Chapter 8
Rebekah felt the air ripple around her as Leliana's arrow whizzed mere inches from her face. She heard the dull thunk of the arrow tip striking her weakened barrier and bouncing harmlessly to the ground. The barrier wavered and disappeared, taking a portion of Rebekah's mana with it.
Rebekah growled in anger towards herself, her body tensing as she pulled her magic together to form a lightning bolt. The air crackled around her and the magical energy danced along her fingers.
In her anger, she didn't notice Leliana quickly knocking another arrow and she didn't see Leliana's face contract with concern when the arrow flew.
The arrow was heading straight for her and Rebekah didn't even lift her head to see it coming.
Suddenly the sunlight illuminating her darkened as a broad shape stepped in front of her. Rebekah lifted her head just as the arrow dinged off of the metal of Lysette's shield.
The magic coursing through Rebekah ebbed and disappeared with shock, the sudden dampening of her energy leaving her feeling weak.
"You weren't even paying attention," Lysette told her, her tone quiet and stern. "If you'd been out in the field, you would've been seriously injured, if not dead."
Rebekah hung her head, disappointment settling over her like a shroud.
They'd been at it for days. Ever since Cullen and Cassandra had departed for the Storm Coast to recruit some mercenary who called himself "The Iron Bull," Rebekah had been training with Lysette and Leliana.
They would take turns, fighting Rebekah with sword and shield or arrow and daggers. Every sparring left Rebekah feeling drained and incompetent in equal measure.
"At this rate, I'll never be ready for a true fight," Rebekah thought to herself as she straightened.
"You need to be more aware of your surroundings," Leliana chimed in as she walked towards them, a small smile gracing her lips. "And you can't let your emotions get the better of you."
"I know," Rebekah murmured softly hanging her head low. It felt like she got the same critiques every day. Be more aware. Be faster. Remain calm. DO better. BE better.
With Cullen she had felt like she had improved, but when faced with new opponents she could see that she had a long way to go, and not enough time to make it that far.
"I think Snowflake needs a break," a welcome voice called from among the trees. It took only a moment for Varric to emerge, he leveled a grin towards Rebekah and winked. His levity almost brought a smile to her face, but the swirl of negative energy within her was too much.
"I don't think the Commander-" Lysette began.
"Perhaps you are right, Varric," Leliana broke in. Rebekah didn't notice the look shared between the three, her thoughts keeping her awareness trained inwards. "We will begin again tomorrow morning."
"Come on, Snowflake. Let's get you some hot food and a stiff drink," Varric said happily, clapping a hand on Rebekah's lower back.
Varric led Rebekah along the path around the frozen lake, the snow crunching under their boots.
"Why haven't I gotten any better, Varric?" Rebekah asked him, her tone betraying her sadness and frustration.
Varric scoffed at the comment and continued leading her towards The Singing Maiden. "Of course you've gotten better. A month ago you would've run away rather than fight. A month ago Leliana's arrow would've gone through you, not bounced off of your barrier."
Rebekah nodded, the words not really reaching her. Words of encouragement were not what she wanted. She wanted him to agree with her, tell her that she really hadn't improved, she wanted all of her thoughts to be validated.
Varric suddenly stopped and grabbed Rebekah's arm, turning her to face him. "Listen to me, Snowflake. You have been working your ass off since the day I met you. Just because you can't see your own improvements doesn't mean that they don't exist. You're being too hard on yourself."
Rebekah met his gaze as he spoke, watching as Varric's joking nature transformed. She could see his concern written plainly across his face. She felt a tightness forming in her chest and her eyes began to burn as tears surfaced.
"Now there's no need for that," Varric told her as he wiped away the one tear that got free. "Let's go enjoy the rest of our night, ok? We've all got a lot ahead of us."
They walked the rest of the way in silence, the sounds of the village enveloping them as they passed through the gates and made their way to The Singing Maiden.
Upon arriving, they noticed one of their new companions perched atop the back of a chair, a mug of ale in hand.
"Sera, what a surprise to see you here!" Varric shouted in greeting. Sera smirked and stuck her tongue out at the dwarf as she plopped herself ungracefully into her chair.
She gestured to the empty seats before her and Rebekah tentatively pulled one out.
Rebekah had heard of the elf from Varric, but had yet to meet her personally. The way she heard it, Sera was terrified of mages. Upon hearing this news, Rebekah decided it would be wise to keep her distance.
"So, you're her, huh? The Herald of Andraste," Sera said the title while wagging her fingers, Rebekah assumed she used the gesture to convey the hint of mysticism that surrounded her.
"Unfortunately," Rebekah replied just as Flissa came by to drop a tankard of ale in front of both her and Varric.
"You're kind of plain, really," Sera mused before taking a sip. "You sure you're her?"
"Quite sure, yes," Rebekah said flatly, now beginning to regret coming to the tavern at all.
"I mean, it's all good innit? The important thing is you glow," Sera continued, a childlike wonder creeping into her voice. Rebekah narrowed her eyes and shot Varric a look. She saw him smiling into his tankard as he took a sip.
"Glow?" Rebekah asked and Sera gestured across the table, indicating Rebekah's hand, the one that contained the mark. It wasn't currently glowing, but she could feel the power of the mark buzzing beneath the surface of her skin. "Um, yes. I glow."
"Not what I expected, not at all. Pfft, would've been hilarious if you were a man, right? Wasted," Sera continued, and Rebekah's brow furrowed as she grew more and more confused as the conversation continued.
"I think you're getting ahead of yourself, kid," Varric interjected and Rebekah could've slapped him for the huge grin he shot her. "Snowflake, this is Sera. Figured it would be nice for you to see a face from your hometown."
"Wait, you're from Denerim?" Sera fired the question at Rebekah and Rebekah nodded. She could tell that the elf hailed from the capital city, the accent was a dead giveaway."You don't sound like it. You sound all prissy and uptight like the nobles." Sera's nose wrinkled at the mention of the upper class.
"I originally lived in Denerim, yes. But most of my life I spent in the Kinloch Hold circle," Rebekah explained and she saw Sera visibly tense.
"I'd heard you were a mage," Sera began her gaze betraying her suspicion as they drifted towards Rebekah's hands, wrapped around the tankard of ale. "But you don't really seem to be like the others."
"Thanks, I guess," Rebekah replied, finally taking a sip of her ale, her face screwing up at the bitter taste. She'd never really been a fan of ale, the mages sometimes got to have wine, but alcohol was generally an uncommon luxury in the Circle.
Soon food was brought to them and Sera seemed content to talk at them rather than to them. The Denerim accent flowed around them, reminding Rebekah of days when she would sit behind the bar of the Gnawed Noble Tavern while her father worked. Slowly, the negative feelings swirling around her began to ebb away, and Rebekah was wrapped in the warm familiarity of the tavern sounds.
Rebekah stood at her normal position in the War Room, across the table from Cullen, and next to Cassandra. They had arrived only hours before, a mercenary crew not far behind, led by "The Iron Bull."
He was a hulking Qunari, covered in battle scars and missing an eye. Rebekah had been intrigued and terrified in equal measure, upon meeting him, but he had quickly quelled her fears.
"Iron Bull, I presume?" Rebekah had asked in greeting, reaching out a hand tentatively.
"Yeah, the horns give it away, huh?" He had replied jokingly, enveloping her small hand within his. Rebekah had laughed nervously and he had laughed in return, the sound beginning deep in his chest. "Pleasure to meet you, Herald."
As far as she knew, Bull and his company had immediately found The Singing Maiden and were currently "holding court" with Sera, or so Varric said.
"Now that you've returned, it is time to finally decide who we're going to turn to for help with the Breach," Josephine began, her gaze meeting each council member in turn.
Rebekah sighed heavily, surprised that they had yet to come to a consensus on who to recruit.
"I still say we should meet with the Templars," Cullen began, his stance the same as before. "They can suppress the power of the Breach long enough for the mark to close it, I'm sure of it."
"The Mages are the smarter choice," Leliana countered, and the circular argument continued just as it had before.
Minutes passed, with Rebekah standing quietly among her counterparts.
"Perhaps, if we cannot come to an agreement, we should leave the decision to the Herald," Josephine said and upon hearing her title, Rebekah's gaze shot towards Josephine.
"You would leave the decision to me alone?" Rebekah asked quietly, and she could feel everyone else in the room staring at her. She began to wring her hands, nerves suddenly gripping her tightly.
"Josephine might be right, it appears that we won't be able to come to a consensus on our own," Leliana interjected and Rebekah could see Cassandra and Cullen slowly nodding in agreement.
"But you already know who I would choose..." Rebekah trailed off, looking at Cassandra and Cullen in turn, knowing that they did not fully support meeting with the mages.
Rebekah watched as Cullen's brow furrowed, the cogs in his mind turning.
"You are the one with the mark," he began, meeting her gaze. "As much as I disagree with contacting the mages, you are the one who will need their assistance. If it is your choice to meet with them, then I will stand by your decision."
"I agree," Cassandra replied. "We don't have time to be arguing anymore, the Breach must be closed. Without you we won't be able to do that, the decision should be yours."
Rebekah took a deep breath and met each of their gazes in turn. "Alright, the mages it is then."
Three days of travel on horseback through the Hinterlands had left the party extremely irritable and Rebekah rather sore. She held Magic's reins as she completed the trek on foot, her backside aching with each step.
"Maker, please tell me we're almost there," Varric grumbled as he trudged beside her.
Due to the lack of space, Dennet had only brought a handful of horses to Haven and they were only to be used for the most important of missions. Somehow they had seen it fit to send Rebekah, Varric, Cassandra, and Solas with only three horses. One for Cassandra, one for Rebekah, and one to carry their packs.
For a majority of the journey, Varric had been saddled with Rebekah and Solas rode with Cassandra.
"We should be coming to the gates any moment now," Cassandra droned, shooting an irritated grimace towards Varric.
Rebekah could tell that the constant travelling was starting to take its toll on Cassandra. She knew that Cassandra would never admit to being exhausted or strained from the journey, but Rebekah could see it in the dark circles developing beneath her eyes and how quickly her temper flared.
Solas seemed to be the only individual unaffected by current circumstances. He spent most of the day in silence, only piping in to share his knowledge of the area.
Rebekah walked on, her gaze flicking between from the path to the trees surrounding them. After their first venture into the Hinterlands, Rebekah had learned to be cautious of her surroundings. With the rebel mages and rogue Templars plaguing the area, it was best to remain vigilant. Not only that, but bandits had taken up residence in the area as well.
Suddenly, the quiet was broken by sounds of shouting up ahead. Everyone became alert, eyes looking down the path, but their view was obstructed by a bend in the road.
"Ouch," Rebekah muttered to herself upon feeling the familiar pinpricks dancing along her palm. She looked down to see the mark sparking viciously along her skin and Rebekah felt a rush at the sight.
"A rift," she told the others, turning to see them staring at the glowing mark.
They jumped into action.
Rebekah quickly mounted Magic, assisting Varric as he struggled to get seated behind her. She spurred Magic into a trot, then a canter, before urging her into a full gallop.
Cassandra and Solas were ahead of them, racing around the bend in the road.
It wasn't long before the sickly green of the rift became visible, and the mark began to pulse within Rebekah's hand. She gritted her teeth against the strange sensation, still not accustomed to it.
As they drew nearer, they could hear the sounds of fighting. Rebekah heard the distinct groaning of the shades as they erupted out of the ground.
It wasn't long before they were upon them.
Rebekah watched as Cassandra passed the reins of her horse to Solas before launching herself out of the saddle, quickly gaining her footing and running into the fray.
Rebekah only had a moment to be impressed before she slowed Magic and brought her to a halt. Rebekah slowly dismounted before helping Varric out of the saddle.
The gate to Redcliffe Village stood before them, the entrance closed. The rift undulated within the air directly in front of the gate, guarded by a handful of soldiers.
Rebekah saw Solas dismounting out of the corner of her eye, the pack horse securely tethered to his mount.
"Herald, quickly!" He shouted to her, motioning towards the rift.
"Right," Rebekah said to herself as she pulled her staff out of the belongings she'd secured on Magic.
She felt the pull of her magic as it surfaced at her command. Quickly she looked at the skirmish before her.
Cassandra stood a few yards from her, hacking mercilessly at a terror demon.
Rebekah stared in confusion as she watched Cassandra. She could see the sweeping movement of the sword, could hear Cassandra's roar as she struck, but it all seemed to be slowed down.
Varric was a few feet to Rebekah's right, knocking a bolt into Bianca and sending it straight for a shade that was making its way towards the group of soldiers. As the bolt soared closer to the shade, it seemed to get slower and slower before striking its target.
"What-" Rebekah said to herself, watching as time slowed around the rift.
The only entity unengaged was a wisp, floating unchallenged at the edge of the circle of green light emanating from the rift.
Suddenly, as if by magic, the wisp was directly before her.
Panic surged within Rebekah for a moment and she fought the urge to retreat. She widened her stance and gripped her staff tightly in her right hand
She called deep within herself pulling her magic forward and into her center. Just outside of her body she could sense the ice magic coalescing and forming and she could feel the temperature around her dropping.
A blue light danced before her, becoming a deeper blue as the magic became focused.
Just when she felt that the magic would become unstable, Rebekah broke the magic apart, the fragments of the spell releasing and hurtling towards the wisp
The faceless wisp turned towards her just as the first fragment struck it.
She watched as it recoiled and it attempted to flee, but the barrage of energy continued to strike.
Just as the last fragment struck, the wisp wavered and vanished.
"Nice work, Snowflake!" Varric shouted encouragingly towards her and she whipped around to see Varric smile at her just as he loosed another bolt.
Rebekah continued lobbing spells at the demons, seeking out enemies that were resistant to physical attacks and vulnerable to magic.
It felt like it took forever to defeat all of the monsters that poured out of the rift, but in reality it most likely only took a few minutes.
Rebekah continued to observe instances where time around them slowed and other times when the demons erupting from the rift seemed to move outside of time. One second a demon would be across the battlefield, and the next it would be directly before them.
As the last demon withered and disappeared into the ground, Rebekah raised her marked hand and felt the deep pull of the mark as light shot from her hand to connect with the center of the rift.
When the pain of the connection became too much to bear, Rebekah yanked her hand backwards, closing her fist and willing the rift to close.
With an audible pop, the rift closed in on itself, green lights showering to the grass.
Rebekah took a moment to catch her breath and turned to look behind her to see that the horses had not bolted during the fight.
"What was that?" Rebekah asked the group. Cassandra strode towards her, wiping her blade on the cloth hanging from her belt.
"We don't know what these rifts can do," Cassandra began, her gaze sweeping to observe her surroundings as she sheathed her sword. "That one appeared to alter the time around it."
Before any of them could respond, they were interrupted by a joyous cry from one of Redcliffe's soldiers. "Maker have mercy! It's over? Open the gates!"
Rebekah could hear the cranking of the gate as the metal bars rose, the spikes leaving behind indentations in the dirt.
Rebekah and Cassandra retrieved the horses and the group made their way through the gates into Redcliffe Village.
Just beyond the doors, they encountered an Inquisition agent, who appeared as if he had been waiting for them.
"Report," Cassandra told the man casually and he bowed to her in deference.
"We've spread the word that the Inquisition was coming, but you should know that no one here was expecting us," he replied.
"Not even Grand Enchanter Fiona?" Rebekah asked incredulously, alarmed at the sudden change. Had the mages changed their minds? Did they no longer seek to make an alliance with them?
The agent shrugged his shoulders. "If she was, she hasn't told anyone."
The party shared a concerned look with one another as the agent continued. "We've arranged use of the tavern for the negotiations."
As the agent finished, a mage appeared down the path, walking briskly towards them. He was a wiry elf, clothed in robes favored by circle mages. His brown hair was swept severely back into a small ponytail, his pointed ears on display.
"Agents of the Inquisition, my apologies!" He shouted to them as he came ever closer. "Magister Alexius is in charge now, but hasn't yet arrived. He's expected shortly."
"A Magister?" Cassandra retorted, her tone laced with surprise.
The elf didn't bat an eyelash at the question. He merely turned towards Rebekah and tilted his head in a silent greeting for her alone. "You can speak with the former Grand Enchanter in the meantime."
Rebekah's brows furrowed and her eyes narrowed. "Former?"
The elf declined to respond to the question and turned to walk back towards the village.
"It is clear that something has happened here," Solas began, walking to stand between Cassandra and Rebekah. "I am surprised that word of Tevinter occupation hadn't reached us until now."
"I agree," Cassandra responded, her sword pommel gripped tightly in her hand. "Let us speak with Fiona, we need to find out more about this Magister."
Rebekah's stomach had begun to churn, her insides gripping tightly. "Something is wrong here. First the time warping within the rift and now this Tevinter Magister? It just doesn't feel right."
"I'm with Snowflake," Varric agreed behind them. "This place just feels off."
"Your instincts may prove to be correct," Solas supplied, turning to look directly at Rebekah. "We must be on our guard."
They all nodded silently in agreement before heading further into the village to meet with the "former" Grand Enchanter.
The Gull and Lantern Tavern was eerily quiet as they approached. Rebekah had grown used to the rowdy patrons of The Singing Maiden and remembered the Gnawed Noble Tavern back in Denerim as being equally loud. To come upon a tavern and not hear the patrons inside, it was a little unnerving.
The door swung open at her touch, the iron hinges creaking.
The tavern was bathed in the soft glow of the setting sun, candlelight danced along the wooden tables and chairs. A small retinue of circle mages milled about the tavern, some talking quietly to one another, while others sat quietly sipping their drinks.
"Welcome, agents of the Inquisition," an accented voice greeted them. Out of the dim light near the back of the tavern stood Fiona, looking exactly as Rebekah remembered. She watched as Fiona's expression turned wary, her gaze hardening. "What has brought you to Redcliffe."
"We're here because of your invitation back in Val Royeaux," Rebekah began, the knots in her stomach tightening. "I know it was quite some time ago, but surely you hadn't forgotten."
"You must be mistaken," Fiona replied coolly. "I haven't been to Val Royeaux since before the Conclave."
Rebekah did not hide her surprise at the statement, and felt slightly hurt by Fiona's denial.
"Well that's very strange," Cassandra said to Fiona, her anger and frustration evident in her voice. "Because someone who looked exactly like you spoke to us in Val Royeaux."
Fiona seemed shocked by Cassandra's anger and took a step back as Cassandra began to advance. "Exactly like me?" She asked, confused. "I suppose it could be magic at work, but why would anyone..."
Fiona let the sentence trail off as she became lost in her own thoughts. She looked down and away from Rebekah and when she rose her eyes her face was schooled into a calm veneer.
"Whoever or whatever brought you here, the situation has changed," Fiona began and Rebekah saw a flash of disappointment cross her features. "The Free Mages have already...pledged themselves to the service of the Tevinter Imperium."
"An alliance with Tevinter?" Cassandra asked incredulously. "Do you not fear all of Thedas turning against you?"
"I understand that you are afraid, but you deserve better than slavery to Tevinter," Solas supplied, his tone betraying nothing of what he truly felt.
"As one indentured to a Magister, I no longer have the authority to negotiate with you," Fiona spoke directly to Rebekah, ignoring the comments of Rebekah's companions.
Rebekah didn't feel the frustration as it crept over her, merely felt it in its intensity when she realized that they may have come here for nothing. "What about the tear in the sky that's spewing demons out of it with every passing moment? Are you just going to pretend that it isn't there? We need your help!" Rebekah said to Fiona.
Fiona looked like Rebekah had slapped her in the face, and her tone immediately became defensive. "I am not forgetting the Breach. But we can only fight one war at a time. The Templar threat was immediate. If we live, we can worry about the torn veil."
Just then, the door banged loudly behind them and Rebekah turned to see a man in a red hooded cloak striding confidently towards them. A younger man in a yellow cloak walked behind him.
"Welcome, my friends," the man greeted them and Rebekah fought the urge to recoil at the way the greeting sounded. "I apologize for not greeting you earlier."
"Agents of the Inquisition, allow me to introduce Magister Gereon Alexius," Fiona supplied, shrinking further into the darkness as the Magister came to stand between her and the Inquisition.
"The Southern Mages are under my command," Alexius began, his tone even, but his expression beheld a smug smile aimed right at Rebekah. "And you are the survivor, yes?" Rebekah's skin crawled when Alexius gazed down at her. "The one from the Fade? Interesting."
The final word was a low growl and Rebekah felt her nostrils flaring and her lips curling with disgust.
"What is this alliance that I keep hearing about?" Rebekah asked, the question an attempt to hide how uncomfortable Magister Alexius made her feel.
"When the Conclave was destroyed, these poor souls faced the brutality of the Templars who rushed to attack them. It could only be through divine providence that I arrived when I did," Alexius replied, turning to gaze at Fiona.
Fiona's brow furrowed, her lips curling into a sneer. "It was certainly very timely," Fiona replied, suddenly picking up on how strange it was that a Tevinter Magister had come to their aid when they needed it the most.
"Fiona forged an alliance with me, indenturing herself and the other mages to Tevinter. Because they aren't born citizens of the Imperium, they must work for a period of ten years before gaining status. Currently they are an expense, but after some proper training they will join our Legion," Alexius supplied and Rebekah heard Cassandra scoff behind her.
"You're merely looking to bolster your military," Cassandra said and Rebekah watched as Fiona became dismayed at the realization.
"You told me not all of my people would be military. There are children, those not suited-" Fiona began, but Alexius cut her off before she could finish.
"And I'm sure that one day they will all be productive citizens of the Imperium. When their debts are paid," Alexius told her, his tone dropping to a more sinister level as he explained.
Rebekah took a moment to think, unsure how to proceed now that this mission had been turned on its head. They needed the assistance of the mages, but they were no longer freely able to give it. She was still uncertain about approaching the Templars and there was no guarantee that the Templars would even be able to assist them, let alone willing to lend their aid.
"Well, then it appears that you are the one that I will need to speak with," Rebekah began, looking directly into Alexius's eyes. She didn't want to negotiate with this man, she wished that she had time to deliberate with her companions on what they should do, but they'd waited too long already. They needed to recruit the mages now.
"Please, have a seat, and we can discuss matters more privately," Alexius replied, gesturing to a table in the back.
As they sat opposite each other, Alexius called out to the other gentleman who had accompanied them into the tavern. "Felix, would you send for a scribe, please?"
The younger man in yellow approached them and Alexius shook his head with a small smile. "Pardon my manners, my son Felix, friends."
Felix came to the table and bowed to Rebekah before he turned and walked away to find a scribe.
"I'm not surprised you're here," Alexius began, getting back to the business at hand. "Containing the breach is not a feat that many could even attempt. There is no telling how many mages would be needed for such an endeavor. Ambitious indeed," he said with a smirk leveled at her.
"Well, when you're fighting a massive tear in the sky, you don't exactly have the luxury of thinking small," Rebekah replied sarcastically. She heard Varric suddenly coughing loudly behind her and she suspected that he was probably trying to hide his laughter.
"There will have to be-" Alexius began, but he suddenly stopped and turned to look at his son.
Rebekah hadn't seen Felix reenter the room, but she was immediately aware of the strange way in which he was walking towards them.
He was stumbling as if drunk, his feet unsteady.
"Are you alright?" Rebekah asked him as she rose from her chair to assist.
Felix suddenly lurched forward and Rebekah braced herself to avoid falling from the dead weight.
He fell against her and she fought a look of surprise as she felt a crumpled piece of parchment found its way into her hand.
Felix quickly righted himself, still looking slightly ill and Rebekah stood back, clasping her hands together behind her back.
"Felix," Alexius said, his entire body betraying his concern for his son.
"I'm so sorry," Felix said to the room, shaking his head. "Please forgive my clumsiness, my lady."
"Are you alright?" Alexius questioned him and Felix waved him off.
"I'm fine, father," Felix protested and as Alexius turned his back, Felix shot Rebekah a knowing look and a curt nod.
"Come, I'll get your powders," Alexius replied, gesturing for Felix to follow. "Please excuse me, friends. We will have to continue this at another time. Fiona, I require your assistance back at the castle."
Fiona nodded quickly and moved to follow the father and son out of the tavern.
"I don't mean to trouble anyone," Felix told everyone, his hand still clutching his abdomen as he walked forward on shaky legs.
"I shall send word to the Inquisition. We will conclude this business at a later date," Alexius told them before exiting the tavern.
Once the retinue of mages had left the tavern, Rebekah unclasped her hands and unfurled the crumpled parchment.
"What is that?" Cassandra asked confused as they joined Rebekah near the table.
"A note. Come to the Chantry. You're in danger," Rebekah read aloud, sharing a concerned look with the group.
"It could be a trap," Solas replied, looking over her shoulder to read the note for himself.
"Probably a trap," Varric agreed.
"Still, it could prove useful to go," Cassandra countered and Rebekah was inclined to agree.
"I'm constantly in danger as it is. What else could anyone possibly do?" Rebekah asked the group and Varric groaned.
"You might regret saying that, Snowflake," he said.
As if in silent agreement, the group left the tavern and headed to the Chantry.
A/N: I apologize for the gap between this chapter and the previous one and I hope that you won't have to wait as long for chapter 9. Thank you to all of the readers who have added this to their alert list and to sammxo2 for being my first reviewer. It means the world to me :)