The next few weeks passed in a blur. His mother held a pyre for his father, but Cantis didn't attend, still in shock and denial over the fact that his father had been slain. He remained in his room, rarely eating or sleeping, and the city rarely caught any glimpse of it's only remaining lord. His mother was sworn in as the new Bann shortly after, but her son was missing from the coordination.

Three weeks after the battle of Ostwick, a knock came at the door that would change everything.

"Cantis." His mother's voice was soft and gentle, but he heard it. "Someone's here to see you, sweet heart. I think you'll want to see him."

"Send him in." His voice was old and deeper than usual, unused for so long.

The door opened, and a man in red armour walked in.

"Good..." Cantis looked out the window, unsure of what time it was. "Afternoon, I suppose."

"And to you." The man nodded, and offered a hand.

"I'm terribly sorry if I'm... poor company." Cantis' voice was shaky, his voice unused to saying more than a few words at any time. "My Father was recently murdered, and I'm still in mourning."

The man nodded. "I had heard. You have my sympathies." Cantis nodded a little in acknowledgement. "I take it you two were close?"

Cantis nodded. "He taught me everything I know."

"I'm sorry." He offered, and Cantis gave a small smile. "My name is Samson. Raleigh Samson." Cantis raised an eyebrow, trying to place where he had heard that name before.

"My name is Cantis Trevelyan." He offered, and Samson nodded. "I'm assuming you didn't come up here just to exchange pleasantries."

Samson shook his head. "I come representing a... Tevinter interests organization who are interested in ending this Mage-Templar war. I'd come to obtain your mother's support for our organization, and she also recommended that I come and talk with you."

Cantis quirked an eyebrow. "Talk to me? About what?" As Bann, his mother had more political power than he did. Anything she couldn't do, he couldn't do.

"Our group needs political support if we want any sort of chance to stop the war, but I am also here recruiting soldiers for us."

"Soldiers?" Cantis raised an eyebrow. "I thought you said you were interested in stopping this war?"

Samson shook his head. "We are, but you know as well as I do that if we just shake our fingers at them, nothing is ever going to change." Their eyes met. "People fear change. If we don't prepare ourselves for violent resistance, we've already failed."

Cantis nodded. "I see." He bit his lip, contemplation. "And you want me to join you as a soldier?" A knot formed in his stomach. If these people were truly trying to end the war...

Samson nodded. "Your mother says you have been trained as a knight." Cantis nodded, having trained with his father's soldiers to be a warrior. "Then yes, we need skilled agents in our ranks, and I think you can help us."

He swallowed. "Maybe. I think I have to ask some questions first." Samson nodded. "You said that you're Tevinter? Why are you interested in ending the war if you're mages?"

"Is that what you see?" Samson laughed. "Our founders are from Tevinter, and one of them is a mage, yes, but this war benefits absolutely no one. I myself used to be a Templar, but that doesn't matter among us. This war will destroy everyone and everything in Thedas unless we can put it to a close under one banner."

Cantis was shaking. This was the biggest decision he had ever made. He considered refusing, staying here at the noble life, growing old in peace, being able to find some pretty girl to add to the Trevelyan line...

But none of that would happen if the war killed them all. The Templars and Mages had already killed tens of thousands of innocent people, including his father, and the conflict was young yet. If no one curtailed them...

He nodded, and offered a hand out. "I accept your offer, Raleigh Samson."

Samson shook his hand. "Welcome to the Venatori, Ser Trevelyan."