The mouse made a feeble noise and twitched rapidly, its spindly feet kicking in the air. Dane let a wide grin spread along his face, pleased that he had mastered the spell on his first attempt.
"It seems you have a natural talent for raising the dead." Dorian said from beside him, a small smile playing on his lips.
The skittish rodent tipped itself over, standing and sniffing the air with hasty breaths puffing up its entire body. Dane watched as it took a hesitant step in the dirt, an aura of black energy rolling like smoke from his palm to the creature's body.
"Now stop. Let it die."
Dane didn't hesitate, simply closing his palm. The mouse let out a high pitched squeak. It fell back to the ground; its muscles relaxing as the dark smoke seeped out of its corpse and retreated back to his hand.
"You clearly have power." Dorian said as he picked the rodent up by its tail and tossed it into the snow. "Did the spell tire you?" He continued, an inquisitive look in his eyes.
"Not at all. Less so than if I were to use my usual magic." Dane replied honestly, feeling slightly giddy at the release of energy the resurrection of the mouse had granted. Dorian raised a hand to his face, stroking the smooth skin of his jaw. He hummed to himself for a moment.
"In that case, let's move onto something a tad more challenging." He stood and gestured for Dane to follow as he made his way out of the newly set campsite. They walked in silence for a few minutes through the icy landscape; Dane burning with curiousity at what challenge Dorian would give him. They approached a bloodsoaked patch of grass and melting snow, littered with fresh wolf corpses. It had been the site of a fierce battle earlier that afternoon when the beasts had ambushed the group, an intense ferocity in their glowing eyes and vicious bites.
"Call on the spirit of one of these creatures." Dorian said. He crossed his arms and let a grin spread on his face, evidently waiting to see if Dane would rise to the challenge.
Dane nodded at the mage and turned back to the nearest wolf lying cold next to him with little fanfare. He spread his hands in front of him, closing his eyes and extending tendrils of his thoughts into the Fade. He felt a primal response flit into his mind almost instantly; an intelligence driven by the promise of blood and prey. Whispers of black smoke escaped his fingertips as the presence grew stronger, drifting into the beast's matted fur and enshrouding its body. Dane raised his arms higher, curling his fingertips as if he were physically pulling the dead from the earth. A loud howl sounded as a burst of thought took over Dane's mind, causing him to snap his eyes open. The form of a huge direwolf stood in front of him, made entirely from rippling vapour as dark and thick as a moonless night. It was even larger than any of the beasts that lay dead around him. He let his hands drop, watching the ethereal creature as it approached. It circled him leisurely, sniffing the scent of its new master. Dorian had unfolded his arms at the spectacle, watching with his eyebrows raised well into his hairline.
"Venhedis." Dorian breathed, stepping closer to Dane and the spectre that had stopped and stood next to him; its eyes glowing the same bright colour of Dane's mark.
"I expected you to perhaps get a whimper from the beast. Not.. this." He said, coming to a stop several paces away and gesturing tentatively to the wolf.
Dane looked down at the creature stood patiently at his side. He felt its presence sharing his mind, a connection to its very being. Dane didn't reply to Dorian, instead looking around at the field they were in. He spied a ram nibbling contentedly on a patch of dried grass sticking from the ice a short distance away, oblivious to the predators nearby. He moved his hand to the wolf's neck, gently grabbing a handful of the peculiar fur there. It was warm, and felt as if it were a living creature's – and yet it sank through his fingertips, morphing as the smoke of its body shifted and condensed. Dane closed his eyes and strengthened the internal bond between he and his beast. He felt the whistle of air as the wolf sprang from his side. Bloodlust and the scent of the hunt clouded his thoughts. He watched as it pounced on the ram. It snapped its massive jaws around the ram's neck before it could escape, brutally crushing the life from the animal. It shook it from side to side as if it were nought but a rabbit. A rusty, metallic taste filled Dane's mouth; covering his tongue and invading his throat.
Dorian watched on in increasing amazement as the black spectre returned to Dane, its kill secured firmly in its shadowy jaws. It dropped the mangled ram at Dane's feet as the man himself crouched, embedding his long fingers in the fur of its neck once more. The wolf slowly dissolved into shapeless smoke and ebbed back into Dane's being; through his fingertips, mouth and eyes.
"No. I won't allow it."
Dane kept his gaze fixed on the war table in front of him as he heard both Cassandra and Leliana give sighs of frustration. He racked his brain for some way to solve facing Alexius.
"There must be a way. A sewer? A watercourse even?" He said, turning his eyes from the various pieces of metal embedded in the map to look at the blonde haired commander. Cullen frowned and shook his head.
"I have never heard of such a thing."
"Actually, there is another way into the castle." Both men turned to Leliana who spoke in her careful, precise tone. "An escape route used by the family. We- I learned about it in the Fifth Blight."
"Wide enough for our troops?" Cullen said in a skeptical tone. Leliana shook her head, instead gesturing to Dane and Cassandra who stood side by side.
"No, but there is enough room for myself and a few of my scouts. Trevelyan can give the Magister the envoy he wants so badly while we sneak in."
Dane nodded at her idea and looked to Cullen for confirmation. He felt the presence in the corner of his mind stir with something akin to anticipation as the Commander rubbed his neck indecisively.
"Fine. But I don't like it." He turned to face the war table once more, shifting a metal figure of a raven. "We are willingly placing you as the bait, Herald. If you want to change your mind and search for the Templars instead, no one would blame you."
Dane smiled to himself as he left his advisors and the room. He knew before his excursion with Dorian he would have nearly keeled over at the idea of walking into a trap as dangerous as the one they had just set in motion. "Now, who to take with me into said trap.."
He exited through the chantry doors, feeling Vivienne's cool gaze on his back as he had passed. He continued down the now familiar path to the smithy just outside of Haven's gates, the smell of sizzling metal and fresh snowdrifts crisp in his lungs.
"Hey boss. What can I do for ya?"
The towering Qunari's deceptively warm voice echoed slightly off the wooden pikes surrounding the town. Dane had to tilt his head back to meet Iron Bull's gaze. His good eye was crinkled in amusement – the usual expression he wore.
"Well, I was wondering if you'd like to tag along on a trip to kill some Tevinter cultists. Considering your.. heritage, I thought it'd be right up your alley." Dane said, humour dancing in his voice. Bull cracked a grin wider than Dane's whole hand.
"You thought right. When do we leave?"
"Tomorrow. I just have to find someone else to drag along." Dane glanced towards Cassandra's usual stalking ground beside the troop training area. He watched as she slashed deftly at a battered training dummy.
"I don't think she can hear you ask from over here, boss." Bull said with his grin turning sly. Dane tried not to glare at his lofty companion and turned away, marching towards the Seeker. She stopped her assault on the straw target as he drew near, sheathing her sword and straightening from her battle stance.
"Did you need something?"
Dane drew on the confidence he was slowly acquiring and held his gaze with the honey eyes she studied him with.
"Will you be part of the envoy to meet Alexius?"
She folded her arms and paused a moment before responding. "You are certain we should rescue these mages? The Templars are just as worthy an ally." Dane considered her question, noting the absence of accusation in her voice.
"Yes, I am. And not just because I'm a mage. We can't leave a cult like this to fester." He hoped his statement held enough confidence to sway the Seeker. He knew the Right Hand of the Divine and Hero of Orlais could very easily override his decision if she so desired. He was pleasantly surprised to find a slight smile on her lips at his response. She unsheathed her sword once more and moved past him to the straw dummy.
"Very well, Herald. We leave at first light."
Dane gave a slight bow to his companion as she resumed hacking at the mannequin. He had just turned to return into the village when he heard her voice ring out lightly.
"Herald, one more thing before you go."
He turned around, his hands clasped behind his back and an eyebrow raised in question. He watched her face as she seemed to hesitate with whatever question stuck on her tongue.
"I'm curious. Do you.. do you even believe in The Maker?" She said, her voice thick with curiousity. He blinked slowly, taken aback by her question. "Do I believe in The Maker?" He asked himself frowned in thought as he recalled the lack of divine intervention when his friends had been slaughtered by Templars. When his parents had shipped him off to the Circle without a second thought at losing their son. He also thought of the mark on his hand, his new friends in the Inquisition, and the woman who was now asking him if he believed a holy Deity watched over his creations.
"I did once, Cassandra. I don't know if I do anymore."
Cassandra let her mouth twist slightly in disapproval, but nodded as Dane bowed once more and made his leave back into the snowy village.
[A.N] Sorry for the slight delay in chapter posting. I've had a few disheartening comments regarding the story which put me off a little bit, but I hope this has allayed some complaints about certain characters. Thank you to all who continue to read, favourite, follow & review. [/A.N]