Eamon folded his arms and narrowed his eyes at the men who entered the room. "Loghain. This is... an honor, that the regent would find time to greet me personally."

"How could I not welcome a man so important as to call every lord in Ferelden away from his estates while a Blight claws at our land?" Loghain gestured angrily.

"The Blight is why I'm here. With Cailan dead, Ferelden must have a king to lead it against the darkspawn."

Loghain shook his head. "Ferelden has a strong leader: its queen. And I lead her armies."

Saitada stepped to Eamon's side. "If Anora rules, let her speak for herself." That Anora was not here did not bode well.

Loghain looked down at her. "Ah, the Grey Warden recruit. I thought we might meet again. You have my sympathies on what happened to your order. It is unfortunate that they chose to turn against Ferelden."

It was all she could do not to put a hand to her sword. How dare he dishonor Duncan like that. "Enough of this. When does the Landsmeet begin?"

"Don't interrupt, churl. Your betters are talking," said the woman at Loghain's right.

"Enough, Cauthrien, this is not the time or place. I had hoped to talk you down from this rash course, Eamon. Our people are frightened: Our king is dead. Our land is under siege. We must be united now, if we are to endure this crisis. Your own sister, Queen Rowan, fought tirelessly to see Ferelden restored. Would you see her work destroyed? You divide our nation and weaken our efforts against the Blight with your selfish ambitions to the throne."

A pretty speech. Too bad it was the man who'd caused all those problems that was delivering it. "What efforts can there be when you outlaw the Grey Wardens?"

"Cailan depended on the Grey Warden's prowess against the darkspawn, and look how well that ended. Let us speak of reality, rather than tall tales. Stories will not save us."

"I cannot forgive what you've done, Loghain. Perhaps the Maker can, but not I. Our people deserve a king of the Theirin bloodline. Alistair will be the one to lead us to victory in this Blight."

"Oh, is that all I have to do. No pressure..." Saitada wanted to kick Alistair. This was not the time for him to be showing weakness. Maybe she should have taken Jerath's suggestion. She was grateful that Cathiel was holding her own tongue, though if looks could kill, the one she was giving Howe would bring down the archdemon.

"The emperor of Orlais also thought I could not bring him down. Expect no more mercy than I showed him. There is nothing I would not do for my homeland." With that, Loghain turned and stormed out, followed by the rest of his men.

Eamon let out a sigh of relief. "Well, that was... bracing. I didn't expect Loghain to show himself quite so soon."

Cathiel let out a snarl. "Howe killed my family. I can't let him get away with it."

Eamon gave her a sympathetic look. "I would not ask you to. But bear in mind that he will be well-protected by his alliance with Loghain." Distaste showed on his face. "He always seemed the kind of man who enjoyed kicking stray dogs. I would not have thought Loghain would trust him." He shook his head. "We need eyes and ears in the city. Loghain has been here for months. The roots of all his schemes must begin here. The sooner we find them, the better we can turn them to our advantage."

Saitada nodded. "You heard him. Leliana, Brehan, eyes and ears. Go. Cathiel, introduce Alistair to what nobles you know. Sten, go with them, play bodyguard. Jerath, you're from Denerim, see what you can find. The rest of you, help out, stay out of trouble."

#

Jerath picked up the package from the smith, and started back into the manor when he saw a woman enter the courtyard. She gestured at him. "You, rabbit, come here."

He sighed, but walked over to her. "Yes?"

"I am looking for someone." She began to describe Leliana. "Do you know this woman?"

He nodded.

"Is she in?"

"Not at the moment."

"Escort me to her quarters then, I have a gift I would like to leave for her." She held out a royal.

He took the coin. "This way." He set the parcel on a table, then led her past the servants quarters. "Are you a friend of Leliana's?" He had a feeling he knew the answer already.

"Oh, yes. Leliana and I go back a long way."

He led the woman towards the alley exit of the house. "Her room is right through here. What did you say your name was?"

"Marjolaine. Thank..."

"That's what I thought." He drove the knife up under her ribs in a smooth motion. "Should have left when she told you too."

She gasped once. He kicked the door open and carted her body to the dry well. He held onto the knife as he let the body fall, then went back to the manor. An elven servant held the door open for him. He handed her the coin, and she smiled. "You were the one that killed Vaughan."

"Yes."

"He hurt my daughter. You need anything, you let me know."

"Know where Slim is hiding these days?"

#

"Wonderful, another one. I suppose you're here to ask for a donation, too."

Cathiel slid into the seat across from the man. He blinked at her. "You're the youngest Cousland, aren't you. Probably looking for coin or men to take your teynir back. You're better off asking the darkspawn. They hold the West Hills now."

"Oh, uncle, I'm so sorry." Tears filled her eyes. "Your boys?"

"War claims the young and strong first. And plague doesn't care about skill or bravery."

She put her hands on his, and he clung to them for a moment. "I'm with the Grey Wardens. We've been gathering an army."

"I've nothing left for you."

"All we need is your voice. We have Orzammar, and the mages behind us. Even the Dalish are sending aid. We just need Ferelden to answer the call of Maric's surviving son, Alistair."

Wulff looked at her. For a moment, she saw the tiniest glimmer of hope in his eyes. "You look like your mother, you know." He nodded. "Call, girl. And I will answer."

#

"Brosca?"

"Hey Junior, whatcha need?"

"Got your lockpicks?"

Brosca raised an eyebrow. "Yes."

"Want to go steal Loghain's crown?"

He started to laugh, and then blinked. "Stone, you serious?" He looked Jerath over. "Where have you been all day?"

"Embarking on a life of crime. You in or not?"

Brosca snorted. "Like I'd miss this." He considered. "Want me to get Fireball and Zev?"

"Subtle isn't really their thing."

"Good point. Let's go."

#

"I examined your scrolls. I know a few of the early Chantry ciphers, but I am not fully familiar with this one," Justine said. She was practically giddy with excitement. "The bits I have made out... This may be an account of Maferath's final days and perhaps more."

Brehan glanced at Leliana, who was just staring at the other woman. "Maferath - as in Andraste's husband?" he asked.

"I know; it's remarkable. The same Maferath who betrayed our prophet and saw her burn alive in Minrathous. If we could get a real translation, well, it could be the find of our lifetime!"

He smiled. Leliana beamed. "Could we get a copy of the translation?" he asked.

"When I finish decoding it, absolutely. But it will not be easy. It could take months; the ciphers were designed to be difficult for the magisters to decrypt." She smiled. "Who knows what secrets we can uncover? What truths we can find?" She held out a coinpurse. "Here is all of the allowance I have for acquisitions."

Brehan closed her hand back over her purse. "We cannot take your coin. King Alistair will be pleased to know what we recovered will be useful to the Chantry."

Her eyes gleamed. "A thousand, thousand blessings."

Leliana put her arm around his waist as they left. He looked down at her. "Next?"

"Our next task is going to be very unpleasant," she said.

"Oh?"

Leliana sighed. "We are about to go before the nobility of Ferelden. We must somehow convince certain of our friends to look the part."

Brehan considered. "What did we do with that drakeskin?"

#

"Where is Brosca?" Saitada said, looking from Lenore to Zevran.

Lenore shook her head. "He went with Jerath about three hours ago. They said they'd be back by lunch."

"There they are," Zevran said.

Saitada narrowed her eyes as she saw Jerath and Brosca walking back to the house. They looked as if they'd been in a recent fight, and Brosca looked very irritated. She sighed. "Where have you two been?"

"Staying out of trouble," Jerath replied.

"Really?" She looked them over. "And how is that going?"

"Badly."

She shook her head. "Anything you want to tell me?"

"Plausible deniability is a virtue in a leader." Brosca said. He gestured towards Lenore and Zevran. "Hey, Zev, Fireball!"

"Yes, amor?" Zevran said.

"We need backup, you two game?"

"Backup for what?" Saitada asked.

"You do not want to know," Jerath told her.

"It worries me that I think you are right about that," Saitada said.

"Relax, we are just running a couple errands for the guards, mostly," Brosca said. "Town is running a bit lawless right now."

#

Kylon shook his head. "And people actually voluntarily attack you? Are they just stupid?"

"Most of um, yeah." Brosca grinned at the man.

"Here's the payment I promised."

"Nah, keep your coin," Brosca told him. "This was a courtesy."

"A courtesy?"

Brosca gestured at Lenore, Jerath, and Zevran. "King Alistair asked if we wouldn't mind helping out a bit."

Kylon raised an eyebrow, and then nodded slowly. "You have my gratitude." He considered a moment. "A lot of folk swallow whatever lies are fed to them, but us believers will try and spread word about you and the Wardens."

"Much appreciated. Let us know if you need anything else."

"I will."

Brosca waited for him to walk away. "So, this other thing?"

"Much as I hate to say this..." Jerath sighed. "We need to head back to the Pearl."

"Heh."

#

Brehan looked around the library. He frowned, then went into the next room. "Morrigan, have you seen Lenore?"

"She is with Brosca and Zevran. They dragged Jerath off somewhere."

"Oh. Are you busy then?"

She grimaced. "If one more servant asks if I would like a change of clothes, I will set the house on fire."

Brehan made a mental note to mention that to Leliana. "We found some trouble, and could use a mage. Up for some killing?"

He almost laughed at how quickly she bounded to her feet. "Let us make haste."

They met Leliana in the corridor. She sighed. "I couldn't find Jerath, Saitada is with Eamon, and Alistair and Sten are out somewhere. So..." She sighed. "I have Oghren and Shale."

Oghren belched. "Where we going?"

"Minor blood mage issue."

"Let us go crush the squishy mages then."

#

"What's the password?" A voice on the other side of the door said.

"The griffons will rise again," Jerath replied. Brosca gave him a questioning look, and he shrugged.

"Come in. Quickly."

The door opened, and they were ushered inside.

A heavily armed man grinned at them wickedly. "More Grey Warden supporters," he said, putting a hand on his sword. Brosca noticed a few dried pools of blood around the room. He glanced at Jerath, who winked at him.

A woman to his left smiled maliciously. "Not just supporters, Paedan. Those are Grey Wardens." She nodded. "Not the one Arl Howe is offering the bonus for, but these are on the list."

Paedan's grin broadened. "Our trap landed wardens? You've got one chance to surrender."

Brosca blinked, and then started laughing. "Surrender? Stone, that's bloody hilarious." He glanced at Jerath. "There's four of them, and they are asking us to surrender. Us."

"Perhaps we should let them go get friends? That would make it more sporting, no?" Zevran said.

"Jerath, do we need one alive for questioning, or can I just set them all on fire?" Lenore asked.

Jerath shrugged. "I was planning on killing all of them, but they offered us a chance to surrender. Seems fair we give them the same courtesy."

The smiles on the faces of the men in front of them turned to confusion. Paeden shook his head. "I don't think you get it. We're not common guards, Warden. We're Howe's elite."

Lenore laughed so hard she actually snorted. "The elite? Oh for... Didn't we kill like forty of these guys on our way up the Frostbacks?"

"Thirty six," Jerath said.

Brosca shook his head. "I counted thirty four."

"The two archers were simple bandits," Zevran said.

"I was thinking of those mages."

"Ah, well, then, you're right, thirty six." Brosca shrugged. "I got ten silver says Lenore can freeze all of them solid in one go."

"I'll take that," Jerath said.

#

"Pay up, Junior."

"My apologies for having doubted you, Lenore."

"She is a marvel, is she not?" Zevran kissed her cheek. "So, we are still in the Pearl, perhaps..."

"You can go play." Jerath shrugged. "I need to let Ignacio know the job is done."

Zevran blinked. "Ignacio?" He shook his head. "Ignacio is here?"

"Trouble, Zevran?" Brosca asked.

"I..." Zevran sighed. "Jerath, my friend, if you are getting involved in the Crows on my behalf..."

"I'm involved because someone is paying the Crows to deal with some of Howe's people. That assisting them in this is keeping them off your back is just a nice bonus." Jerath twitched a shoulder. "Cathiel said keeping the weak-willed moderates out of the Landsmeet would work to our advantage, so..."

Brosca started laughing. "Ah, so that's why the whole thing with that Couldry fellow. How many have we scared the shit out of so far?"

"Six." He shrugged. "This one was for us."

Zevran smiled. "So the ones otherwise intimidated by Loghain are now more scared of us, and the ones who see Loghain as the stable option now know it is we who protect them. Clever."

"I have learned from the best," Jerath said, giving them a small bow.

"Junior, right now, I couldn't be prouder of you if'n you were my own."

Lenore shook her head fondly. "Do we have a cover story for Saitada?"

"Kylon, of course," Brosca said. "We were helpin out the guard to make Alistair look good."

"All right. Let's go finish being bad guys." Lenore giggled. "It's fun."

#

Brosca stood back by the door, letting Jerath do the talking. Junior had found the guy in the first place, after all. Lenore was by him, and Zevran just outside the room. They'd discussed the matter on the way back. He'd had wanted just to kill Ignacio for that stunt, but Zevran had convinced them to hear the other man out.

"I heard there was quite a scuffle in the alley ways." Ignacio gave a respectful bow. "Well done, Warden."

"The boy wasn't there," Jerath replied.

"Don't worry, Warden. Some 'friends' have rescued the boy." Ignacio gave a pleased smile. "He's already safely home and back with his father... his very important father. You already took care of the father's other requirement. The man who kidnapped his son, Captain Chase, is quite dead thanks to you."

Brosca relaxed, and gave Jerath a slight nod. "We done here?" Jerath asked.

"Your payment is in the chest. I hope you find it most satisfying. My superiors want me to convey their thanks. The Crows aren't accepting any new contracts on you." He gave Jerath an appraising look, and then did the same to Brosca. "And when this Blight ends, we'd love you to visit Antiva to discuss other... opportunities."

"And the other matter?" Jerath asked. Brosca blinked. Junior hadn't mentioned any other matter.

"He arrived in Denerim this morning. I believe he will follow, and attempt an ambush the next time you find yourselves down an alley."

Jerath nodded, and then walked out of the room. The others followed. As soon as they were out of earshot, Brosca frowned. "What's the other matter?"

"There was a contract accepted on us before Ignacio made contact with me."

"And it will be active then, until we have killed those assassins," Zevran said. "The Crows do not cancel accepted contracts."

"So, we kill this bugger, we're clear?"

"Yes. Shall we go find him?" Jerath asked.

"Let us go assassinate the assassins," Lenore said.

#

"And so here are the mighty Grey Wardens at long last. The Crows send their greetings, once again."

Brosca saw Zevran sigh. "So they sent you, Taliesen? Or did you volunteer for the job?"

The man atop the stairs laughed. "I volunteered, of course. When I heard that the great Zevran had gone rogue, I simply had to see it for myself."

Brosca saw Lenore's hand tighten on the branch she used as a staff. Jerath raised an eyebrow at Brosca, and Brosca just jerked his head at Zevran. Jerath gave him a nod, and stepped back to let Zevran play it out. "Is that so? Well here I am, in the flesh."

"You can return with me, Zevran. I know why you did this, and I don't blame you. It's not too late. Come back and we'll make up a story. Anyone can make a mistake."

Lenore's voice was cool, calm, and held just a trace of wolf. "Zevran belongs with us now."

Taliesen laughed. "You don't even know who you're talking about, do you?"

Zevran shook his head. "And neither do you, Taliesen." He put his hand on Brosca's shoulder. "I'm sorry, my old friend. But the answer is no. I'm not coming back... and you should have stayed in Antiva."

#

Jerath walked some distance away to let the three of them talk. Zevran stood over the body of his former friend. "And there is it." His voice was heavy and sad. "Taliesen is dead, and I am free of the Crows." He looked from Brosca to Lenore. "They will assume that I am dead along with Taliesen. So long as I do not make my presence known to them, they will not seek me out."

"So what does this mean?" Lenore asked.

"I do not know." Zevran inhaled, and looked thoughtful. "It seems I have options now, whereas once I had none." He looked down, then back up at them. "I suppose it would be possible for me to leave, now, if I wished. I could go far away, somewhere where the Crows would never find me." He looked from one to the other again. "I think, however, that I could also stay here. I made an oath to help you, after all. And saving the world seems a worthy task to see through to the end, yes?"

Lenore glanced at Brosca, and then smiled at Zevran. "If you want to go, you should go."

He blinked. "But that is what I am asking you. Do you want me to go? Do you need me here?"

Brosca took Lenore's hand. "We want you to do what's best for you."

He turned, then turned back, then shook his head. "I... am not sure how to respond to that. Nobody has ever... I mean, normally these things are decided by others." He shuffled his feet, then looked from Lenore to Brosca. "Err... then I suppose I shall... stay? Is that... good?"

Lenore and Brosca held out their other hands to him. Lenore smiled impishly. "It would be hard to kiss you if you left."

He laughed, and took their hands, letting them draw him into the circle. "You know... that is so very true."

Brosca kissed him, and then Lenore did the same.