The Dalish homeland in the Hinterlands was far from thriving, but they were making it work, finding the hidden places that had been spared the withering Blight and surviving there, while the Keepers tried to heal the sickened land. King Bhelen did not yet renege on his deal to rebuild Ostagar, and the fortress was looking strong and hale again. It provided a center for a capital, near enough to the now-severed Imperial Highway to deal with the shemlen for those who sought rapprochement. And it contained them, limited them to certain granite halls, keeping them away from the elves who believed that isolation was necessary to regain their lost immortality.
From the window of her small, spare office, Warden Commander of the Dalish Vashti Mahariel watched the comings and goings in the main courtyard with satisfaction. It was not entirely her doing, no: the land was freely given by Anora of Ferelden; the Keepers wrestled with issues of governance; the elvhen people brought the dream to life. But she'd had a hand in securing the queen's gratitude, and bartered Kal'Hirol to the dwarves for their aid. She was proud of that.
On Finn's advice, and with Warden Commander Nathaniel Howe's blessing, she had told the Keepers about the Wardens' secret Joining. If Weisshaupt expected her to recruit and train Dalish Wardens, they would need mages to prepare the Joining cup.
It had caused a commotion. It was heresy to those who valued the purity of Arlathan's blood. But to withdraw from the Wardens entirely would be to leave the Dalish dependent on other races for protection, when the next Blight came.
They'd compromised. The Wardens would restrict themselves to the areas allowed to the shemlen, mingling only with those Dalish who risked exposing themselves to outside influence. Vashti considered it vastly better than her previous self-exile in Flemeth's old hut. Living among elvhen faces again was a precious gift.
She had a few recruits now, not that Weisshaupt seemed to care much, one way or the other, especially now that Morrigan was gone. She had lied, at Alistair's request, saying only that the witch had performed some protective ritual. They demanded that she seek her out, and she was too glad to take the Anderfels Wardens to the eluvian at Drake's Fall and explain that the witch was gone beyond their reach. Her recent misadventure in Orlais likewise failed to move the First Warden to action on behalf of either party. Of course, if she ever set foot in Val Royeaux again, she'd probably be killed by the Wardens there, and that would pass unnoticed as well.
That suited her down to the ground.
It had all finally started to feel like enough. There was still disappointment and loss and pain, but who in life was spared those things? Her young Wardens - many veterans of the siege of Denerim - carved their blades from Flemeth's bones, tracked with Dog's pups, and learned to shoot the blossoms from a deathroot with their bows. Tainted they might all be, but they were an honorable clan.
And then the sodding Tanaret clan arrived.
There was always a celebration when a wandering clan decided to settle in the Hinterlands. The Warden's Fire was stoked high in Ostagar's courtyard, and many came bearing gifts of food and drink for the travelers. The Great Hall was opened so that all could walk the Path of the Ancestors, the display of ancient elvhen artifacts. And the Tanaret, in return, shared the news of their journey.
Vashti had not been there to hear it. Not knowing the clan's preferences, the Wardens stayed away from the newcomers, until they had decided to sequester or not. It was Ariane, fair brow creased with worry, who had come to her with the tale.
They had met the Sabrae, who were in dire straights on the slopes of the Sundermount.
"It... almost sounds like there is something wrong with their Keeper," Ariane said hesitantly.
"Tell me," Vashti rapped out, leaning forward on her stool.
"They lost their halla somehow. They've had none, since the Blight! And they were without a First for almost as long. The Tanaret left one of their own... Vinell, they said she was called... to study with Keeper Marethari. They offered to take the whole clan in, to walk with them until they could find halla, but... the Keeper turned them down."
"They've been encamped for six, seven years?"
"Yes!"
"On Sundermount." Vashti scowled. The tales of that place were fell and dark. And Keeper Marethari refused to leave it? "Did they say... did they say what happened to the First?"
"It wasn't said. I think they assumed... given the timing... she perished in the Blight."
Vashti closed her eyes and wondered if Fenarel was dead, too. She should not have taken them back to those ruins, Keeper's orders or not. Perhaps they'd been among the ghouls they killed, searching for Morrigan...
"Abelas," Ariane said quietly.
Vashti gave a short, sharp shake of her head, opened her eyes and sat back. "Well. That's news."
Ariane watched her expectantly, and when she said nothing more, asked, "Don't you want to go see them?"
"Why?" she replied shortly, then grimaced. "Of course, I worry now. But the Tanaret offered aid and were refused. What shall I do, drive a herd of halla across the sea to them?"
"I think you should talk to their Keeper, Nessal. I..." Ariane glanced around the Commander's office, then leaned forward confidentially, head turned to watch for eavesdroppers behind her in the hall. "I had the feeling he was holding back part of the tale, in public. You are a daughter of the Sabrae, he might tell you more of it," she said in low tones.
Vashti stared flatly at Ariane's visible eye, avoiding the temptation of tracing jaw and ear and throat with her gaze. "You think there is danger?"
"Seven years on Sundermount? How can there not be? Perhaps they did lose their halla, but it is said many of us walked to Halamshiral on foot. It is very strange for them to remain there, in such a place, for so long."
Vashti was, in a way, relieved. If Ariane was also concerned, then she was not herself jumping at shadows. She stood, putting a more comfortable distance between them. "Will he meet with me?"
Ariane's mouth twitched. "He is already meeting with the Council of Keepers," she said.
Vashti frowned; that was very soon after an arrival for such a meeting. It was meant to help the newcomers understand how life in the Hinterlands worked, currently, and to give them the choice to sequester or to interact with the shemlen and the Wardens. "More to the tale," she grunted. "To be told in private."
"That is what I think, as well," Ariane agreed.
It was not long before Hamied, Solan's First, appeared in the doorway. Ariane offered her clansmate a smile and a nod; Vashti sighed and lifted both eyebrows expectantly. "Warden Commander," he greeted her with a nod, eyes flickering to Ariane in brief acknowledgement. "The Council of Keepers requests your presence. There is a matter touching on your... your clan."
"You may say 'former clan,'" the Warden said dryly. "I have not walked with them in many years."
"Just so," Hamied replied uneasily.
Vashti looked to Ariane. "I will meet you by the Warden's Fire," she said, and strode out, leaving Hamied hurrying to keep up.
"The Council" was something of an overstatement. Most of the Keepers had departed by the time Vashti arrived; Lanaya and Solan remained, along with a new face Vashti assumed was Nessal. She kept her face carefully neutral; Lanaya was an ally, had been since the Blight, but Solan... Ariane's Keeper was an unfriend, for reasons personal and political.
Nessal was grey and beginning to stoop, but he moved spryly, taking her hand and pressing it warmly. "Ma serranas," he said, gesturing out at the Great Hall. "This is... I had not thought to live to see such a thing." Vashti smiled and ducked her head, pleased but never sure what to say to that. His next words put all thought of a reply out of her mind: "Your father would have been so proud."
She stopped, eyes widening in shock. Her father was not spoken of in such a manner: fondly, warmly, without sidelong glances and warding gestures. Nessal nodded, patting her hand. "Oh, I knew him. Well. We agreed on many things, you know, and he would be so pleased to see - "
"Nessal," Solan interrupted. "It is ill luck - "
"Worse luck to forget," the older elf snapped, turning on the other Keeper. "We have already forgotten so much; let us not lose the stories of our own kin." Finally dropping the stunned Warden's hand, he smiled gently at her again. "We can talk later." The smile faded. "As much as I hate to contribute to Solan's superstitions, I regret to say that your clan has found bad luck, again."
Vashti leaned against one of the stone columns. "Tell me."
"Marethari has found a demon bound on Sundermount," he said quietly. "She fears that if the clan leaves, it will be loosed."
"You have fought demons before, haven't you, Warden?" Lanaya asked.
Vashti nodded, frowning. Between the Tower and the Blackmarsh, she was not ignorant of the malicious spirits. "Bound? If it's bound, wasn't it hidden?"
"Yes, well hidden. Perhaps since Arlathan's fall," Nessal said sadly. "It promised Marethari and her First ancient knowledge, if they would but free it. Her First was... tempted by the offer. Marethari guards the place against her return."
Vashti pushed off the column. "Do you mean Merrill?"
"I believe that was the name, yes. She would not listen to the Keeper and has been exiled."
Vashti looked at the other two Keepers, eyes dark. "And you want me to do what?" she asked, voice flat with a kindling anger. There were two obvious solutions to the problem: slay the demon or the one who would attempt to free it. And if they thought they could order her to murder her clan-sister...
"Investigate," Lanaya said quickly.
Solan nodded. "Take your shemlen mage and see what can be done to bring the Sabrae home. Perhaps the demon can be rebound, or destroyed, or..." He shrugged. "Perhaps the Wardens could safeguard it?"
Your shemlen mage.It did not escape Vashti's notice that her other battle-companion was not mentioned. She frowned thoughtfully. "Not darkspawn, not our job. Demons..." She had the satisfaction of seeing Solan's lips purse. "The allan'isa know best how to destroy them. Shall we station some on Sundermount, Keeper?" Ariane was one of the Dalish mage-guardians and demon-slayers; one of the best, in fact. Such a posting would likely include her, at least until safety was established. She knew damn well Solan had no intention of losing her.
"I think they are more needed here," Lanaya interrupted again. "If her Keeper does not object, Warden, take Ariane with you as well. Perhaps she will see how the thing can be destroyed. If it cannot be destroyed, but only contained..." Lanaya paused, searching for an adequate solution.
"Keeper Marethari said the shemlen city there, Kirkwall, is full of Chantry templars," old Nessal put in thoughtfully. "Some even came by to bother the clan. If you can find some, maybe they can be put to better use."
Vashti nodded. "That, we can do. Finn is of the Circle and need not fear templars; Ariane and I have both been to cities before. If need be, we can find the templars in their home. A wise suggestion, Keeper."
There was a silent pause; when no further objections or suggestions were voiced, Vashti dipped her head respectfully to the Keepers. "Then we shall make ready and depart as soon as we may. Keeper Nessal, welcome home." The hahren smiled kindly at her as she turned to go.
She was distracted, wondering if there would be time to speak with him about her father as he'd offered, and did not notice that Hamied, who had lingered a respectful distance from the meeting, had fallen in step beside her. "I did not mean to eavesdrop, Commander," he began, and she startled, breath hissing in as she pivoted away from him.
He stared. "Abelas," she apologized gruffly, hiding her slight embarrassment in a scowl. "You wanted something?"
"Yes. That is... if you'd permit it... may I come with you?"
She blinked at him owlishly for a moment, then gave a short, sharp shake of her head. "No."
She started to walk away; he followed, brow creased. "Commander, perhaps you're not aware, but -"
"You want to live in the Circle Tower, First?"
"No, but -"
"Because we will be moving through human lands and human ports. There will be templars. If they want to take you, my options are to let them or to conscript you into the Wardens."
"Then I won't use magic until we're at Sundermount," he insisted, keeping pace beside her. "Keeper Solan wishes me to bond with Ariane, and I can hardly make my case if I cannot see her!"
"No,"Vashti gritted again. She didn't like Solan, didn't want his First along. Had never fought with him, didn't want an unknown factor in what might be a difficult battle. Didn't want his courtship to distract from the mission. And it would. He would be courting, Ariane would pay some amount of attention to it, Finn would gossip like an old woman, and she would seethe. There was a demon to be fought, and none of them needed such drama on the side.
"I don't understand your stubbornness!" Hamied exclaimed in frustration. "Ma nuvenin, Commander." He stopped, letting her continue on without him.
If they were fast enough, they could be gone before he'd talked Solan into haranguing her about taking him along.