"And the maid just happens to conveniently escape to bring a message straight to Arl Eamon?" Brosca asked skeptically.

"Cailan was Anora's husband. Is it that absurd to think she may have challenged her father over his death?" Cathiel responded.

"It's worth looking into, I suppose." Saitada responded, frowning. "We just need to come up with some kind of plan."

"Get guard or servant uniforms, sneak around the back, go in through the servants entrance." Jerath commented, making a sketch on the table with his fingertip. "Get through the main hall without anyone being the wiser, and it's pretty much a straight shot into the bedroom areas. Could pull it off with just a couple folks..." he caught Saitada's look. "What?"

"You used to work at the estate?"

Jerath shook his head. "Broke in once before. Me and a friend of mine, guy named Soris. He wasn't much help."

Brehan snorted. Ah, so now we know the truth. You got caught and Duncan recruited you out of jail."

Jerath turned his head to look at Brehan. "No, not out of jail." He turned back to Saitada. "Guard uniforms would be better, man like Howe's going to be recruiting."

Saitada gave Brehan a look, causing the Dalish to bite back whatever smart remark he was planning to make. "We can't risk the queen getting hurt."

"Give me Cathiel, Zevran..." Jerath sketched the table with his finger a bit more. "Might need a mage. Morrigan can move in armor if she has too."

Saitada nodded. "Do it. I'll stay here and coordinate our new support with Eamon. Lenore, you and Wynne go through what Brehan and Leliana found on those mages, see if you can't find anything that traces them back to the blood mages. Sten, Oghren, stand by the gates of the place and look intimidating. If any of the others get into trouble, I want you positioned to get to them as fast as you can. Oghren, I see that bottle one more time I'm getting a hammer and it's going in your other end." Oghren dropped the bottle and kicked it under the table, painting an expression of injured innocence on his face. "Jerath, good luck. Keep the queen out of danger, if you can."

#

Cathiel glanced at Jerath, who raised an eyebrow at her. "Something amiss?"

Cathiel shook her head. "Just surprised you asked for me on this trip."

Jerath shrugged. "We are going to the Arl's estate. Good chance Howe will be there. Thought you might want to have a little chat with him."

Cathiel smiled slowly. "I do indeed." Her hand went to her arrows. "Very much."

"She is lovely when she has that bloodthirsty gleam in her eye, no?" Zevran said. He glanced up at Jerath. "So, what's the story? You break in here, rob the place blind or something?"

Jerath shrugged. "Or something

Zevran laughed. "There is Erlina."

#

Jerath helped Morrigan buckle into her armor. Zevran ended up having to do the same for Cathiel, as she had a bit of trouble with the heavy plate. She glared when he leered, and he merely winked in response.

Erlina glanced at them. "I can distract the guards, but you must move quickly."

"Why bother? There's only two of them," Cathiel said. She could take them both down with arrows easily.

The elven maid shook her head. "More guards patrol every hour. If they find these two missing, they will know... how you say? Something is amiss."

"Why so many patrols?" Cathiel asked.

"After what happened to the last Arl, Howe is cautious."

Cathiel sighed. "Let's go."

Erlina immediately went up the guards, wringing her hands in fright. "Oh! You must come! I saw something! By the fountain! I think it was a darkspawn!"

"Darkspawn?" The guard gave her a skeptical look.

She gestured hysterically. "They will drag us all underground to be eaten!"

The guard shifted uneasily, and looked at his companion. "Should we call for help?"

"They cannot be buying this," Cathiel muttered.

The other guard shook his head. "Did you fall off a cart full of stupid? Call for help? So they can see us act like scared little girls because of some knife-eared wench?"

"They will eat us all alive! Please! Get help!"

"She looks ridiculous," Cathiel muttered.

"If there is something out there and we don't sound the alarm, we'll look worse than scared."

"Andraste's holy knickers! Fine, we'll check the courtyard, if it'll keep you from wetting yourself. But there's nothing there."

"Thank you! Oh! It was over here! Quickly."

Cathiel ran a hand down her face. "Are you kidding me?"

#

"Here, I bought you a towel, a bar of soap and a razor while we were at the market."

"Aye? What is this for?" Oghren asked.

"You wash with it," Wynne said patiently.

"I know what soap is, woman!" Oghren said. Personally, Brehan had his doubts, but he wished Wynne the best of luck. "What is this flimsy slip of metal?"

"It's a razor. you shave with it."

"Shave! Any warrior worth his salt keeps his beard! That's what I keep telling Alistair."

"It's matted! It has stale food stuck in it!"

"Oh, so that's where that bit of herring got to. Anyway, it keeps my face warm. It doesn't have to be pretty. 'Sides, the ladies love it. Tickles them in all the right places if I wag my chin like this."

"Augh! Just take it. Take it!"

"I could easily have lived my entire life without seeing that," Leliana whispered.

"Ma suledin inan abelas." He shook his head. "Shall we go see how Wade is doing?"

#

"Those are the worse guards ever," Cathiel muttered.

Jerath sighed. "Cathiel, I promise, next time we need to distract a guard, I'll let you do it, okay?"

She chuckled, and gave him a fond shake of her head. "How did you distract the guard when you broke in?"

"I cut his throat."

Zevran laughed. "That would do the trick, no?"

Erlina entered behind them. "Ah! It took me forever to be rid of those two!" She gave them a warning look. "You must be careful now. The servants, they will not look too closely at anyone in uniform. All guards are alike to a cook, no? But you should not draw attention to yourself. Most of the guards are new. They will not know you for a stranger at a glance. It is best you keep your distance from all of them and try to blend in."

"Where's Anora?" Cathiel asked.

"She is in a guest room off the main hall."

"This way," Jerath said.

"Andraste guide us," Erlina said, as she followed.

#

"This is my lady's room. We must hurry." Erlina went ahead. "The Grey Wardens are here, my lady."

A voice came from the other side of the door. "Thank the Maker! I would greet you properly, but I'm afraid we've had... a setback."

Naturally. Why couldn't anything just go to plan? "What kind of setback?" Cathiel asked.

Anora's voice was frustrated and angry. "My 'host' was not content with leaving me under heavy guard. He's sealed the door by magic."

Cathiel gave Morrigan a quick look. The swamp witch examined the barrier, and then shook her head. "Great, now what?" Cathiel asked.

"We must get her out of there!" Erlina wrung her hands.

"Don't panic, Erlina," Anora said, barely hiding the annoyance in her voice. "Find the mage who cast the spell. He'll most likely be at Howe's side."

Cathiel gritted her teeth at the command. "Fine. We'll be back soon."

"Thank you, Warden. My prayers go with you."

"Teyrn Howe," Erlina recoiled from the look Cathiel shot her. She swallowed. "Will probably be in his rooms."

"End of the hall, on the left," Jerath said.

Erlina looked at him, then suddenly her eyes widened. "It was you?"

"Yes."

"Maker."

Cathiel blinked. Jerath shook his head. "Let's go."

#

Cathiel's jaw dropped when the prisoner reached out, caught the guard by the throat, and snapped his neck. A moment later, the door swung open, and the prisoner began stripping the guard of his armor with quick, efficient movements. She could sense him. She glanced at Jerath, and he nodded. The prisoner was a warden.

"I thank you for creating such a distraction, stranger. I have been waiting weeks for this opportunity." He began putting the armor on. "You never hear music in the sound of a key turning in a lock until you've been imprisoned."

"Who are you?" Cathiel asked.

"I am Riordan. Senior Grey Warden of Jader. And you... must be Duncan's recruits. Yes, you match the description. Jerath, yes?"

"Yes."

Riordan nodded. "And you are Lenore?"

"Cathiel Cousland."

"Ah... I heard that rumor. I am pleased to learn it is true."

"Are these your papers?" she asked.

"Yes. These are my records. The names of the dead I could recognize at Ostagar. What I could find of Duncan's own recruitment records. Copies of the Joining ritual I rescued from our Denerim vault. Those should never be seen by any outside eyes, but I trust in their encryption."

Cathiel blinked. "What vault?"

"The Grey Wardens have long maintained a vault in Denerim, with spare supplies for battle. It is protected by a coded lock."

"That would have been helpful," Cathiel said.

"When I went there recently, it had clearly been tampered with - I presume by Loghain, since you appear to have not known of its existence - but it remained impermeable."

"How did Arl Howe capture you?"

"With an offer of hospitality and a poisoned chalice. I was fool enough to think Loghain didn't yet know who I was."

"The way out is clear enough," Jerath said. "The rest of the order is at Arl Eamon's manor. Report to Warden Commander Saitada."

Riordan blinked at Jerath, and then nodded. "Will do."

Cathiel waited for him to leave, and then glanced at Jerath. "Are you supposed to be ordering senior wardens?"

"This is Ferelden. We are the senior wardens."

"I guess we are."

#

"Who goes?"

"Oh, quit kidding around, you know me," Cathiel said.

"You think you're clever, do you?" The guard sneered at her. She sighed. How was it this kind of thing worked for Brosca? "Anybody tries to come in here without Howe's say so, we get to do what we liked with 'em. I think we finally got a bit of entertainment here, lads!"

He started forward, and his head exploded. Morrigan laughed. "Oh, indeed. Most entertaining."

Cathiel laughed as she began firing her arrows.

"Ten silvers says Cathiel can kill more than Morrigan," Zevran said to Jerath.

"I'll take that."

#

"Well?"

"I'm going to have to call that a tie," Jerath said.

"No, Cathiel got the last one with an arrow to the eye. Beautifully shot by a beautiful woman."

"Thank you Zevran," Cathiel said from where she was disarming the trap.

"He was already dying from Morrigan's spell. Nature is as deadly as she is lovely."

"True, but there is something about the taunt pull of a bowstring, and that glorious moment of release."

"But is it comparable to the tumult of harnessing the very elements, and that primal energy?"

"You are forgetting the ecstasy of that moment of penetration, my friend."

"What is a single moment compared to the raw, savage caress of power that can be neither tamed nor denied?"

"Maker's breath, what are you two talking about?" Cathiel said, staring at them.

Both faces were a mask of innocence. "Which of you is the most efficient at combat, of course," Zevran said.

Morrigan grinned and stroked her hand down Jerath's cheek. "Another time."

"Of course. Where were we?"

#

"You there. Aye, you."

"Yes, Oghren?" Lenore said.

"I've been watching you. Where can I get some sauce for that rump roast?"

Brosca looked out from behind her. "Right here, you mad dwarven stallion."

"Go and make yourself ready, woman. I'll be right there to see to it." He stood, and then fell face first onto the carpet. A moment later, there was a loud snore.

Eamon blinked. "What just happened?"

"Oghren went crazy and fell down," Lenore said. She shrugged. "It happens."

Alistair walked over and grabbed Oghren's wrists, and Brosca got his ankles. The two started carting Oghren away. Eamon blinked again. "It... happens?"

"Oh, don't worry. I've got some tea that fixes things, he'll be ready to go as soon as we need him to swing a sword at anything."

"I... see..."

"Where do you keep your buckets?" Lenore considered a moment. "And do you happen to have ice?"

"Uh..."

"Never mind, I can make some."

#

"Oswyn?"

"Was this supposed to be a lesson? Did my father think it funny to leave me for so long before sending you?"

Jerath handed Cathiel his cloak, and she draped it around the wounded man. "Are you all right?"

"All right? You taunt me with such a question. After what they've done, I doubt I'll ever be able to raise my arms again." He shook his head, near to tears. "All right? What do such words even mean?" He blinked at her, and then looked again. "Cathiel? Cathiel Cousland?"

"Oh, Oswyn." She put her arms around him as he clung to her. "Morrigan, could you work some healing magic for him?" She waited for the other woman to step forward, then stroked Oswyn's hair soothingly. "I'm here with the Grey Wardens, for the rightful king Alistair."

"You have my heartfelt gratitude. And you will have the gratitude of the entire Dragon's Peak Bannorn." He shook his head, taking a deep breath as Morrigan's magic did it's work. "If my father sent no one after me, I can only assume that he does not yet know the true colors of the snakes he has allied with."

"Why was Arl Howe torturing you?"

"One soldier returning from Ostagar was my wet nurse's son. We have been friends since birth." Outrage filled his voice. "He told me his unit was ordered to turn their backs on Cailan at Ostagar... before the darkspawn overwhelmed him." He swallowed. "The next day, he disappeared. When I went to search for him... I accepted a drink from a stranger and ended up here."

"Loghain will not get away with this."

"It is hard to imagine anyone with the power to take Loghain down. I swear, if there be any forum to speak out against Loghain, my father will be there."

"We'll take you to the stairs. Wait with Erlina, and we will get you out."

"Maker bless you."

#

"Andraste, Bride of the Maker, have mercy on me." The man's blood-shot eyes focused on her. "Alfstanna... is that you, little sister?" He squinted. "No... I don't know you... do I? Are you real?"

"Are you all right?" she asked.

"Alfstanna? I... don't know. Where is my sister. Have you seen her?" He shook his head. "I... I'm Irminric, knight-lieutenant of the Denerim chantry. You... aren't one of the teyrn's men."

"I'm Cathiel Cousland."

"I... I failed in my duties. Maker, forgive me. I failed, and there's no telling what he's done..."

"You're a templar?" She nodded to herself. Bann Alfstanna's elder brother.

"Alfstanna is... a far better bann than I would have been... but I... don't remember how I came to be here..."

"Lyrium withdrawal," Jerath said.

"The maleficar. He had turned blood magic upon templars and Circle mages to escape from his tower. Near Redcliffe, I cornered him..." He furrowed his brow in concentration. "But the teyrn's men took him from me... and brought me here...

"This maleficar, was his name Jowan?" Jerath asked. Cathiel sighed. Blood mage. Of course. Why had Lenore let that man go?

"Yes. He... destroyed his phylactery... we were spread out, trying to find him... I was alone." He blinked at them. "I... you are real, aren't you? My dreams are... so strange now. Please, if you're not a dream, help me."

"What do you want me to do?" Cathiel asked.

"Give this ring... to my sister, Alfstanna. Tell her... tell her I'm sorry. Please. Ask her... to pray for me."

Cathiel looked at Jerath. "We'll have to get him after we find Howe. I don't think he can make it back on his own."

He nodded. "Let's keep moving."

#

"Ach! Leliana, get this stupid beast out of here."

"I am sorry, Oghren, was he disturbing you?"

"No, but if he isn't careful I'm going to start thinking about how delicious he looks. A little taste of home, eh?"

"Um, I will make sure Schmooples is never underfoot again."

"Schmooples? You named a nug Schmooples? The last thing we need around here is a walking snack named Schmooples!" He walked off, muttering.

"Schmooples?" Brehan asked.

"Well, what would you have named him?" Leliana put her hands on her hips and glared.

"Ir abelas, ma'arlath. Schmooples is a perfectly lovely name, and suits him beautifully."

Leliana scooped the nug up and walked away. Alistair snickered. "Did you see your life flash before your eyes there?"

"Emma shem'nan, lethallin."

#

He was wearing one of her father's cloak pins. The one her mother had made special, an emerald eyed mabari, worn for the first time when Fergus had married Oriana. Oren had pleaded to be allowed to wear it when they'd attended the feast at the fall tourney. He'd come to her in tears, having dropped it while playing with the servants' children, and she'd had to climb halfway down the bluffs to retrieve it. Mother Mallol had caught them, but kept their secret.

It took her a moment to even realize Howe was talking. "Well, look here. Bryce Cousland's little spitfire, all grown up and still playing the man. I never thought you'd be fool enough to turn up here. But then, I never thought you'd live, either."

"Why betray us, Howe? My father was your friend!" Did it even matter?

"A clumsy appeal, child. He was a traitor to me and a coward to his nation! Trips to Orlais, gifts from old enemies; all while I sank in obscurity. Your family squandered glory that was rightfully mine. How suitable that their deaths should raise me to the ear of a king."

"After this, I'll kill your wife and children, too." She just might. Maybe she'd pay Zevran to do it.

Howe sneered at her. "Isn't that precious. Is this where I lament the monster I helped create? You're still so very new to this. Shall I show you how it's done? I made your mother kiss my feet as she died. It was the last thing your father saw. Your parents died on their knees, your brother's corpse rots in Ostagar, and his brat was burned on a scrap heap along with his Antivan whore of a wife. And what's left? A fool husk of a daughter likely to end her days under a rock in the Deep Roads. Even the Wardens are gone. You're the last of nothing. This is pointless. You've lost."

Her first arrow took him low in the gut. He staggered backwards. Father. Jerath's dagger took the mage in the eye. Before the mage even started to fall, Morrigan's spell erupted in the midst of the guards, burning and scorching. Howe tried to draw his sword, and Cathiel sent an arrow into his knee before turning her attention back to the other guards. The cry of agony he let out warmed her heart. Mother.

Another guard charged Jerath, who sidestepped nimbly and stabbed him low in the back. The human man collapsed and Jerath kept moving, taking out the guards that were rushing at Morrigan as Zevran began finishing off the ones that had survived the spell. Howe tried to go for his crossbow, and she put an arrow in his hand. He screamed again. Oriana. Cathiel aimed her bow at the other mage, and then began picking off the ones trying to escape the elves. The battle was over in moments.

Jerath turned, and kicked Howe onto his back. Cathiel realized the man was alive, though he seemed to be having great difficulty trying to make his legs work. Jerath met her eyes, and then drew his blade. He leveled it at Howe's throat, and raised an eyebrow at Cathiel.

"You lie, Howe. To yourself most of all. I am a Grey Warden."

He spat. "There it is. Right there! That damned look in the eye that marked every Cousland success that held me back. It would appear you have made something of yourself after all. Your father would be proud. I, on the other hand, want you dead more than ever."

Cathiel drew an arrow and silently nocked it. Howe tried to pull himself away, but Jerath used his sword to make Howe watch her. She drew, aimed, and loosed the arrow into Howe's heart. Oren.

"Maker spit on you... I deserved... more..."

Cathiel starred down at Howe, watching him choke out his last breaths. Looking up, she caught Jerath's eye. He was watching her, that same calm expression on his face.

"Better?"

She shook her head. "It didn't change anything."

"Never does, really. Feels really good for a minute, but doesn't change the past. Just stops it from happening again."

She blinked, and then turned to face him. "Is that... is it enough?"

"That part is up to you."

She nodded. It wasn't. It never would be. They were gone. She was never going to see them again. She looked at Howe, where he lay in his own blood, and bent to remove the pin. "You are right though."

"Oh?"

Her smile was cold. "It felt really good."

"That was a nice touch of drama at the end, truly." Zevran imitated drawing back a bow. "I liked the whole slowly taking aim bit. Next time, we should have music."

Morrigan laughed, and even Jerath smiled at that.

#

Erlina was helping Anora dress in a guard uniform. Oswyn was nearby, still wrapped in a cloak. He was shaking slightly. Irminic followed them like a lost puppy. Of Riordan, there was no sign. "My thanks," Anora said, looking up at them.

"Why are you dressed like that?" Cathiel asked.

Anora gave an impatient shake of her head. "Because there are two sorts of people in this house: those loyal to Howe, and those loyal to me." And those loyal to Alistair, Cathiel added silently. The ones that just saved your ass. "If Howe's people find me, I'll be killed. And my people will insist on escorting me back to the palace... where my father may also have me killed."

They walked into the next room. Cathiel sighed. It was filled with guards. She recognized the woman who led them. "Wardens!" Cauthrien's voice was firm. "In the name of the regent, I am placing you under arrest for the murder of Rendon Howe and his men-at-arms." She pointed her blade at them. "Surrender, and you may be shown mercy."

"We are here to free Anora, who was held captive," Cathiel said. She saw Jerath start to shake his head, and sent him a questioning look.

Cauthrien laughed. "Don't be ridiculous. The queen isn't being held prisoner here or anywhere else. Her father would never stand for such a thing."

She turned to Anora. "She's right here. Tell her, Anora."

Jerath winced. "What?" Cauthrien asked.

"Ser Cauthrien! Praise the Maker you're here... This brigand tried to kidnap me!" Anora moved away from them.

"You double-crossing bitch!" Cathiel began to reach for her bow. She saw Jerath give the slightest shake of his head, and flick his eyes towards Oswyn. "We will stand down," Jerath said.

Morrigan blinked, and whispered, "we have killed so many other guards. What do a few more matter?"

"Get the queen and the others to safety." He glanced at her. "Trust me." He jerked his head at Cathiel, and she walked forward with him. She saw Anora and the others begin to walk away. A count of five, perhaps, just long enough for the queen to get to safety, and then go for the bow.

"I'm surprised this ended peacefully," Cauthrien said. "Bring the Wardens. Loghain doesn't care about the rest."

One of the guards took a step forward. Suddenly, his eyes narrowed, and he looked at Jerath. "Don't I know you?"

Jerath's smile showed more than a hint of fang. The guard's eyes widened, and he brought his gauntleted fist into the side of Jerath's head with considerable force. Cathiel blinked at the elf fell. So much for fighting their way out.

"Korvar!" Cauthrien called out.

"Apologies, Ser Cauthrien." The guard shook his head. "That knife ear's dangerous. This is the second time he's broken into this manor to kill an arl."

Cathiel raised an eyebrow. Oh.