The old Count reasoned in her head as she walked through Skyhold's halls

'I have led the life of a good Andreastean as much as I was able to…but a man cannot act against his own nature."

Layel had listened to him patiently, doing her best to be as understanding and kind as possible even though she didn't comprehend what the man was talking about or what great crime was making him so unrestful on his death bed.

Her legs led her to the spymaster's office. Leliana was reading some of the reports she was receiving daily from the spies she had scattered over all Thedas.

"Am I bothering you?" Layel said after taking a seat in front of the woman's desk.

"You don't seem very concerned about it, even if my answer was positive," the red haired woman was amused.

"Leliana, do you know Count Fabrice de Roussac and his son?" Layel didn't want to lose precious time.

"Well, nobody really knows anything pertinent about this clan, the de Roussacs do not play the Orlesian game, nor get involved in politics, they are discreet, some would say secretive, guardians of the north-western borders, good warriors…I can't say more, and I wouldn't recommend starting to dig information about them as it would be a waste of time," Leliana's tone seemed decisive.

"He came to die here, this Count de Roussac, and his son is here as well, he also expressed his desire to join the Inquisition after his father's funerals."

"This is a good thing, they are reputed to be mighty warriors and as I said, they do not interfere in politics," Leliana seemed too disinterested this particular subject…Layel should trust her yet she could feel that something was amiss with this old man.

"Then I guess I will leave you to it," Layel smiled and rose from her chair.

"Inquisitor Lavellan," Leliana called the elven woman who was preparing to leave.

"Yes?"

"How much do you know about Loghain Mac Tir?" the question was not really a question, it was a disguised taunt.

"I…" Layel frowned at first then she remembered the servant who saw Loghain leaving her room and her wearing nothing but a see-through dressing gown.

"There is nothing between us if this is your question…not yet," she added with a smirk. They can force a woman to fight for them, give her a fancy title and hide behind her, but to dictate to her heart, this she could not allow.

Leliana nodded, her cold glare scrutinizing the young woman.

"Warden Aeducan was a brave warrior and a shrewd man, but do you know why he recruited his arch enemy, Loghain?"

"No, but you are going to tell me, right?" Layel felt like a cheeky adolescent, so she immediately wiped the smirk from her face and took a less defiant posture.

"They shared an important common value, which is…" Leliana took a step closer to the young elf, towering over the short dalish she immediately rose her head higher to keep the eye contact… and she whispered,

"They do not value life, not theirs, but the lives of others…they are pawns and inferior beings for them, thus the only form of life worthy in their eyes is themselves and their blood," Leliana calmly said.

"Yet you followed this warden," Layel muttered.

"I didn't have the luxury of choice back then, but you do," Leliana's voice was low and certain. Suggesting to the young woman without making it look like an order.

Layel broke the eye contact and said: "I…It is only some flirting and an admiration for a famous figure of Thedas history."

"I hope so," Leliana walked back to her desk, before adding "And I thought you might be interested in my opinion after seeing Loghain,"

"Well, yes of course," Layel feigned a smile.

"He is different from the man who used to share the camp with us ten years ago, and not in a good way," the red haired stated.

"what…what do you mean?" Layel's curiosity was picked.

"I don't want to frighten you, Layel but this man even though I am certain he is indeed Loghain Mac Tir, seems younger, stronger and…"

"And what?" Layel asked.

"He is too interested in you Inquisitor…It might sound derogative or strange, but the man I knew would have ignored your lame tentative of seductions…"

"Oh…" Layel crossed her arms over her chest, it was not the first time someone would belittle her concerning this topic. Maybe this one didn't bear the thought of a national legend like Loghain ending with a dalish nomadic elf… But Leliana's face was too frowning and thoughtful as she added "his eyes also, you may not believe me but I would have sworn that they were not as bright and vividly blue,"

Layel's eyebrows raised, if youth and strength could be explained by the famous warden's "stamina" what could possibly cause one's eyes color to change?

Leliana's words hadn't convinced her, but the expression on the spymaster's face had successfully scared the crap out of her.