Bann Trevelyan tapped his fingers against the polished wood of his desk as he waited for the messenger to arrive. He almost laughed with the way everything was falling into place. He had all but given up finding his daughter at the winter palace when a familiar red dress uniform flashed by an open window. Intrigued the noble has moved closer, letting the shadows obscure him as he caught sight of his daughter in the arms of the laconic former Right Hand of the Divine with whom he had spoken to earlier. The Bann felt his mouth twitch in distaste at the sight but he kept his silence and watched as a perfect waltz slowed into two bodies pressing closer than he could stomach the sight of.
Another of his daughter's many conquests he was sure but the open window quickly dispelled the notion as their muted conversation drifted in. The affection between the two was apparent, even though the topic was benign, and the Bann could hardly contain his delight as the long night bore an unexpected fruition.
He had accepted the Empresses invite for the sole purpose of gathering Information about his daughter turned Inquisitor. His previous efforts of contacting his youngest daughter had ended in a stony silence, as every letter he had sent remained unanswered. He could hardly blame the reaction, since their last true conversation had ended with him banishing her from his sight after a particularly debauched public scandal. His beloved had never forgiven him for the action and he had never forgiven Evelyn for the tarnish of the family name and the breaking of her mother's heart. The Bann had not known if his daughter would even attend the ball or what he would find if she did. At worse he had expected to find no more than a few broken hearts and/or laws that he could perhaps use in an attempt to blackmail something more damning from what few agents his men had turned. The Bann never thought he would have stumbled upon a real weakness; a weakness he was sure could be exploited.
The Bann smiled again as he pictured the look of surprise on that bitch Calpernia's face when he relayed his findings. He despised the Tevinter mage but she was his only link to the, dare he call it a man, that could offer him both justice for his dead wife and a reward worthy of such betrayal. Her master would surely thank him for such a find since his daughter had, surprisingly, twice bested the powerful magister.
A soft knock pulled him from his thoughts and he watched as the heavy oak door swung open allowing the grim woman to glide through. He could feel the power rolling off her and he sneered at so obvious a display; even circle mages were not this showy. Shaking off his disdain, he patiently waited until the power dissipated and a cold voice spoke down at him.
"The hour is late and my master's patience runs thin. I hope you have more to divulge than the simply mundane details of Celene's winter party."
The Bann let his lips curl into a cruel smile, his tone equally cool in response. "If you had wanted that sort of information you would not have sent a man such as I. I care not for the extravagances of the Orlesians. Your master will be pleased to hear that the task given to me has been completed. I had not expected to find it so soon or with such ease, but my youngest daughter does have a weakness - one that will be difficult to target but once tamed I think she will prove effective"
Calpernia sneered, "She?"
"Yes, she. If your master can devise a way to separate my daughter from the seeker Cassandra Pentaghast I think you will find her propensity towards rebellion sufficiently quelled."
The Tevinter mage furrowed her brow. The name of the seeker was hauntingly familiar but she could not place it. She frowned at the thread of discovery that seemed to hang just outside the grasp of her mind. Calpernia scowled, "Why would the Inquisitor care about a mere seeker. There is an entire order she could pick from should she need to replace a member of her entourage."
Bann Trevelyan smiled again, "that's the beauty of it. This seeker is not someone easily replaced. From what I saw and heard tonight, this is a seeker my daughter especially cares for and I would be willing to bet none other would do."
Calpernia frowned, "you can't know that..."
Trevelyan shrugged. "I've pulled Evelyn away from enough... unsavory situations to know when such things are serious and when they are merely for fun. What I saw tonight I have never seen before with her and so I think it safe to assume there is more than just comradeship between the two of them."
He watched as the leader of the Venatori stood still in front of him tilting her head, pondering his statements. When it was clear she still hesitant he sighed and shrugged. Pausing to take a sip of wine, the Bann pointed out the obvious to the scowling woman.
"If for some reason I am wrong, taking this course of action will still unsettle the Inquisition and rid their cause of a champion as well as a potential candidate for Divine. My agents in the Chantry tell me that both former hands are being considered; getting rid of one or both would seem prudent, in my opinion, for a man who would become a God. Furthermore, of the two hands, the seeker is the one who will present more of an opportunity for action. The Inquisition's Nightingale is too rarely seen for you to make an attempt on her life. "
Calpernia nodded slowly. The Bann had made several pertinent points she was sure her master would agree with. She still found it suspicious that a father, of all people, would assist those who would see his daughter destroyed, but having never met hers she could not be sure; family relationships were not her area of expertise. She was sure, however, that she did not trust him but she could hardly deny the logic in his observations or arguments.
"I will speak of this to my master. I shall take my leave."
"Wait!"
The sharp voice cut across the silence and stiffened Calpernia's spine; its commanding tone not unlike the Magister to whom she had been enslaved. She raised an eyebrow towards the voice and glared.
"My information has never been free and this, especially, comes at a price. If it proves worthwhile I shall expect your master to keep his end of our deal."
Calpernia felt a cold laugh rise mirthlessly in her throat. "Surely you can trust the word of a god? Worry not, if what you have said is true Corypheus will keep his word. Once this false Herald's power is usurped and my master has regained what was taken from him, the forces of the Inquisition shall be yours to command."
With that said, She left the Bann's study with a sweeping of her robes and disappeared into the dark night.
Evelyn glanced at the seeker from the corner of her eye admiring, not for the first time, the dashing figure she cut in her dress uniform as she grimaced atop her charger. The Inquisitor allowed herself a brief smile at the sight and shook her head; even now after they had traveled for so long together, she had yet to fathom why the fierce warrior harbored such an intense dislike for the beast that now carried her. In fact there were many things about the seeker she had failed to unravel. On the rare moments they could steal time away, conversation had not been the priority. There were but a few words exchanged in those moments between hungry mouths and wandering hands and none of them had anything to do with horses or the like.
Such thoughts only enflamed the desire that had risen as they had danced. A desire the Inquisitor had dutifully ignored; the risk of allowing her affection for the seeker to become public knowledge had stayed hands that had itched to peel away the rough layers of clothing and feel the smooth heat of sun darkened skin, such obstacles kept hidden away. Taking a deep breath the rogue forced her attentions back on their earlier train of thought concerning the seeker's dislike of horseback riding.
Deciding now was just as good a time as any; Evelyn drew her horse alongside the seeker's angling her approach so that her leg slid against the warrior's. She watched as the seeker's breath hitched and a faint blush tinted her sharp cheekbones. Lowering her voice to a devious whisper, Evelyn teased the silent warrior. "Is it horrible that I am finding myself jealous of this finely bred beast?"
Cassandra lifted an eyebrow and glanced over at the impish grin that curved the Inquisitor's full lips. She shook her head and refocused her gaze in the path ahead. "That is ridiculous." She fought the shudder that traveled up her spine as the rogue's cloth covered leg brushed her own once again. The dances they had shared had, apparently, affected her more than she had anticipated.
The feeling of the smaller woman's trim waist beneath her hands, the way their chests had brushed back and forth against each other had triggered a desire she was slowly coming used to and watching the Inquisitor dance with Celene's traitorous cousin had only inflamed a need to claim the red headed leader as her own. Both emotions surprised the seeker but she refused to dwell on such trivial things; choosing instead to focus her efforts on seeing the entire party returned safely to Skyhold. Cassandra was secure in the knowledge that once safely ensconced behind the keep's walls and the thick wooden door that sealed the Inquisitor's quarters Trevelyan would once again be hers to do with as she deemed fit.
The thought threatened to bring a smile to her face, but the seeker bit it back; now was not the time to relax her guard around the other woman. Instead she angled her horse away, breaking the light contact; her eyes glancing at the brief look of disappointment that haunted her leader's bright features. Seeking to give her lover back her smile Cassandra commented on the Inquisitor's earlier statement.
"I think I will regret asking this but why exactly are you jealous of a creature who does naught but sweat, carry the burdens of others and... excrements as it walks?"
Evelyn felt her lips curve into a smirk at the sneer that twisted the warrior's sculpted features as she shrugged. "Oddly enough 2 of the 3 actually apply to me so I imagine this newfound jealousy I am feeling makes sense in a way."
Cassandra hid her smile at the flippant reply and responded with one of her own. "Funny, for all that we have traveled together I've yet to see you break a sweat."
Evelyn paused at the backhanded insult and scowled at the seriousness of her seeker's tone but her eyes caught the glint of humor hidden in the dark gaze and she tilted her head in surprise. "Aha, you are joking… I was unaware our seeker had so sharp a wit."
Cassandra let her lips quirk for a brief moment before settling back into her customary facade. "I am not without humor Inquisitor but I notice you did not answer my question."
Evelyn pursed her lips, hiding her telltale smirk as she formulated how best to needle the seeker with her answer. She allowed a slow smile to curve her lips as she pulled her horse back alongside the warrior. The rogue extended her knee out slightly, letting the fabric of her breeches tease the leather that covered Cassandra's legs like a second skin. Her eyes delighted in the clench of the Navarran's jaw and she glanced back at the rest of the party; grateful that the group's attention seemed to be split amongst themselves. Evelyn lowered her voice to a whisper; her words for the seeker's ears alone as she reached forward and rubbed her gloved hand along the stallion's muscled neck.
"I am jealous of the time this creature gets to spend between your thighs my dear seeker; especially having, all too briefly, only enjoyed the pleasure such a thing can bring."
Cassandra blinked and felt her cheeks begin to burn despite her resolve to mask her reaction to words, she was sure, were used specifically to garner such a reaction. The words called forth images of pale silken skin that glowed golden in candlelight, bright eyes that darkened and burned even brighter with every glancing touch, and the echoed sigh of her name as it fell from swollen red lips that glistened from shared kisses. The seeker swallowed hard and feigned indifference to the huskily delivered words. She cleared her throat, scoffing as she looked at the path ahead.
"If you would prefer to take his place then who am I to stop you from looking a fool. I must warn you though, a full set of armor can be quite heavy."
Evelyn grinned and nudged the seeker's knee once again. "It is a place I would want to take away from other's prying eyes; preferably without that full set of armor on. I suppose I will simply have to be content with watching the sway and rock of your hips as you ride and know that soon, I too, will get my turn."
She paused and flashed the flushed warrior a warm smirk as she slowed her horse and fell back to engage in conversation with the other members of their party, seeking to lead her thoughts away from all the places they should not be.
Calpernia flinched as her master flung his sinewy arm out in frustration, knocking several of her own personal concoctions from the shelves that lined the makeshift laboratory she had struggled to piece together. Several of the vials simmered, mixing over the stone tiles and the mage struggled to maintain her composure as the ancient magister raged over the unwelcome arrogance of the young Inquisitor's father.
"The gall of one so low. A god does not bargain nor does a god play such games. I could rip the spine from his body for such ill bred arrogance - clearly a trait passed on to the daughter he so clearly despises. Tell me Calpernia… do you see wisdom in the Bann's findings?"
The former slave grimaced at the question; knowing that her master would find fault no matter what her answer was. Once more she questioned her judgment in following such a creature, but she had made a vow and Corypheus seemed the only path left to her in order to fulfill it. Still, she did not have to like it to obey; a lesson taught to her early in life. Calpernia met the black gaze of her master and nodded in affirmation.
"I have but a handful of spies that have slipped past the Nightingale's defenses and fewer still that have been able to draw within meters of our nemesis; yet the few reports they have been able to send back have indicated a change in the younger Trevalyan as well as an unexplained relaxation in the seeker. There is no evidence to indicate that the two are related, but the Bann does have the right of it that by eliminating the seeker from the Inquisitor's fold you would not only strike a heavy blow to the shaken foundation of the Chantry, but to the Inquisition itself. Cassandra Pentaghast is known to all as a woman of faith and heroic deeds - removing her can only solidify your power."
The dark magister contemplated the woman's words. He had seen for himself the skill of the seeker in battle; witnessed how she channeled her strength and used her ability to control lyrium to extrapolate her advantages in combat. It was her sheer will in combination with the infamous Sister Nightingale that had organized and formed the forces behind the very woman who had stolen his glory. He nodded once and stood, towering over his chosen lieutenant.
"Very well. I will trust you with this task and I will not tolerate any failure. Plan well and act swiftly before the Inquisition catches wind of our plans."
He swept from the room, ignoring the slight sting of chemicals as they burned along the soles of his flesh. Physical discomfort and pain were years behind him - so far so that he barely remembered the stab of such sensation. All he yearned for, all he felt, was the gnawing hunger for more… more power, more knowledge. He burned to break humanity free of the chains their faith had placed upon them; to show them the cold truth that nothing awaited them in paradise. There never was a golden city, nor a black one; that the thrones of the gods were as empty as their belief in an absent Maker. He raged silently as he walked further into the void that existed, it seemed, for him and him alone. He cast about his mind and formulated how best to reclaim that which he had lost.
Leliana hung back, hiding herself in the shadows of the stables. She watched as Master Dennet and the stable boys tended to the mounts they had brought back. Her eyes fell on the Inquisitor as she shared a laugh with the Iron Bull; noting the way the clever gaze swept across the room - pausing only for the briefest of moments on the seeker before continuing around. Leliana had hidden her smile when she caught sight of the two of them dancing. She had been surprised to see that Cassandra had relented to such a request, but a part of her was glad to see her reluctant friend relax, if even for a moment. The spymaster had not missed the rosy tint in Cassandra's cheeks as she and the Inquisitor had exchanged words on the journey home; nor the play of knee against knee.
Such actions warmed her heart and made her miss her Warden all the more. It had been over six months since their last correspondence and as the time between letters grew longer; Leliana feared the worst. The rational part of her knew that the warden's calling was still years away but the places her search for a cure had forced her to walk were dark and dangerous indeed. The former Left Hand pushed back the dark thoughts as she caught sight of the Inquisitor moving in the direction of the training yard.
"Inquisitor, a word if I may."
Evelyn opened her mouth to wave the request away but the words died on her lips as she saw a rare emotion peeking through the piercing eyes of her spymaster. Frowning slightly, the rogue turned towards the other woman, shelving her desire to be alone with a certain seeker.
"Of course Leliana. What can I assist you with?"
The spymaster beckoned the younger woman to walk with her and Leliana had to hide her smile as bright green eyes darted back in the direction of where, the seneschal was sure, an impatient Cassandra waited. The relaxed action only assured Leliana that it was pertinent she speak to the Inquisitor before it became noticeable to all. She waited till they reached the shadows of the keep before the spymaster turned and leveled the impatient leader with a sharp look.
"I feel I must voice a concern that perhaps you are allowing your affections for a certain someone to become far too public."
Evelyn tilted her head to the side slightly and frowned back at her fellow rogue. Shaking her head she flashed the older woman a carefree smirk before responding. "This coming from a woman whose relationship with the Hero of Ferelden is still sung about in taverns all over Thedas? I am not surprised that you picked up on what little we have allowed to show, but I assure you spymaster that not everyone shares in your expert skills in observation."
Leliana nodded, "While that may be true, even my relationship with the Warden Commander was kept hidden until the threats were put down. There is too much as stake and you have far too many enemies that would take advantage of your feelings for Cassandra. It is safer if hidden and you must do a better job of that, even amongst friends and trusted allies."
Evelyn glared back, her stubborn nature rebelling at the sound advice even as her mind accepted the cool logic of it. She had thought she had been hiding her feelings well. She had to admit, the dancing was an anomaly but not one she would ever apologize for, and the teasing in the forest had been done among her trusted friends and companions - most of whom still remained oblivious to her affections for the stoic warrior. Evelyn had thought it safe enough but apparently there was no place safe for her to be the woman she wanted to be. Instead, it appeared, the mask of Inquisitor was to be worn at all times - even amongst friends. Biting back the sarcasm she yearned to unleash, the Inquisitor gave the other woman a curt nod before turning on her heel to march back in the original direction she had wanted to go.
Leliana watched her go and sighed. She could understand all too well the frustration; the pent up rage she was sure the young woman was feeling. The spymaster knew, all too well from her research into Evelyn Trevelyan's past, that hiding feelings had never been the noble's strongest talent. She was surprised the Inquisitor had done so well up until now and knew that Cassandra's feelings on the matter played no small part in the younger woman's actions. One small word to her former counterpart would change everything between the two of them and Leliana was willing to stay her hand and give her fellow rogue a chance to amend her actions on her own. Resolving to keep a closer eye on the situation, Leliana turned and made her way back to the Rookery and sought to utilize what all she had learned as well as catch up on all she had missed whilst attending the ball.
It took considerable control not to stomp across the yard like the obstinate child she had once been and Evelyn growled under her breath as she allowed her irritation to wash over her. She had only herself to blame and Leliana had the right of it. Allowing their enemies to gain insight to any potential weakness in her would only endanger them all and, even though she was loathe to admit it, Cassandra was a weakness for her. Her feelings for the seeker were stronger than any she had felt for previous lovers and she was at a loss on how to deal with them. It would be better for all if she could cut away that part of her, if she could segregate her desire from her heart but even she was not that talented.
Evelyn clenched her marked hand tightly, ignoring the stabbing pain that shot up her arm at the aggressive action. Not for the first time she cursed the mark she bore and all the ways she was having to change herself to bear it. She caught sight of the tall seeker leaned against the wall of the keep, clearly annoyed with having to wait for her. Evelyn started to pause but, at the last second, changed her mind and shifted her intended direction towards the main hall; ignoring the surprised in Cassandra's dark eyes. They would talk later she was sure, but for now, she needed time to think and still the chaotic thoughts brought to life by the conversation with the Inquisition's master of spies.