It had felt almost surreal standing there in the shadows of the stable as their entire group of companions joked and talked amongst themselves as if nothing of importance was due to happen next. Evelyn swept her eyes over the companions who had joined her on this unwelcome journey. Varric, as usual, was loudly spinning some sort of tale in Blackwall's ear as Solas spoke in hushed tones with Leliana. Evelyn briefly paused her own thoughts to see if she could catch any of the spymaster's conversation, curious as to what the former Left hand of the Divine would have to say to an elven apostate, but the words were too hushed to hear. She found herself glad to have been left to her own devices such as they were.
The parting between her and Cassandra had been anti-climatic at best, though; it was unsurprising considering that they had been in the midst of everyone else. Evelyn wished time had allowed for more words to have been said between them than what little had been uttered in the war room. She let a smirk twist her lips as she shook her head at her own duplicitous thoughts. Truly had they more time she would have ended the frustrations of the day by pinning the infuriating warrior to the table and taking her right then and there. The rogue felt her lips quirk as her imagination provided an image of her lover splayed out on the war table, breasts thrust proudly in the air, back arching under the combined onslaught of Evelyn's fingers, lips and tongue. The thought made her drawn a sharp breath and then freeze as a low chuckle resounded closely behind her.
"Thinking of a certain someone? Chastely of course, I presume."
Evelyn turned to glare at the spymaster, catching the devious smirk on the woman's face from beneath the hood. Feeling supremely irritated at having been caught and just the smallest bit childish, the Herald of Andraste sneered and stuck her tongue out at her fellow rogue.
Leliana dipped her head in acknowledgement before urging her horse forward and past the leader, but not before turning to give a parting jab before catching up to Varric.
"I am sure Cassandra would object to your brandishing of that particular weapon Inquisitor, especially at one such as I given our shared proclivities."
Evelyn sputtered; her wit failing her as she tried to think of a retort but by the time one came to mind Leliana was already deep in conversation with the dwarf. Shaking her she chanced a look back towards the fading keep in the distance and wondered if her seeker had embarked on her own mission.
Cassandra rolled her eyes, huffing slightly at the teasing barbs being thrown her way by the Iron Bull. The not so subtle suggestiveness was not lost on her but she refused to deign a response; which seemed to delight the raucous elven archer accompanying them. Between the two, Cassandra was beginning to doubt she would arrive at Caer Oswin with her sanity still intact.
"All I'm saying is that you seem more distracted lately; less frustrated. Your fighting style seems to have relaxed since we first met. Might I guess the reason?"
"She's finally getting snogged that's what's it!"
Cassandra groaned and sighed as the Iron Bull's laughter rang out. She turned and glared at her travel companions, her response sharp.
"Maker preserve us, we are NOT discussing this."
Her remark brought more laughter and the seeker sighed. It would be at least another three days before they reached Caer Oswin. She was impatient to reach the secluded keep and desperate to know why her order now resided there. There were so many questions she wanted answers to and a part of her feared what answers such questions would bring. She wished fate and ill timing had not conspired to separate her from the Inquisitor. Though young, Evelyn's council in this matter would have been sorely welcomed. She had already proven a talent for sifting through details and emotions and finding the best course of action. Cassandra bit her lip; she missed her more than she had thought she would. It comforted her to know that Leliana had abandoned her own work to see after the Herald but guilt still tugged at her for having to rely on another to take her place as protector. A soft whisper sounded just behind her ear startling her from her thoughts.
"She is thinking about you too."
Cassandra turned quickly and caught sight of the spirit just before sunlight caused his outline to blur and fade leaving nothing but a seemingly rider less horse behind her. Distracted by the Iron Bull and Sera the seeker had forgotten about the spirit/boy who she had chosen to accompany them. He was not her first choice for this mission; then again none of them save for the Iron Bull were. She had sent their best with the Inquisitor and left the mages behind for good reason, leaving her with little choice but to take the soft spoken rogue along with a blasphemous elven archer and a Qunari berserker. Cole unsettled her and today was no different. She did not have to guess to whom his cryptic message referred; his penchant for reading thoughts was already too well known. Instead she ignored the softly spoken words and turned back to face forward, determined to ignore the boy as well.
"She is worried."
Cassandra bit back the low growl that thrummed in her throat, careful not to alert the other two companions to the unwanted conversation she was having with a boy who was more spirit than flesh. In a clipped tone she glanced back and replied, "Enough. It is not polite to pry into the thoughts of others."
She watched as Cole materialized, face half hidden by the overly large hat he was so fond of wearing. She could see the sadness that seemed to never leave his face as he looked at her and then away. Cassandra felt a tinge of guilt for her tone but the rogue disappeared before she could voice it, leaving her to her own thoughts once more. The heavy feeling that had settled upon her as she watched the Inquisitor's party leave the keep without her had only grown stronger as the distance between them had grown. She had no words to describe it, only that it weighed heavily on her heart; confusing her because such a thing had never been present through all the times she had bade Galyan farewell. Then again she had been leaving her lover in the safety of a circle, not sending them out to face an unknown challenge. She sighed once more and studied the ever-changing terrain as her mind tried, once again, to work a plan around what they would do when they came upon Caer Oswin.
Evelyn gazed at the night sky and listened to the sounds of her companions as they found the sleep so often denied to her. She raised her hand, glaring at the pulsating green glow. The pain of this "gift" had slowly begun to sharpen as they neared the edge of the Western Approach, indicating that the rift they sought was indeed the biggest to date. Her arm had not ached this badly since she had temporarily sealed the original rift that had blown apart above Haven. She had forgotten just how distracting such pain could be. Irritated by her thoughts she sat up and studied those around her.
Varric's familiar snore was oddly comforting; Blackwall's was grating and Solas, as usual, made no sound. Her eyes rested on the cloaked back of Leliana, her ears registering a scratch of quill to paper. Even now, amidst the wilderness, her spymaster worked to strengthen her ever-growing network. The firelight caught the glassy eyes of one of her ravens and Evelyn smiled softly as the bird gave her an accusatory squawk.
"The pain of the mark keeps you awake, yes?"
Evelyn tilted her head, curious as to how the woman had known something that even Cassandra has not picked up upon. Frowning she watched as Leliana tied the message she had been writing to the raven's proffered leg before offering the bird her arm. Sharp talons marked the already marred leather for a moment before that same arm sent the bird into the sky. Crystalline eyes danced in the firelight as the armored rogue walked closer and took a seat next to the Inquisitor.
"Does Cassandra know?"
Evelyn felt her mouth tighten and shook her head no, her eyes darting to look at the spymaster from the corner of her eye. The cowl was still in place but she could see the sadness in the turn of those full lips.
"How did you know?"
Leliana turned away at the question and stood, forcing a jovial tone into her voice. "As your spymaster it is my job to know everything, no?" She turned to look at the young woman feeling her lips quirk at the knowledge that the noble was not buying the lightness in her tone. Sighing she sat back down, her heart heavy with memory as she sought to offer the other woman the comfort of at least knowing she was not alone.
"My Warden suffers from a similar affliction, though hers is caused by visions and dreams instead of physical pain."
Evelyn grimaced at the word affliction. She hated more than anything to know that she was not the person she used to be, that the mark on her hand was a curse accidentally given to her by a ancient insanity determined to become a god. She spat the words back at the spymaster, "It seems to be the burden cast on those decided upon as humanity's heroes."
Leliana nodded, "It is Inquisitor, but it does not have to be suffered alone. You have friends yes? Those who care about you; those who would do anything to help. You should not cast such aside in your time of need. Cassandra would want to know. Tell her. Hide your pain, if you must, from the rest but let the one you love share it." She rose silently, noting the blank stubborn stare from her fellow rogue. The spymaster almost smiled. Such a look reminding her too closely of her own lover who still remained so far away. She kept her voice soft as she reached out to briefly rest a hand on the other woman's shoulder, a sign of comfort offered freely in memory of the woman she used to be.
"Rest Herald. I will keep watch tonight. We need you at your best."
Evelyn flinched at the light unexpected touch and nodded as she pondered the spymaster's words. It was a rarity to be granted a glimpse into the other woman's thoughts and the Inquisitor read the note of worry behind the kind words. She thought she had hidden her pain well but clearly nothing escaped the former bard. She lay back, arms folded beneath her head to look out at the stars that shone more clearly here than from anywhere else she had visited in Thedas. The soft notes of a hummed and distantly familiar tune filled her ears. She looked sharply over at the back of the former bard but the other woman gave no indication that she noticed. Haunted and comforted by the slow cadence of a lost melody, Evelyn found her eyes drifting slowly shut; her body succumbing as the Herald of Andraste gave into the exhaustion she was so used to fighting against.
The sun shone bright, its heat burning into the burnished armor as the seeker pushed her mount up the steep incline. She had chosen the higher ground as a way of scouting the hidden keep but even the high vantage point did not offer any clues to how many of her order now resided there nor what defenses lay beyond the stone. The tall walls hid their secrets well and for all intents and purposes the structure looked abandoned. There were no sign of guards along the battlements, no flags to show the standard of who controlled the fortress. It was worrying and maddening at the same time. To enter the fortress was to enter blindly and risk injury to herself and the others but the seeker could see no other way around it. Cassandra glanced over at the tall Qunari at her side, the hard line of his jaw telling her that he too was unsure of the best course of action.
"Well?"
The Qunari turned to look at the warrior beside him, shrugging his massive shoulders. "The way I see it, they have left us little choice but to storm the front door." He grinned at the grimace the seeker showed at his words. He was anxious to begin what promised to be an epic battle but he understood her reluctance; the pain such a choice was sure to cause. He knew he would feel the same if asked to fight against his Chargers and in truth he was not sure he could truly do so if ever the order was given. Iron Bull wondered if the woman's heart was in this mission, if she was truly ready to sign the death warrant of an order she had grown within. He had his answer in the steel look that came over the seeker's dark eyes; her voice hard with conviction.
"Then it appears that we shall storm the keep. Maker help us."
Iron Bull laughed as he swung his axe up, resting the weight of it across his shoulders. "I think you mean Maker help them."
Wood splintered as the heavy door swung aside, Cassandra moving swiftly into the darkness with Cole right behind her. Ducking behind wooden crates she watched as a pair of guards drew their weapons and advanced towards the light streaming in from the open door. The seeker and spirit moved as one each forcing a blade into the guards from behind, catching and dragging the now limp bodies away from view. Cassandra knelt down beside the bodies, removing their helms to study their faces. She breathed in relief when she failed to place the men. They were close to her age and she felt certain that she would have met them during the early years of training had they indeed been fellow seekers. A dark mark against the side of one man's neck drew her gaze and she turned his head slowly to get a better look.
The symbol was unknown but the brand itself glowed red with lyrium and the seeker shoved the dying man's head away in disgust. More red lyrium, more death and forced servitude. If it were possible to eradicate the foul substance from this world she would see it done. Nothing, not even the taint of darkspawn, enslaved men more quickly than this substance dredged from beneath the earth. Standing once more she moved forward, motioning for the other members of her party to join. The doorway darkened with the Iron Bull's bulk, Sera close at his side. The seeker pointed to the two doorways connecting the room and motioned for the two to investigate the one to the right.
Cassandra waited in the darkness sword drawn, shield held high and ready for anything as Sera picked at the locked door. Her heart was racing, blood pounding, every nerve at the ready with the adrenaline achieved through battle. It was in these moments that she truly felt alive! The click of a lock coming undone had the seeker holding her breath. A breath that exhaled in quick irritation as the door swung open to reveal only another staircase and not the enemy she had been waiting for.
"Dammit where is everyone..."
The curse left her breath before she could stop it; Sera's manic laughter burst forth as a response.
"Ha! You cursed! Didya hear that Bull? Finally some action… this waiting is shite yeah."
Cassandra cursed again as the small elf darted forward through the doorway, her footsteps echoing up the stairs along with her sing song laughter. She saw the look of wry amusement passing over Iron Bull's face. Irritation and anger rose up within her and she waved her sword towards the towering Qunari, growling harshly.
"I was a fool to think this would work. The element of surprise has been lost. Let's go after her before that foolish girl gets herself killed."
Iron Bull chuckled and rolled his massive shoulders, "I thought you'd never ask."
Cassandra watched as the warrior ducked under the doorway, his heavy footsteps thundering forward. She motioned for Cole to follow, her pace quickening as she heard the Bull's battle cry and the clash of weapons. She had hoped to avoid a full on battle, she had hoped to meet with the other's in her order - to speak with them, to uncover the truth behind the reason for their actions.
Cassandra took the last step with a cry of her own and joined the fray, knocking one of the armored men to the ground with a blow of her shield, her sword thrusting fast and sure beneath the edge of the fallen's helm to pierce his throat. The spray of warm blood burned hot across her scarred cheek and she turned to face her next attacker; her heart heavy as she took a knee and slid her blade across the attacker's exposed midriff. She was a fool. A damned fool to hope for a peaceful resolution when peace had so often been denied. Maker take them all.
Evelyn darted away as an arrow hissed past her ear to sink into one of the glassy spider eyes that stared back at her. She shuddered as she wiped ichor off her cheek. She hated these creatures most of all. Give her demons any day. Red Templars no problem, but the thought of these hissing venomous creatures was more than enough to give her pause. She flashed a grin at the Nightingale, appreciating not for the first time, the other woman's skill with a bow. They had been fighting enemies since dawn; the rift no doubt drawing all manner of creatures closer to its pulsating power. She was exhausted but exhilarated. After days of travel with nothing more exciting happening than Varric being thrown from his horse after accidentally firing Bianca while polishing her trigger the Inquisitor was primed for action, even if it meant fighting these cursed things.
She flipped over the back of one of the quicker species and dug her dual daggers into its neck joint as it hissed and sputtered; rolling as a violent shudder bucked the hairy body beneath her. Evelyn landed on the floor and stood to find herself beside the other redhead.
"Our seeker must love when you do that."
The Inquisitor flushed at the familiar suggestiveness in the Orlesian's soft lilted voice. She had to admire the spymaster's ability at weaving sexual innuendo into their infrequent conversations; the skill no doubt a holdover from the woman's days as a bard. Glancing at the flash of crystal blue eyes, Evelyn shrugged and walked over to retrieve her blades from the spider's corpse, wiping them clean as she walked back to the archer.
"Jealous spymaster?"
Leliana laughed lightly at the pointed suggestion and shrugged as she pulled her arrow free from the spider she had felled earlier. She enjoyed this sort of verbal sparring especially with a partner whose wit so greatly resembled her own. She fixed her fellow rogue with a bold stare, a smirk twisting her lips.
"Very. I am practically quivering with envy"
Evelyn exhaled hard at that low-husked tone and felt her cheeks burn once more. Try as she might she continually failed to gain the upper hand when matching wits with the former Left Hand. She opened her mouth to form a reply of sorts when a distinctive yell echoed from within the cavern they had been drawn into.
"Inquisitor! Nightingale! You might want to come out and see this…"
The Inquisitor scowled at the trepidation in Varric's voice, racing from the cavern towards an ever brightening and familiar green glow. She stumbled at the cave's opening, her mouth agape at the massive tear in the sky. It was bigger by far than the original breach had been in Haven, the vortex exerting a powerful pull. Evelyn gasped as the mark in her hand throbbed to life, the pain ripping up her arm sending her to her knees. She barely felt the hand that rested on her shoulder or the call of her name through the pounding in her ears; her entire world narrowing to that point of burning pain. She jolted through the fog of pain as Solas's serious visage entered her field of vision, his voice pulling her back to reality as he questioned if she was alright. Evelyn struggled back to her feet, allowing the mage to help her as she another wave of pain threatened to overtake her again. Everywhere she looked there were demons pacing, patrolling as the sky darkened around them all. Deep within that swirling vortex she could feel the dark magister; all his rage and envy pouring out to envelope her into this madness.
Cursing, her rage unleashed, Evelyn lifted her hand towards the sky channeling her will into the pulse of pain and light that burst forth from her palm; grasping and shaping the fade, freezing its minions in hopes of buying her companions the time they needed to gain the upper advantage.
Cassandra leaned on her sword, chest heaving as she struggled to catch her breath. There had been more enemies than she'd thought possible though none yet had been recognizable as fellow seekers. A quick flip of each helm has simply revealed yet another unknown face whose neck shone with that same Maker forsaken mark that glowed red even after death. The seeker grimaced and removed her own helmet to assess things as they stood. Her eyes roved over the Iron Bull and Sera, both showing signs of exhaustion from the rapid succession of battles as well as a myriad of minor scrapes and bruises. The spirit showed no signs of injury but Cassandra could tell his discomfort was growing by the way he continued to pace.
"What is it?"
Cole looked up from beneath the brim of his hat at the harsh command and dropped his gaze once more. The seeker intrigued him. The peace and rage within her remained always so perfectly balanced upon the edge of truth and justice. Her thoughts were logic, fracturing only slightly when they strayed to a certain someone. He turned to pace away, surprised to feel a gauntleted hand gripping at his arm lightly.
"What are you not telling me Cole?"
The spirit turned to meet the seeker's gaze, his voice a whisper in the darkened room. "There is anger here. Fire. Pain. He knows it is you that comes and he fears your retribution. He wants you to end it, end him but you are taking too long. He fears the night, the dreams, the demon that calls to him from within."
Cassandra dropped the boy's arm in shock, her voice demanding as she closed the space between them. "Who? The Lord Seeker?" She watched as the boy shook his head slowly, translucent blue eyes wavering as the edge of his outline blurred. Cassandra watched as the spirit faded, his parting answer causing her blood to run cold.
"Daniel."
One word; that was all it took to send her years into the past. Her mind dredging up memories of a young boy whose eyes followed her every move, who she found sneaking into the training facilities after hours to practice a move he had seen her perform, who she had regarded as a lost puppy and took under her wing as her first and only apprentice. The silent determination, the passion in the young man inspired her to be better, to train harder and for years they had pushed each other to the brink of exhaustion in an attempt to be the best version of themselves they could be. Daniel had been a friend within an order where she had accepted she would find none and It had been a moment of sharp disappointment when he had stubbornly refused to follow her when she set aside the Order of Truth to take her place at the right hand of the new Divine. It had been the beginning of the end of the close ties that had forged between them but the fond memories had never faded. To have her worst fear confirmed; that he was he here, in this place, a prisoner to this cult of depravity… Cassandra growled, her strength returning fueled by the righteous rage she kept closely in check. Forgetting her allies, her mission she ran forward into the dark determined to test the authenticity of Cole's words.
Through hallway after hallway, door after door, the Iron Bull watched as Cassandra searched; the body count rising as others sought to halt her advancement. He knew better than to get in the seeker's way when she was like this and truth be told he enjoyed seeing the raw power of the female warrior unleashed. Clearly this "Daniel" meant something to her. For a moment the Bull wondered at Cole's disappearance but shrugged the thought aside as an arrow whizzed past his good eye. Turning towards the hidden attacker the warrior laughed deeply and tossed his axe from hand to hand, his booming response echoing in the dark corridor ahead, "My turn."
Sera grinned and fired back towards the direction the arrow had come from. It was always fun to see the massive Quanari smashing the little guys. A glimmer of movement caught her eye and she turned back towards the direction of the seeker, quickly notching another arrow. Unsure what the shadow was that seemed to be moving over the door, the elf fired into it her mouth falling open in surprise as her arrow incinerated.
"Um… Bull… I think…"
She paused as the veil of shadow covered the door. Curious she fired another arrow at it, shaking her head as that arrow caught fire and fell sizzling to the floor.
"Andraste's hairy tits we lost her!"
Bull jerked his head towards the sound as he drove his axe into the shoulder joint of the last attacker. "What are you saying?"
Sera ran to the doorway and pointed, "The seeker… some ass shadow is blocking the door. It's magic innit? Scary shite, ate two of my arrows too. Lit them on fire like they was nothing and those were my good arrows!"
The qunari shook her head, frowning as he advanced upon the door. He could see the shimmer of something moving across the frame but inside he could see Cassandra kneeling to check on the men she had just slaughtered. He nudged the elf beside him, "Shoot another so I can see."
"Another?! You want me to waste more arrows on this magic shite door? You shoot it! Better yet smash it with your axe thingy."
Head cocked to the side, the Iron Bull considered the suggestion and studied the doorway for a moment before drawing his axe back with both hands and leveling a swing at the open door frame. He felt the blow land solidly for a moment before a rippling power arced out from the blade, sending a powerful jolt of electricity through his body, the shock propelling him back from both door and weapon. The burn lingered on his skin but it was not the pain that made his blood turn cold. He shouted at Cassandra, the feeling of dread choking him as the realization of what had just happened set in. He slammed his fist against the stone wall and growled, "Dammit… the Boss is going to kill me for this."
Cassandra rolled her shoulders, ignoring the ache in her muscles. She turned back towards the doorway to see her companions talking… quietly amongst themselves. The seeker's eyes narrowed; she was traveling with two of the Inquisition's loudest… how is it that she…
A cough echoed ahead of her and she turned, her thoughts lost as a groan quickly followed. Daniel. The word burst forth from her mind and the seeker moved towards the direction of the sound. There in the faint light that shone from atop the last flight of stairs lay her apprentice; his face ravaged and gaunt but recognizable none the less. Cassandra approached slowly, sword drawn and caught the familiar glint of humor that passed over the man's dark eyes.
"Cassandra… you're alive… good."
The seeker knelt and pulled her old friend up to a seated position. She scanned his face, noting the grey pallor, the cracks in his flesh, the red trace of every vein standing stark along his skin and the dark circles that surrounded his eyes. Hesitantly she took his armored hand in hers.
"What have they done to you…"
She watched as her former apprentice tried to speak only to fall into a series of coughs, blood splattering the armor of her greave. She shook her head, "No, never mind that. Don't try to talk. Save your strength. I will get you out of here."
"No."
The brunette frowned at the word, her brow furrowing further as the ravaged face regarded her wearily. She watched as another round of coughing rendered the younger man speechless once more and bent lower in an attempt to better hear the soft words being rasped in that strangled tone.
"They… They put a demon inside me… They fed me things… I can feel it growing inside me, eating at me from within…"
Cassandra startled as her former apprentice yanked himself forward, hands grasping at her arm. The horror of the words he had just spoken settled upon her as the grip grew tighter.
"You have to kill me… You have to stop whatever it is inside me…"
The seeker gasped, her mind immediately rejecting the harshly rasped plea. To kill this man, her former apprentice… she could not, not even to save him from himself. Cassandra stood, backing away slowly as an anguished scream burst forth from the man and she watched as he struggled to rise, to move towards her. Her heart broke as she watched Daniel's ruined body break down before her and she knelt once more at his side. The next words chilled her to the very core.
"You have to find the Lord Seeker… he is the one responsible for all this… the destruction of our order…"
Hazel eyes widened as those rapidly being swallowed by darkness met them and gleamed. She watched as the warm brown receded; the whites of her former apprentice's pupils blackened and a deeper more sinister voice echoed from behind Daniel's Ferelden brogue.
"You're a fool seeker. You should never have come here."
Cassandra stood quickly, drawing her sword as the demon within her friend rose to face her. She snarled at the sight, "Maker take you demon."
With a lunge she leapt forward to attack, her mind teeming with regret that it had come to this. A sharp crack to the back of her head sent her reeling and she turned away from the demon towards the unknown assailant, sword swinging wildly in an attempt to repay the cowardly blow. Herr sword met nothing more than air; the darkness of the room and the blow to her head made targeting her attacker all the more difficult. Another hard blow to the head sent her world swimming and, sight blurring, Cassandra collapsed to the floor, body stiffening as the searing stab from a slender blade parted the skin between her ribs. The seeker screamed with a combination of pain and fury, drawing on every ounce of her strength as she jerked her head back, slamming it into the unknown attacker. Another harsh crack to the back of her head sent the enraged woman to the floor once more as a coldly familiar voice whispered softly in her ear.
"The demon was right Cassandra…. You never should have come."