Maxwell and Adaar walked by Iron Bull and Krem practicing in the courtyard. He was trying to demonstrate a shield bash at Krem.

"Ah, come on, Krem! I'm working my ass off to get you to see that move!" he yelled after another failed attempt.

"You've still got plenty of ass left, chief," said Krem. He then noticed macron and Adaar approaching them. "Uh, Your Worship, Guardian."

Iron Bull looked up. "Glad you came by. I got a letter from my contacts in the Ben-Hassrath. Already verified it with Red."

Adaar glanced at Krem, and then shrugged. "Do you want to discuss this alone?"

"Not like I was hiding it from my boys. Besides, right now, I need to hit something."

Krem panted. "You know they've got training dummies, Chief."

"The training dummy might actually defend itself against the shield bash. Anyway, the Ben-Hassrath letter…" He turned back to them.

"What did the letter say?" Maxwell asked.

"The Ben-Hassrath have been reading my reports. They don't like Corypheus or his Venatori. And they really don't like red lyrium." He rubbed at one of his horns. "They're ready to work with us. With you, boss. The Qunari and the Inquisition, joining forces."

"That could be a powerful alliance."

"My people have never made a full-blown alliance with a foreign power before. This would be a big step." He rolled his shoulders. "They've found a massive red lyrium shipping operation out on the coast."

Krem grinned as he set up for another shield bash. "They want us to hit it together. Talked about bringing in one of their dreadnoughts." He adjusted his stance. "Always wanted to see one of those big warships in action."

Iron Bull knocked him on his ass, then shook his head. "Did you see that? Go get some water." He glanced back at them. "They're worried about tipping the smugglers, so no army. My Chargers, you, maybe some backup."

"What does this alliance really get us?" Adaar asked frowning.

"They wouldn't use the word 'alliance' if they didn't mean it. Naval power. More Ben-Hassrath reports. Qunari soldiers pointed at the Venatori…" He rubbed at his horn again. "It could do a lot of good."

Maxwell noticed the uneasiness from the two Qunari. "You two don't seem entirely happy about this."

"No, I'm good. It's, uh…" He shrugged. "I'm used to them being over there. It's been awhile."

"In case you've forgotten, Inquisitor, I'm Tal-Vashoth, they always make me uneasy," said Adaar.

Understandable. "I think the Inquisition could use some help from the Qunari."

"Good. I'll pass the word to Cullen and Red. We can set up the meeting whenever you're ready."


Maxwell and Adaar assembled a small task force of forces and joined Iron Bull and the charges at the Storm Coast.

"All right, our Qunari contact should be here to meet us," said Iron Bull.

"He is." An elven man in strange armour stepped out from the rocks. "Good to see you again, Hissrad."

"Gatt!" Iron Bull spread his hands and grinned. "Last I heard, you were still in Seheron!"

"They finally decided I'd calmed down enough to go back out into the world."

Iron Bull then turned to both Maxwell and Adaar. "Boss, this is Gatt. We worked together in Seheron."

Gatt nodded. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Inquisitor and you too Guardian. Hissrad's reports say you're doing good work."

"Iron Bull's name is Hissrad?" said Adaar curiously.

"Under the Qun, we use titles, not names."

"My title was 'Hissrad,' because I was assigned to secret work. You can translate it as 'Keeper of Illusions,' or…"

"'Liar.' It means liar." Gatt shrugged.

"Well, you don't have to say it like that."

"I look forward to working together," said Maxwell.

"Hopefully, this will help both our peoples." Gatt shrugged. "Tevinter is dangerous enough without the influence of this Venatori cult."

"Yes," said Dorian from behind them. Maybe bringing him wasn't his best idea. "Filthy, decadent brutes, the lot of them. I'm certain life would be so much better for all of us under the Qun."

Gatt's eyes narrowed. "It was for me, after the Qunari rescued me from slavery in Tevinter. I was eight. The Qun isn't perfect, but it gave me a better life."

"Yes, one free from all that pointless free will and independent thought. Such an improvement."

"Arguing about the war between your two nations isn't going to help anyone right now," said Maxwell calmly.

"I'm not here to convert anyone." Gatt spread his hands. "All I care about is stopping this red lyrium from reaching Minrathous."

"With this stuff, the Vints could make their slaves into an army of magical freaks. We could lose Seheron…" Iron Bull gave a slow shake of his head. "And see a giant Tevinter army come marching back down here."

"The Ben-Hassrath agree. That's why we're here." He pointed. "Our dreadnought is safely out of view, and out of range of any Venatori mages on shore. We'll need to eliminate the Venatori, then signal the dreadnought so it can come in and take out the smuggler ship."

"There might be Venatori mages on the ship as well. If the dreadnought can't handle them…" said Adaar, her father told enough about dreadnought about their weaknesses to mages.

"It's unlikely there'll be more than two or three mages on the ship. And they'll be dead by the third shot." Gatt shrugged. "On land, though, a half-dozen Venatori attacking the dreadnought from cover could do some serious damage."

Adaar looked at Iron Bull. "What do you think, Bull?"

"Don't know. I've never liked covering a dreadnought run. Too many ways for crap to go wrong. If our scouts underestimate the enemy numbers, we're dead. If we can't lock down the Venatori mages, the ship is dead." He frowned. "It's risky."

"Riskier than letting red lyrium into Minrathous?"

Adaar questioned Gatt further, and wasn't mollified by his answers. Still, they seemed stuck with the plan. The Qunari weren't going to budge. "Let's go hold up our end of this bargain, then."

"My agents suggested two possible locations the Venatori may be camped to guard the shore." He indicated the locations. "There…" He turned. "And there. We'll need to split up and hit both at once."

"I'll come with you, boss. Krem can lead the Chargers. Let me fill him in. Come by when you're ready to move."

Adaar looked at Maxwell and the others and could plainly see that they were worried about the plan as well.


Iron Bull bantered with his men, but she'd known him long enough to tell he was worried. The Chargers moved off to do their jobs.

"You gave your Chargers the easier target." Gatt smirked at Iron Bull.

"You think?"

"Lower and farther from the smuggler's ship? It's much less likely to be heavily defended."

"Suppose we'll do the heavy lifting, then. Just like old times."

Gatt chuckled in response.

They hit the first group of Venatori, and dealt with them easily enough. She doubted they even knew what hit them. Though Dorian was being a bit flashier than usual.

Gatt kept looking at Cole. Finally, he spoke. "Iron Bull's reports say you're a demon."

"I'm trying not to be. Sometimes it's hard. I want to kill a lot of people, but I don't."

"Because the Inquisitor's Dalish mage has bound you?" Gatt glanced at Ellana and her staff. Ellana glared.

Cole just looked confused. "Because it's not right."

"Bull, how can you work with a demon?"

"He's all right."

They hadn't gone much further when Gatt addressed Solas. "I don't see any tattoos, but you're carrying a staff. Are you from a Chantry Circle?"

Solas gave the younger elf a withering look. "No. And I would prefer not to discuss it."

"Have I done something to offend you?" Gatt looked slightly taken aback.

"You joined the Qun," said Solas as he continued to walk.

"After they rescued me from slavery."

"And put you into something worse." Solas didn't bother to look back at the other man. "A slave may always struggle for freedom, but you among the Qun have been taught not to think."

"Solas, not the time." Iron Bull was starting to look frustrated.


They took out the next group. One almost managed to get a spell off before her plunged her greatsword into him.

Gatt glanced over the hill. "Can you make out any of your mercenaries down there?"

"Not from here. Probably a better view once we take the Vints' camp."

"Worried?"

"They're my men. I've been with some of them for years."


The last group didn't fare any better than the first two. Solas caught one of the larger warriors with one of his summoned fists, sending the man flying off the cliff. Ellana felt a bit bad about how she always found that just a little funny. He caught her eye as she tried to hide the smile, and winked.

"We're clear, Gatt."

"Right. Signaling the dreadnought." He tossed something into the fire, and a flare shot up into the sky.

Iron Bull smiled proudly. "Chargers already sent theirs up. See'em down there?"

Adaar tossed a salute in their direction, and made out Krem's return wave in the distance.

"I knew you gave them the easier job." Gatt just shook his head.

"There's the dreadnought." Iron Bull pointed. "That brings back memories." She had to admit, the ship was impressive. It took it only moments to sink the smuggler ship. Next to her, Iron Bull laughed. "Nice one!" He started to turn back towards his men. "Crap."

Venatori mages were heading towards the Charger's location. They were well out of range for any of the mages. "They've still got time to fall back if you signal them now," said Adaar.

"Yeah." Iron Bull reached for his signal horn.

"Your men need to hold that position, Bull."

"They do that, they're dead." Iron Bull lowered his head, glaring at Gatt.

"And if they don't, the Venatori retake it and the dreadnought is dead." He pointed. "You'd be throwing away an alliance between the Inquisition and the Qunari! You'd be declaring yourself Tal-Vashoth!" Gatt gestured. "With all you've given the Inquisition, half the Ben-Hassrath think you've betrayed us already! I stood up for you, Hissrad! I told them you would never become Tal-Vashoth!"

"They're my men."

"I know. But you need to do what's right, Hissrad…" Gatt pointed at the dreadnought. "For this alliance, and for the Qun."

Adaar was furious. The Chargers were not going to be sacrificed because the Qunari had screwed up their plan. If that's what their alliance took, she wanted no part of it. She turned her eyes onto Maxwell, who nodded in agreement.

"Call the retreat," said Maxwell.

"Don't!" Gatt begged.

Iron Bull blew the signal. Immediately, the Chargers began to move. "They're falling back."

Gatt looked crushed. "All these years, Hissrad, and you throw away all that you are. For what? For this? For them?"

Adaar marched up to him as if it wasn't for her self-control, Gatt would have been about three seconds away from her finding out just how well he could swim. "His name is Iron Bull."

"I suppose it is." Gatt turned away.

"No way they'll get out of range. Won't be long now."

Maxwell looked up at Iron Bull. "Bull, when the dreadnought sinks…"

"Sinks?" Iron Bull's voice was slightly hoarse. "Qunari dreadnoughts don't sink." They watched the ship explode into flames.

"My father told me that Qunari explode the dreadnoughts rather than have them in the hands of the enemy," Adaar explained as she placed a hand on Iron Bull's arm.

"Come on. Let's get back to my boys," said Iron Bull.


"You are not Tal-Vashoth, Iron Bull, not really," said Solas as they made their way back to Skyhold.

"Well that's a fuckin' relief." Iron Bull sent a glare in Solas's direction.

"You are no beast, snapping under the stress of the Qun's harsh discipline." Solas ignored the glare. "You are a man who made a choice… possibly the first of your life."

Iron Bull sighed. "I've always liked fighting. What if I turn savage, like the other Tal-Vashoth?"

"You have the Inquisitor, you his guard, you have the Inquisitor…" He gave Iron Bull a respectful nod. "And you have me."

"Thanks, Solas." The big man actually smiled.


When they returned to Skyhold they found Gatt waiting there with a face that rang with disapproval.

"Inquisitor, it is my duty to inform you that there will be no alliance between our peoples." Gatt's face was set into hard lines. "Nor will you be receiving any more Ben-Hassrath reports from your Tal-Vashoth ally."

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a bit of fire around Dorian's hands before the man took a deep breath. Clearly, Adaar wasn't the only one angry at the situation. Iron Bull shook his head at his former friend. "You under orders to kill me, Gatt?"

"No. The Ben-Hassrath have already lost one good man. They'd rather not lose two." He walked away without looking back.

Iron Bull sighed. "So much for that."

"I'm proud of you, Bull," Adaar smiled.

He chuckled. "Thanks, boss." He then turned as Krem approach them. "You're late."

"Sorry chief. Still a bit sore from fighting off all those Vints. Good to see you, Inquisitor and you Adaar."

"How did the Chargers come out of the fight?" Adaar asked.

Krem smiled. "Just fine. Thanks to the two of you and the chief, we had plenty of time to fall back. Chief's even breaking open a cask of Chasind Sack Mead for the Chargers tonight."

"Damn it, Krem, that's the kind of thing you don't have to mention to the Inquisitor and his guard." Iron Bull glared.

"Sorry, chief," said Krem though he didn't look at all apologetic.

"Ah, forget it. You're doing fine."


Maxwell found Adaar a few hours later at the tavern, she was busy drinking herself into a stupor.

"How do you feel about this?" Maxwell asked as he sat down next to her.

"The Qun is exactly how my father described it," said Adaar. "No free will and treats its men like pieces on a board. Leaving the Qun was the first time my parents ever came up with an idea of their own. Reminds me I need a favour."

"What kind?"

"I recently got word that some of the members of my old mercenary company have gone missing," said Adaar. "I was hoping that you could send our people to investigate."

"Of course," Maxwell nodded.

"I may not be part of the company any more, but I still like to keep tabs on them."


"You wanted to see me?" Adaar walked towards Iron Bull on the ramparts.

He started to nod, and then turned as the soldier walking up behind him pulled out a dagger. He quickly turned and punched him in the face, but then the second soldier tossed a knife right into his chest.

He pulled it out and then tossed it back at him.

"Bull!"

"I got it." He sounded more annoyed than anything. He tossed the first man off the ramparts.

"Ebost Isalla, Tal-Vashoth!" said the first man in Qunlat.

Iron Bull grunted, and tossed him over the side to join the other one. "Yeah, yeah, my soul's dust. Yours is scattered all over the ground, though, so…" He grunted as he looked at the wound. "Sorry, boss. I thought I might need backup. Guess I'm not even worth sending professionals for."

"Are you all right?"

"Fine. Hurt myself worse than this fooling around in bed."

"What if they used poison?" she said looking at the wound with great concern.

"Oh, they definitely used poison. Saar-qamek, liquid form. If I hadn't been dosing myself with the antidote, I'd be going crazy and puking my guts up right now. As it is, it stings like shit, but that's about it."

"You knew the assassins were coming?" She stared.

"Little change in the guard rotation tipped me off." He shrugged. "Thought there'd be more."

"Why didn't you tell me ahead of time?" She folded her arms.

"You go through years of Ben-Hassrath training to hide facial expressions when I wasn't looking?" He narrowed his eyes at her. She glared back at him, and he grinned. "See? Like that. If I'd warned you or the guards, the assassins would've been tipped off."

"I hoped the Ben-Hassrath would let you go."

"They did."

He shook his head. "Sending two guys with blades against me? That's not a hit. That's a formality. Just making it clear I'm Tal-Vashoth. Tal-Va-fucking-shoth."

Adaar narrowed her eyes. "You don't have to say 'Tal-Vashoth' like it's an insult."

Iron Bull realised his mistake. "This isn't about you, boss."

"But I'm Tal-Vashoth, too. Just like you," Adaar pointed out.

"No, you're not," said Iron Bull shaking his head. "Not really. You grew up with a family. You never knew anything different. I've killed hundreds of Tal-Vashoth in Seheron. Bandits, murderers, bastards who turned their back on the Qun. And now I'm one of them."

"Bullshit," said Adaar pressing a finger on his chest. "You're a good man."

"Without the Qun to live by…"

"Hey!" Adaar and slapped him across the face. He looked at her with surprise all over his face. "You're a good man. If the Beh-Hassrath don't see that, it's their loss."

Iron Bull rubbed his cheek. "Thanks, boss." He sighed. "Anyway, I'll get this cleaned up and let Red and Theron know what happened."

She then began to leave. "Boss?" She stopped and looked at him. "Whatever I miss, whatever I regret… this is where I want to be. Whenever you need an ass kicked, The Iron Bull is with you."