Leliana let one of the ravens peck seed out of her hand. "Hawke sent me one final report. He is on his way to Weisshaupt. As for the Grey Wardens, they are fighting demons and red templars while staying clear of Venatori. You dealt Corypheus a significant blow, Inquisitor."
Maxwell leaned on the railing. "The Grey Wardens carry a lot of respecting other nations. If we spread word that the Inquisition has their support…"
"We may gain standing with nations that have suffered under the Blight," Leliana finished. "I will take the matter to Josephine." She folded her arms. "We've got some time before the ball in Halamshiral. Arrangements are being made."
He nodded, and started to go towards the stairs. Leliana's voice called him back. "What was she like?" Maxwell turned around. Leliana was watching her. "Divine Justinia, or her soul, or the spirit that took her form. I read your report. I know it isn't clear, but…"
"She seemed…" Maxwell considered the spirit that had aided them. "Calm. Serene, even. And she guided us the whole way through."
The spymaster's eyes gleamed slightly with unshed tears. "That does sound like her."
"She did ask me to tell you something, though." Maxwell walked back to Leliana, and stood next to the other woman. "She said, 'I'm sorry. I failed you, too.'"
"Oh." Leliana looked down at the papers she was holding. "I should finish this before it slips my mind. Perhaps later we might discuss the matter further." Leliana walked back to her desk. "Thank you."
Maxwell nodded, and woman to her thoughts.
Ellana was wondering through the courtyard when she saw Solas and Cole in the middle of an argument. It was unusual, those two usually got along.
"No."
"But you like demons."
Solas kept walking. "I enjoy the company of spirits, yes, which is part of why I do not abuse them with bindings."
Cole rushed to keep up with him. "It isn't abuse if I ask."
He sighed, and turned towards Cole. "Not always true. Also, I do not practice blood magic, which renders this entire conversation academic."
Cole saw her, and rushed towards her like a child coming to tattle. He gestured at Solas. "He won't bind me. He's a mage, and he likes demons, but he won't help."
"Why would you want Solas to bind you?" Ellana tried to put a hand on the frantic spirit's arm, but he shied away from the touch.
"So I'm safe!" He shifted from side to side. "If Solas won't do the ritual to bind me, someone else could. Will! Like the Warden mages! And then…" He shook his head. "I'm not me anymore. Walls around what I want, blocking, bleeding, making me a monster."
She moved to stand next to him, trying to meet his eyes. "Isn't it extreme for Solas to bind you? What if that takes away the part of you that makes you…" Words failed her. "You?"
He looked up at her and gestured. "Helping makes me who I am. I help the hurting. That is what I do, all I do, am, me!"
"And if binding you erases your mind? Your consciousness?" Solas moved to Cole's other side.
Cole turned to her. "You wouldn't make me hurt innocent people. I don't want to hurt innocent people again."
Ellana looked across at Solas. "There has to be some middle ground between 'do nothing' and 'bind Cole with blood magic."
He nodded. "Indeed. I recall stories of amulets used by Rivaini seers to protect spirits they summoned from rival mages." He gestured at Cole. "A spirit wearing an Amulet of the Unbound was immune to blood magic and binding. It should protect Cole as well. The resources of the Inquisition could be used to find such a talisman."
"Good." Cole starting to walk back to the tavern. "They will not take me."
She watched him go, then turned towards Solas. "Give me a description of this amulet to Leliana, and tell her it's a priority."
He took his frustrations out on the woodpile. From time to time he imagined faces on the logs as he splintered them. Erimond's featured often. He looked up to see the Inquisitor watching him. He brought the axe down, imagining again that it was Erimond's skull. "Someone I knew once described Adamant to me." The dead man's face swam in his mind, and he set another log up. "'Adamant is, and always will be, the Order,' he said. 'A guardian on the edge of the abyss, the lone soul that stares into oblivion and doesn't waver.' That's what Warden-Commander Clarel tried to be. What they all tried to be." He splintered the log, and set up another. "I'm told her Wardens never wavered. They went to their deaths willingly." As the dead man had. "They died for us, and Corypheus twisted their sacrifice to make it his own!" The halves of the log flew in separate directions, and he set up another log.
"We stopped him," he said leaning on the well. "We saved most of the Wardens."
He brought the axe down again, then tossed it aside. "But not all of them, and they died thinking they were doing something good. There's no one to blame but Corypheus. Even Clarel's intentions were righteous." That's what he'd remember most. The moment the Wardens realised what Erimond calling that dragon had meant, they'd gone from fighting the Inquisition to fighting at their sides. A man had gone from his axe lifted above Dorian's head to cleaving the demon attacking Sera without batting an eye. And died to the demon's claws. "Her desire to protect was so great, it led her astray. It's not right…" He kicked one of the splintered pieces back into the pile. "To want to do good, to be good, and have that turned against you."
His voice was gentle. "Don't think of what went wrong. Think of their intentions, their sacrifice." He saw his grief reflected in his eyes. "Honour their selflessness."
"Clarel made mistakes, but she was a great woman, and she died a great woman." Her last act upon this world had been to drive the dragon away. Who knew how many lives that had saved? Theirs, probably. "It's not the armour or the trappings of the Order. It's not the Joining." He turned his thoughts away from that direction. "At the heart of it, all a Warden is, is a promise. To protect others… even at the cost of your own life."
"At least the Wardens are able to make up for the mistake now," said Maxwell. "And this time without the demon army."
Blackwall nodded in agreement, he was grateful to Maxwell give the Wardens another chance. The Wardens were heroes, they offer men with a second chance in life and he was grateful thay Maxwell gave them one.
Adaar just turned round the corner and found Cassandra hitting Iron Bull with a stick. Curiosity led her towards them.
Iron Bull grunted. "Again." She hit him again, eliciting another grunt. "Again." Cassandra hit him again. "Oh, come on! This is why the Qun doesn't like women fighting. I should've asked Cullen."
A moment later, Iron Bull was lying on his back. A slow wheeze escaped him. "Good one!"
Cassandra shook her head, and caught sight of Adaar standing there. She shoved the stick at her. "Perhaps you can take over." She stalked off.
Adaar looked down at the stick she was now holding, then at Iron Bull. He shrugged at her. "Qunari training exercise to master your fear. Been a while since I needed it, but that Nightmare was… big."
"Can you explain why I'm supposed to hit you with this stick?"
"Probably, if I try." He shifted his position into a couple different stances before deciding on one. "It'd involve a lot of Qunari words, though." He shook his head. "Just hit me with the stick, all right? I need to get over this demon crap."
She took a deep breath. "All right." She hit him with the stick.
He grunted. "There we go." He grunted again. "Oh, yeah. Damn demon." He grunted. "Who's stuck in the Fade, huh?" He grunted as she continued hitting him.
"You fought in that siege. Every demon at Adamant wanted to tear you in half!" she said hitting him again.
Iron Bull grunted again. "I bet, ya demon assholes." He shifted his stance after she hit him again. "And who killed you?" His next grunt was more of a growl. "That's right! Iron Fucking Bull!" She hit him one last time, and he smiled. "Oh…" He shook himself. "I needed that. Thanks, boss."
She smiled at him. "Don't know you liked it that rough."
"Only from you, boss. Only from you."
Dorian was in the library and he was shifting books around on the shelves. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the Inquisitor come down from the rookery. "You have remarkably little here on early Tevinter history." He'd gone into the Fade. "All these 'gifts' to the Inquistion, and the best they can do is the Malefica Imperio?" Passed through the Veil. "Trite propaganda." Physically in the realm of demons. "But if you want twenty volumes on whether Divine Galatea took a shit on Sunday, this is evidently the place to find it."
Maxwell simply shook his head. "If I knew what you were looking for, I could help you."
"You? I rather doubt that." He gave him a shocked look, and he hung his head and sighed. "I apologise. That was unworthy." He turned back to the bookcase so as not to have to meet his eyes. "Did I see something by Genitivi here? I could have sworn…"
Her hand rested lightly on his arm. "What is this about, Dorian?"
"When everyone returned, they told us about your tumble into the Abyssal Rift." He gestured. "You went into the Fade. Physically went in. Are you…" He sighed, and then realised there was no way around letting him know worried he was. "All right?"
"Stroud…" Sorrow filled his eyes. "Is gone."
And he blamed himself. Of course he did. He'd seen him after the fight. "The Fade is an ordeal under normal circumstances. To be the only real thing there…" Words failed him. "Beyond description. That you and the guard making it out at all is a miracle. You do realise this feat hasn't been performed in over a thousand years? Corypheus and his contemporaries entered the Fade and began the Blights. In comparison…"
"That's not exactly comforting, Dorian." He shuddered.
"Nor should it be." He put a hand on his shoulder. "If you can walk in the Fade, others will try to follow." He could think of a half-dozen just off the top of his head. "Who knows what secrets Corypheus has revealed?" Well, more than a half-dozen, but at least a half-dozen who would make serious attempts. "Not all of them will be so lucky as you. What they could unleash…" He sighed. "My advice? Keep this quiet. Let them speculate. Too many will see this as a challenge."
"That's a good idea."
"There are enough idiots in the world who think if they just use enough blood magic, their problems will vanish. It's exactly the sort of thing I want to stop back home. This…" He shook his head. "This I don't need." He turned back towards the bookshelf. "What I do need is a copy of the Liberalum. I'll wager I can find Corypheus's real name. If I can prove he was a grasping ankle-biter with no family to speak of? The lustre would come right off." He grinned at him. "Wish me luck."
He gave him an affectionate shake of his head before continuing downstairs.
Josephine had him hold court. They'd found the mayor of Crestwood. He sent him to the Grey Wardens. They then bought a Warden, Sir Ruth. She confessed to having slit the throat of one of her fellows, and asked for a public execution. Maxwell knew that she was only following bad orders that she should not be punished for that and released her. Then came the smuggler that Adaar captured and he put into work by smuggling for him. Finally, came Erimond and he noticed that Theron had taken Josephine's place.
"Due to personal reasons I'm taking over from Miss Josephine," said Theron. "I submit Lord Livius Erimond of Vyrantium, who remains loyal to Corypheus. Unsurprisingly, he offered extreme resistance when we apprehended him. Many of the Order would like to see him dead, me among them. However, he has also made you suffer by whatever you encountered in the Fade."
Maxwell looked down at Erimond. "I'm struggling to understand how judging you can make up for anything that happened."
"I recognise none of these proceedings. You have no authority to judge me," said Erimond.
"On the contrary, many officials have communicated that they will defer to the Inquisitor on this matter," said Theron narrowing his eyes at him.
"Because they fear. Not just Corypheus, but Tevinter, rightful ruler of every piece of ground you've trod in your pathetic life. I serve the living God. Bring down your blades and free me from the physical. Glory awaits me."
The man was clearly mad. "Lord Erimond, any protection you thought you had has been withdrawn. Which is why I believe it's fitting that you die at Theron's hand, the man you try to kill."
"Petty actions," Erimond scoffed. "Truth lies in the next world."
Everyone surrounded the execution stand as watched as Erimond was placed on a slab. Theron then walked up with the Inquisitor's sword in his hand. He raised it up into the air and then brought it down onto Erimond's neck and his head fell into the basket.
Varric stared into the fire, trying to avoid thinking of their recent excursion into the Fade. When he'd looked back, and Hawke and the Inquisitor or the guard weren't there… Those moments before they'd emerged had been the worst moments of his life. He looked up to see the Inquisitor. "I knew Stroud, you know. Not well. He saved Hawke's little brother from the blight. Not many people knew who he was, but the man was a hero when it mattered. He wasn't the first good man to fall to Corypheus. He won't be the last. This story's no good for heroes."
He stood next to him, an affectionate hand on his shoulder. "You must be glad that Hawke made it back in one piece."
"Yeah." Once again, Hawke had emerged from danger by the skin of his teeth. "Closest thing I've ever seen to a miracle, there." He sighed. "Hawke asked me to tell everyone back in Kirkwall where he's going. I'll have to let Merrill know. I'd better write some letters. Excuse me."
Cassandra was reading when Maxwell approached her. "Good book?"
The Seeker actually shouted in surprise and stumbled out of her seat, nearly falling. Cassandra swallowed, and then hid the book behind her back. "I don't know what you're talking about."
Maxwell looked at her bemused. "Yes, because I suddenly went blind."
Cassandra shifted her weight from foot to foot, her face was glowing with embarrassment. "Oh, that? Just… reports, From Commander Cullen."
Maxwell crosses arms. "You're an excellent liar."
"It's of no interest to you, I'm certain." Cassandra righted the chair, and then sighed. "It's a book."
"I can see that."
"It's…" Cassandra touched the cover of the book, which depicted a red haired woman in armour. "One of Varric's tales. Swords and Shields. The latest chapter."
The romance? "So you like to read." He tilted his head at her. "What's wrong with that?"
"It's frivolous. There are more important things for me to do."
"That's just her favourite." Dorian leaned on the tower next to where the infirmary was being constructed.
For a moment, Maxwell thought Cassandra was actually going to draw her sword on the man. "Nobody asked you, Tevinter."
Dorian's smile widened. "I couldn't finish the last one you lent me." He straightened, and then started to walk off, giving Cassandra a wide birth. "I actually feel dumber for having tried."
Maxwell watched him go, and then turned back to Cassandra, who blushed even more. "It's literature. Smutty…" The woman sounded like she was confessing to practicing blood magic. "Literature." Suddenly Cassandra's head came up, and she held out her hand pleadingly. "Whatever you do, don't tell Varric."
"Maybe I should read that book."
Cassandra then looked hysterical. "You? No!"
Maxwell blinked. "Why not me?"
"You're the Inquisitor."
He then laughed. "Oh, I see."
Cassandra held the book to her, and then sighed. "They're terrible. And magnificent." Words began to boil from her almost as fast as they did from Dagna. "And this one ends in a cliffhanger. I know Varric is working on the next, he must be. You, you could ask him to finish it, command him to…" She caught herself, and swallowed. "Pretend you don't know this about me."
He managed to hold out an entire hour before telling Varric. It was worth it to see the dwarf's face light up again. He just stared at him. "I must have heard that wrong. It sounded like you said that Cassandra read my books."
"She's a pretty big fan, in fact."
"Are we talking about the same Cassandra? Tall, grumpy Seeker? Likes stabbing things?" He blinked. "Wait, did you say the romance serial? She'll be waiting for a while, then. I haven't finished it and wasn't planning to. That book is easily the worst I've ever written. The last issue barely sold enough to pay for the ink."
That was too bad. Cassandra spent entirely too much time worrying. "I'm sure it's not as terrible as you think."
"There are a number of critics who'd be happy to argue with you." He looked up at him, and grinned, eyes twinkling. "You want me to finish writing the latest issue of my worst serial. For Cassandra." He laughed softly. "That's such a terrible idea, I have to do it. On one condition: I get to be there when you give her the book."
He immediately held out his hand. "You've got a deal."
Varric shook, and then headed for the desk. "I'll get to work, then. You know, the fact that the book is terrible just makes it more worthwhile, somehow."
Maxwell laughed, and walked away trying to figure out if he'd just done something wonderful or created a monster.
"So is it an archdemon?" Josephine asked Theron.
"No, I can tell you that much," said Theron. "If it was all the Grey Wardens would have sensed it right away and it would have dismissed the ritual they planned. I imagine that it's some sort of blighted creature that Corypheus created to mould like the Old Gods."
"Then it's not a Blight," said Leliana.
The two of them were still slightly uneasy with one another, but Josephine could tell that they still cared for one another that much was clear.
"No," said Theron shaking his head. "Of course that does not mean that he is not a threat. He is attempting to do the same thing he did fourteen hundred years ago and this time he might end up destroying the world, if the futures told us anything."
"Have you received any word from either Sereda or Daylen?" Leliana asked.
Theron shook his head. "Sereda is on some sort of secret mission for the dwarfs and Daylen disappeared from the map."
Leliana sighed. "Well, Faren has returned to Vigil's Keep and he sent a few token soldiers here."
"King Alistair and Queen Elissa are particularly pleased that we've allied with the Grey Wardens," said Josephine. "They're also providing aid to help us track down red templars, it seems they have gotten over the little incident with the mages."
"I'll have my task force to find everything they can on Corypheus," said Theron assured and then he left the room.
Josephine looked at Leliana. "You should talk to him."
"And what should I say?" Leliana asked. "We were in love and then he breaks my heart so he could protect me."
"I'm not saying that it was the smartest thing he's done, but he did it's because he loved you."
Leliana sighed. "I don't blame him truly, but he was right about the elven rebellion at Halamshiral, it was too extreme. I think right now we need time alone from one another."
"Okay, but I still say you should talk to one another."
"Heard what went on in that Fade thing. What you think went on. Can't even start to believe that business." Sera was fidgeting with something as she stared out the window.
"I think a lot of people I having trouble with what went on there," said Erdic, he still can't get over Stroud's sacrifice.
"People going on about visions and piss when real people are gone. Dead, probably." She tossed the item onto the bench. "Stroud, yeah? Lost a serious moustache there. And in trade, a busted-down bunch of Wardens. And they're always weird. Usually bad stuff happens first so you're glad when the hero shows up. But Wardens are the wrong way 'round. They're the good thing that means a bad thing is about to happen. Like in Denerim, when the Blight ended."
Eridc settled himself on one of the benches and watched Sera pace and fidget. The woman was never still. "A lot happened in Denerim. What did you see?"
"There weren't a lot of Wardens. Mostly people just talked about these two. There was a big fight, and one died, or, I don't know, maybe they didn't?"
"The Hero of Ferelden? You forget the Hero of Ferelden?" Erdic felt his jaw try to unhinge.
Sera threw up her hands and collapsed onto the other bench. "That was ages ago. Ten years. I was playing with small painted boxes and burying stuff I stole." She wouldn't quite meet Erdic's eyes. "I remember more people cringing about magic than Blight. Wardens were an excuse for your stuff to go missing." She shrugged. "Blackwall's nice, though. Different from the Adamant ones. Need more like him."
"Maxwell spoke to him a while ago. He's taking it well, but could perhaps use a bit more cheering. What say we find him some pie?"
"Oh, and beer. Pie and beer."
Solas was less than thrilled about the Wardens. However, he kept his rate under control and calm when Ellana entered the room. "You have begun practising you magical form. Interesting. You seem to be drawing upon the raw substance of the Fade. Passing through the Fade must've made you a more adept to channelling such magic. I use similar techniques, although it took me years to learn them. Why did you choose such an esoteric area of study?"
"I hoped that sizing such magic would help me better understand the Fade," Ellana shrugged.
"While our fight affords little time for formal study, the wise can better themselves even in the midst of battle. Perhaps especially then. I hope your new studies serve you well."
Sera led them to the outskirts of Crestwood, but quickly became nervous, stating the situation didn't feel right. "I was expecting a village or something. The people that leave me stuff don't trek out to places like this." She shook her head. "Give me a city, and I'll give you a tour, but—surprise, surprise—I don't know stupid woods or ruins." Something rustled. "What's that?"
A young man came rushing towards them, then stopped short when he caught sight of them. "Don't hurt me! Harmond made me do it!"
Erdic sighed, he knew it was too good to be true. "Right, things have gone sour. As they do."
"No, no!" He shook his head. "It has to go right, or he'll kill me for the marching. It wasn't my fault!"
"You were the one with the rumour out of Verchiel?" Sera took a step forward. "My friend?"
His eyes widened. "You're her? You're the one he's waiting for!" He started to turn and run from them. "It's her! She's here! Red Jenny!" Two arrows caught him in the chest, dropping him to the ground.
Erdic drew his sword as Sera nocked an arrow. Several guards came out of the woods, and she could make out a man standing next to a stone pillar, watching.
The observer held up his hands in a placating gesture as they came towards him, stepping over the bodies of the men he'd sent to ambush them. "Whoa-ho-ho! Hold on! I was not aware one of the Inquisitor guards was personally involved!" He pasted a friendly smile on his face. "This is a tragic misunderstanding! Let's all sheath our swords, you walk out, and we'll conduct this like business!"
He didn't need the sword to deal with him. He'd just had his men kill one of Sera's people, an unarmed man. Sera sounded furious. "Don't believe this pissbag. He started it." Erdic gestured for them to lower their weapons.
He stepped out of the shadows. His clothing was finely tailored and embroidered. Nobility then. "There." He sounded satisfied. "That wasn't so hard, was it? We identified the confusion, and we worked past it. I'm Lord Pel Harmond. I do hope, sir, that you continue to respond to reason. After all, your choice of company is hardly virtuous." Arrogance practically dripped off every word.
"Frigging user, you are. Another noble prick who punches down!" Sera shifted from foot to foot, clearly wanting to go for her weapons again.
Harmond rolled his eyes at Sera before turning his attention back to Erdic. "We're the same, you and I." His looked down at him. "Well, that is overstating it. You are nothing like me. But we both need people."
"You want to talk now, but Sera is my ally and an ally to the Inquisitor." Erdic narrowed his eyes. "You attacked her 'friends'." And based on the report the soldiers had given, he'd burned the homes of some peasants.
"Come now, you know how much her meddling cost me? Because apparently you were complicit." He folded his arms and tried to return his glare. "Honestly, previous to this very moment, I thought you'd also been tricked by these Red Jennies. Despite your 'foreign' nature, as one of the Inquisitor's guards, you are a social peer. I attacked them on behalf of both."
"Arse-biscuit!" Sera shot the words at him.
"Quite. Sir? Guardian. I don't want to be your enemy. I am barely invested in being hers." He went back to smiling. "If you are willing to recognise an opportunity, we could be exceptional partners."
There was certainly an opportunity here. "A partnership gets me your enemies. I need the territory."
Sera blinked at him. "What are you doing? He's half the mess in Verchiel."
He smiled. "And now his job is recruiting the other." He turned back to Harmond. "Consider your lands and title requisitioned." He caressed his sword. "You opened the bargaining. Think of your immediate options."
He swallowed. "Surprising, disappointing, but also welcome over the alternative."
Next to her, Sera cackled. "Won't be hearing from you again."
"Be sure to return the favour." He sneered at her.
Sera stuck out her tongue and made a rude noise.
They stopped in to see how the fort was shaping up. Charter let them know that her friend, a man named Butcher, hadn't arrived for a rendezvous. Maxwell sent Erdic, Sera, Iron Bull, and Dorian to see if they could find him.
Venatori had ambushed and killed the man. They avenged him, and then took his notes to Charter. The rest of the evening was spent sitting with Charter and a few others who knew Butcher, listening to stories of the man as those who had known him best toasted his memory. Paying for the drinks seemed the least she could do.
Erdic stopped in to see Sera after they'd returned to Skyhold. Sera gave him a warm smile. "There's you. How was that Harmond mess, huh?" She flopped down onto the cushions. "I should be angry you let him live, but his kind really hate a leash. I mean, he deserved worse for turning it all bad, but we made out just fine. Good one, you."
He knew what it was like to get caught between warring factions. "Risky, but keep it within the Inquisition, and I'll support you."
"Even though this puckered around us?" Sera gave him a disbelieving look.
"Even so."
"Well. Good then." Sera shifted, then tucked her legs up under her. "Right, what do you mean, because I'm really not used to that…" She gestured. "Acceptance thing you're doing right there."
"We'll have some differences, but I want to be one of your friends." The woman brought an entirely new perspective to the Inquisition. Often a crazy one, but a new one.
"You're pretty big to be one of my contacts." Sera blinked, then continued quickly, "Important, I mean. Not fat. But all right, Erdic." She rocked back merrily in her seat. "You're on my good side. We'll see if it lasts."
Iron Bull sat up and brushed the dirt off his shoulder harness. "Did you see it that time?"
"Not sure Chief. Might need her to knock you down a few more times for it to really become clear." Krem grinned widely, then winked at Cassandra. Cassandra just rolled her eyes in response.
He got back to his feet and shook out his shoulders. Even slowed for demonstration purposes, he was going to have some bruises later. Battering rams hit with less force than Cassandra. "Hey, Seeker, if I hit a guy high while you go low, you think we could get him to flip?"
She blinked. "Flip?"
"Yes. Ass over tea kettle, you know."
"I…" She tilted her head to one side uncertainly. "Suppose that could be done?"
"I'm always wanted to get a guy to flip!" He started to gesture at Krem to try it out, and then glanced back at Cassandra.
"You're certainly unusual for a Qunari," said a voice.
They turned and found Theron joining them.
"Should I take that as an insult?" Iron Bull asked.
"I'm just saying that you are nothing like Sten or should that be Arishok, now?"
Iron Bull chuckled. "I forgot that you and the Arishok fought side-by-side."
"Yes, and he wasn't a very cheerful person. In fact he wanted us to find the archdemon and slay it, while we were searching for allies."
"Yeah, I can see the differences," Iron Bull nodded. "Anyway, I've heard that you and Red were together, but now separate."
"I broke her heart, I can't go up to her and say 'Do you want to get back together'?"
"She still loves you," said Cassandra. "Perhaps the two of you should talk."
"I think right now we need to be on our own," said Theron. He then pulled out Starfang. "Now, how about a sparring match."
Cassandra smiled and drew out her sword and the two of them began to spa.
