothing but a mistake," he spat, sneering.

"If you know so much, enlighten me," Kira said conversationally. She had to keep him talking, to give Leliana's people as much time as she could. "Tell me what this mark on my hand is for."

"It belongs to your betters," said Alexius, waving a hand dismissively. "You wouldn't even begin to understand its purpose."

"Father, listen to yourself!" shouted Felix. Alexius turned to frown at his son. "Do you know what you sound like?"

It was at that moment that Dorian stepped out from behind one of the columns around the room, walking forward to join Kira and her companions. "He sounds exactly like the sort of villainous cliché everyone expects us to be."

Alexius spun around. "Dorian," he said, sounding disgusted, but rather less surprised than Kira had expected. "I gave you a chance to be a part of this. You turned me down. The Elder One has power you would not believe. He will raise the Imperium from its own ashes."

It appeared that Dorian had been telling the truth. He was not involved with Alexius and his plans for Redcliffe, or, for that matter, his plans for Kira. Relieved, Kira shared a quick glance with Dorian. Now if they could just keep him talking… "That's who you serve? The one who killed the Divine? Is he a mage?"

Alexius laughed, his eyes wild. "Soon he will become a god! He will make the world bow to mages once more. We will rule from the Boeric Ocean to the Frozen Seas!"

"You can't involve my people in this!" Fiona gasped, but she was all but unheard as Dorian shouted over her.

"Alexius, this is exactly what you and I talked about never wanting to happen!" he said, his voice just covering the twang of a bowstring. It took everything in Kira not to turn around. "Why would you support this?"

"Stop it, Father," pleaded Felix. "Give up the Venatori. Let the southern mages fight the Breach, and let's go home."

"No!" shouted Alexius, desperate now. "It's the only way, Felix. He can save you!"

Felix took a step back, horrified. "Save me?" he whispered.

"There is a way," Alexius insisted, reaching for Felix. "The Elder One promised. If I undo the mistake at the Temple…"

Felix shoved his hand away. "I'm going to die, Father. You need to accept that."

"No," snarled Alexius. He turned back to Kira. "Seize them, Venatori! The Elder One demands this woman's life!"

But it was too late. Strangled noises echoed around the room as the Venatori guards fell one by one. Leliana's agents stepped forward, bows trained on Alexius. For the first time, the magister looked afraid. He took a step back, looking around frantically, as though searching for a way out.

"Your men are dead, Alexius," said Kira.

"You are a mistake!" spat Alexius. "You never should have existed!" A glowing green amulet rose from the magister's clenched fist, floating into the space between them.

"No!" shouted Dorian, and then a great many things happened at once.

Dorian's staff was moving in a flash, sending a bolt of magic through the air. It collided with the amulet, which fell from Alexius's grasp. A hole opened in the very fabric of the world.

And, suddenly, it swallowed Kira and Dorian before it disappeared.