Ice blue eyes stared down at the parchment in disbelief as they slowly read back over the hastily written message. Impossible was her first thought. She had worked opposite the seeker for years, fought at her side and had never seen the other woman fail in her appropriated tasks. Leliana put the paper down and glanced across the firelight. They had emerged from that hidden cave two days ago to watch the monstrous rift as it closed in on itself. The five of them had made quick work of the handful of demons that had escaped the closing vortex and were now but a few days away from Skyhold.
The raven that had flown into the camp had surprised her but the spymaster had hoped that it was word from Cassandra; something that she knew would ease the anxiety their Inquisitor was trying hard to conceal. Evelyn had only asked once if there had been any word but as each day had passed Leliana had noticed the Inquisitor grow more and more quiet. She shifted her gaze away as she rolled the parchment up, slipping it into her sleeve and observed the young Free Marcher.
Leliana watched as the charismatic woman laughed at whatever it was that Varric had said and then turned to nudge and tease the easily flustered warden. She was too far away to hear Blackwall's grumbled response but whatever was said caused the two rogues to laugh harder but even the spymaster could tell the laughter never reached the other woman's eyes. Eyes that seemed to glance her way more and more since Leliana had sent this latest raven on its way.
Evelyn narrowed her eyes as the former bard turned away from her and frowned slightly. She had watched the spymaster's face register the faintest hint of surprise; a rare sight indeed since the formally trained bard was always careful to keep her features an emotionless mask. Whatever had been written on the latest message had definitely caught the spymaster unaware. Making her excuses, the Inquisitor stood and silently walked over to where the hooded woman sat.
"Anything you wish to share?"
Leliana looked up and quirked her eyebrow at the noble as she shrugged aside the question. "Merely correspondence from one of my agents, nothing to be concerned about." She nodded to the other scrolls lying within reach. "Even from this far away I must keep an eye on the various strands of information I gather in order to further our cause. Some of it is trivial but some of it could be the turning point between who is an ally and who is an enemy."
Evelyn glared back and shook her head at the vagueness of the answer given. "Yet none but the last has given you any pause, hence why I ask if there is something you wish to share. Perhaps an update on Seeker Pentaghast? It is unlike her not to send a report. If I find you are keeping things from me spymaster…"
"Oh but I keep many things from you Inquisitor. Much of what I do is in the dark, the things I have seen, the acts I have ordered to be committed in the name of the Maker would make even your skin crawl. If you mean to issue threats you should be far more precise."
The words themselves were mocking but Evelyn did not miss the coolness in her spymaster's tone nor the direct challenge of that icy gaze. The sight of such dredged up the memory of the first time the Inquisitor had witnessed the cold logic that seemed to drive the former Left Hand. From her first time encountering the hands of the departed Divine, Evelyn had thought that the quiet redhead was the lesser of the two threats facing her at that moment. She had quickly discovered just how wrong that assessment was when she overheard the foreboding sister ordering the torture and subsequent death of a double agent. Evelyn had kept her silence, feeling as though it was not her place to dictate how this woman did a job she was so clearly good at, but the incident had stuck in her mind. While Cassandra's passion and righteous anger were the clear driving force behind the seeker's actions, this former bard was much harder to read. Over time the Inquisitor had learned that cold logic was the force that drove the Left's actions that and an absolute belief that she was doing the Maker's work. This was a woman who would stop at nothing and sacrifice everything including herself just to see her agenda done.
Evelyn shook her head and retreated from the line she had just toed as she dropped her voice to barely above a whisper to avoid being heard by any but the woman in front of her.
"Forgive me Sister Leliana. I am just concerned. It has been almost two weeks since we last heard anything and I…"
She paused and looked back at the laughter that rang around the campfire where Varric was currently regaling her other two companions and the detachment of soldiers who had accompanied with one of his many tales of the Champion.
"I would be worried about any of them given this timeline. They are my comrades, my friends. They have chosen to believe in me; to follow me and I would do anything to protect them."
Evelyn paused and turned to stare back at the spymaster whose sharp gaze was now hidden by her cowl. "Leliana… You know who she is to me… I need to know that she is alright. You must know that if nothing has been heard from her by the time we reach Skyhold that I will leave immediately with whomever will accompany me to seek her out even if I must go alone."
Leliana held up a hand and shook her head no. "I know you care for her Inquisitor, as do I, but we both know Cassandra would not have you risk your life for hers. She would say that your life must come before us all and she is right. You are the people's only hope and the only one who can close the.."
"We had seen that that's not entirely true Spymaster. What of this last rift? Who closed it? It wasn't I as you well know."
Leliana paused. The young woman was right and it troubled the spymaster to admit it. Had she not seen the phenomenon with her own eyes she would have doubted the retelling of such a tale. The sight of the massive hole in the sky closing on its own put the reputation of their entire cause in jeopardy as well as the singular power held by the woman they had chosen to lead them all. It was this power that stilled the hands of those who would put forth petty grudges ahead of the common good and convinced those who would declare as enemies to instead pledge their assistance as allies. To lose this would be to lose their greatest bargaining chip. It was a small miracle that only herself and the Inquisitor's close companions had witnessed the phenomenon. She studied the young leader, weighing the risks of relaying to her the words sent by the Iron Bull. Leliana knew she had only a small window of control over the situation. She was not foolish enough to call the Herald's bluff; she had witnessed her fellow redhead's impulsiveness and knew that the other woman would not hesitate to form a rescue party in order to go after the lost seeker. Reaching what she prayed was the right decision, Leliana reached forward and rested a gloved hand on the other woman's arm.
"I know who she is to you Inquisitor and out of respect of that I will tell you what it is the raven carried, but you must promise that you will not react; that you will listen to everything that I sa…"
Evelyn felt her heart plummet. The quietness of the spymaster's voice, the seriousness of her words threatened to drop the young rogue to her knees. She twitched her arm violently, throwing aside the gentle touch, her voice dropping to a deadly whisper as she cut across the spymaster's deceptive lilt.
"So help me Leliana, if she has been injured and you have kept this information from me I will…"
"She has been captured."
The four words were so unexpected that it took Evelyn several seconds to register and she stared slack jawed at the spymaster. Cassandra captured? Impossible. She studied the crystalline eyes that stared so carefully at her and shook her head, voicing her disbelief.
The spymaster nodded, her mouth tightening as she relayed what little she did know. She watched the play of emotions flit across pale features, the heat swelling behind that swirling green gaze as a single question was fired back at her.
"Who?"
Leliana shook her head, "I do not yet know. I have dispatched agents to investigate Caer Oswin, I will interrogate the three who came back myself but there is little else that can be done. We know that magic was involved…"
"Solas!"
Leliana paused and glared at the noble as the tall pale figure of the apostate rose from the fire and moved towards them. She hissed at the Inquisitor, her teeth gritted in frustration. "What are you doing? The less people that know about this the better!"
Evelyn glared at the redhead as she beckoned the mage closer. "If magic was involved, then Solas is our best resource at the moment. I have witnessed Cassandra's ability to burn lyrium. It only makes sense that whatever magic was used against her must either be unique or very powerful."
The spymaster closed her eyes and massaged her temples, her voice succinctly measured as though she were talking to a child. "I did not say that magic was used against her; only that magic was involved. I know our Seeker's abilities well enough. Cole is our only witness to her abduction and even he is unclear on the exact order of events. Iron Bull and Sera were placed under a powerful sleeping spell and there is much they did not see. I do not know what help our apostate is going to be able to provide with so little to go on. It would have been more prudent to wait until we reached Skyhold."
Solas listened carefully as the two powerful women before him argued back and forth, his mind analyzing the minute details. He schooled his face to hide his own surprise at discovering that Seeker Pentaghast had been taken. He could not see what advantage such action would have other than to deprive the Inquisition of a well known supporter and the Inquisitor of a powerful ally in battle. He listened as the former Left Hand of the Divine divulged the few details that she had garnered and his ear perked at hearing the strange terminology assigned to the event by the spirit boy. The elf held up a hand and waited until both women ceased their hushed bickering and stared expectantly at him.
"I think I may have an idea…"
Cassandra gasped awake as cold water splashed across her chest and face; the echo of a woman's laughter ringing in her ears. "Wake up Seeker and stay kneeling; you are in the presence of a God."
She looked up, her eyes widening in abject horror to find the unmistakable shadow of their enemy towering above her. She glanced towards the woman's voice, studying the harsh features illuminated by the glow of red that seemed to pulsate from the dark magister. It was not a face she recognized but it was one she would not soon forget, Cassandra vowed as she stood to her feet and ignored the tremors of weakness that came from her self-imposed fast. She watched as dark eyes widened in surprise at her defiance and cringed as a deep gravelly laughter echoed all around.
"Lucius was wrong to believe a mere handful of days would take all the fight out of one such as this. See the fire of hatred in her eyes? We could deprive her of everything and she would live to feed off such emotion."
Cassandra spat in the direction of the dark magister as she braced herself against the bars of her cage. The sudden movement made her head spin and she struggled to keep herself upright. By her count it had been four days but she could not be certain; the wounds inflicted to her head made keeping the time much more difficult. Head pounding, stomach aching she looked up and glared at her captors. A moment passed before she caught the cold gleam in the woman's eye and Cassandra grunted under the force of magic that attempted to push her back to the floor. It was pointless to resist, a futile waste of what little strength remained in her. She could not risk using her abilities, not in this state. Glaring at the mage, Cassandra allowed her body to kneel once more on the floor, not in worship to the horror that remained in front of her but to her meditative stance. She closed her eyes seeking the Maker's focus, her mouth forming familiar words as her mind fought against the wildness of her thoughts.
We plan and the Maker laughs.
Here before her stood the creature that had killed Justinia, that had helped destroy her order, that had brought chaos and death to Thedas, that was a threat to Evelyn's life and she was powerless to stop him. It would have been almost impossible for her to fight such a monster at full strength but now… to even attempt it would have been suicide at best yet, she had to do something. Cassandra clenched and unclenched her fist, slowly drawing on her powers. She sought not to burn the lyrium in this mage's veins but she wanted to at least show that she was not beaten. With a growl she released, vanquishing the magical force that bore her down; smirking at the surprise that flitted across the other woman's cold features. Cassandra stood and stared up at the magister, her mouth twisted in contempt.
"You are wrong. I do not hate you. You are beneath such emotion. You are a murderer of innocents, a plague on this world that I would see ended. You claim the Maker has left? Open this cage, give me my sword and I will send you to his side once more."
Corypheus stared down at the defiant woman, faintly amused by her fearlessness. He had grown used to the deference afforded to him by his display of power. He tilted his head to the side before turning to look at the former slave at his side.
"Well, shall we give this seeker what she asks for? Shall we open her cage, give her a weapon and watch her die or did you have further use of her?"
Calpernia sneered and shook her head. "Her precious Inquisitor will come whether this seeker is alive or not. My spies tell me that the Nightingale has been told; with the careful trail we have been sure to leave they will be here within the week provided the Sister does not merely keep the information to herself."
She paused, staring at the bright hazel eyes that glared back at her. "What say you seeker? You know the Nightingale best, although by all counts the two of you have never been that close. Would she keep such news from everyone else and leave you to rot or would she organize a rescue party?"
Cassandra shook her head, her eyes narrowing. "As you said, the two of us are not close. Enough talk. I have given you my challenge, now will it be met or do the two of you intend to talk me to my death?"
The former slave studied the ferocity of the seeker's stance and contemplated which course of action to take. She had hoped this woman could have shed light on the former bard. There would be little warning once the songbird made her move. Keeping the seeker alive served no real purpose; she was not their true target. Her life or rather the threat of her death, could compel the Inquisitor's compliance or it could spark an incredible anger in the brash noble; it was a factor she had struggled with in the planning of this abduction. She looked towards her master and shook her head.
"I think the Seeker is prepared to die; I think a part of her even wants to as long as she does so with a sword in hand. Why else would she refuse the food and water that that despicable Lord Seeker has left for her day after day? The rats are benefiting and growing fat on her stupidity while she grows only weaker."
She sneered at the woman who lifted a single eyebrow at her in response, her fist clenching and unclenching. There was something familiar about the action and Calpernia's eyes widened with remembrance at the same time the air around her crackled to life. She felt the lyrium begin to burn within her veins and she hissed and clawed at the pale skin of her arms; her voice choking out the words in an attempt to warn her master.
"Ma...master…. Leave now."
Corypheus had felt the air thicken and though he had long overruled his need to ingest lyrium as a fuel for his own powers, he felt his blood stir as the red lyrium deposits he had grafted to his skin began to pulsate. He knew well what the seeker was attempting and a part of him wanted to pit his own resilience against such a power but he could ill afford to lose Calpernia to such a game. She was his perfect Vessel, a key part of his rise to power and he did not have time to prepare another. He raised his arm and commanded the stubborn seeker to stop.
Cassandra turned her gaze towards the dark magister, one of the seven who had dared to enter the Golden City; whose sins blackened it into a blighted ruin. This mage who dared to call himself a god, to declare the Maker an abandoner. Her anger escalated and Cassandra dug deeper within herself, her muscles trembling from lack of sustenance, from days of disuse. She had never attempted to draw forth so much power at a single time and she knew the risk she was taking. This monster would never leave her alive, he would tear her world down around her and destroy all that she had ever fought to save. Evelyn's face flashed before her eyes and she closed them and let regret wash over her as she thanked the Maker for what little time she'd had with the young woman. The Inquisitor had taught her much about herself and disproven many beliefs she had long held. It was good to know she was worthy of being loved once more. She banished the raw emotions away, leaving the rage to burn anew. The smell of burning flesh assaulted her senses as the pain caused her fingers to curl into claws, every nerve felt afire. The world tinged red and then white as the power she commanded consumed her and she screamed; her voice joined briefly by two others even as everything went black.
Iron Bull watched with trepidation as the Inquisitor's party trudged through the open gates, greeted by the welcoming cries of the soldiers and other members of the Inquisition. He saw a slender hand raised in welcome to the crowd but he felt the sting of those burning green eyes staring up at him even through the slit in the young woman's helm. There was little point in wondering if she knew or if Red had managed to keep his brief letter a secret. He turned away from the procession as footsteps echoed behind him and he turned to tower over one of the Inquisition's many agents who presented a folded piece of parchment with the red seal in the shape of a bird. He nodded and waited until the agent left to open the summons.
She knows and your presence will be commanded before the council shortly. Weather her wrath well and bring our elven archer and Cole with you; the Inquisitor will have questions for you all.
He read through the words twice before folding the stiff paper and held it over the torch to his right. He had spent far too long in the Ben Hassrath to leave such letters exposed to the prying of other eyes; he and Red had that in common at least. The qunari leaned against the battlements, lost in thought as he pondered the fucked up situation he now found himself in. He had joined the Inquisition because it just made sense to be on the side of the one person who could actually close the big gaping holes in the sky. It also was a lucrative assignment for his Chargers, not to mention it had given him the opportunity to take down scores of annoying mages, mad red templars, demons and giants. There was even the possibility of a dragon or two in the mix; an idea that made his blood run hot with an excitement even sex could not awaken. The Iron Bull snorted and pushed away from the wall. Fat chance of that happening now without the Seeker in their midst.
He contemplated the raven haired warrior as he slowly made his way down the battlements and into the great hall. To say she was an admirable warrior was putting it mildly. Besides being easy on the eyes, he appreciated her wan sense of humor and the easy way she deflected his not so subtle advances. It had pleased him to see the way the Herald made her smile, even though the two of them had been very careful to hide what was developing between them. He found it appropriate that two immensely powerful women could take such pleasure in each other; pleasure he was sure to imagine from time to time when he lacked a proper bed warmer. The thought made him smile as he walked onwards to the war council chambers. Had the seeker been a qunari or even interested in the Qun she would have made an amazing Agun-athlok but now… The warrior slammed his fist into the stone wall that led to the ambassador's rooms, startling a few of the diplomats from Orlais that insisted on hanging around the Great Hall for a chance to meet and woo the young woman leading them all. He flashed a grin at the affronted nobles and continued through the small door.
Leliana clasped her hands behind her back, her blue eyes following the slender figure that paced before her. To say Evelyn Trevelyan was restless was putting it mildly. Upon entering the keep, the young rogue had immediately begun issuing orders to ready fresh horses, sending messengers scurrying to the stables and kitchens for supplies. She had already dropped her daggers and armor off at the armory to be freshly sharpened and shined. She was taking no chances and every moment her departure was delayed was sending the woman into a fouler mood. The spymaster cleared her throat as the council door opened and the tall muscular frame of the Iron Bull entered followed closely by a cursing Sera and a semi corporeal Cole. The spymaster caught the flash of anger in her fellow rogue's green eyes and reached out to stop the younger woman from whatever action she had planned only to have the silken cloth of the Inquisitor;s tunic slip through her gloved fingers. Leliana watched as that slender frame launched itself against the massive bulk of the qunari, surprised when the ferocity of the attack drove the large warrior back.
Evelyn drove her fists into thickly muscled pecs hard, again and again; her mouth clamped closed for fear of what she might say. To his credit, the qunari accepted her blows but then again why shouldn't he - she was in no way a match for him in strength. Seeing that her fists were making no impact, the Herald moved back and grabbed the first marker she could reach from its position on the war table and jabbed the point of it into grey flesh causing a trickle of blood to form and fall.
"Enough!"
Evelyn turned to glare at the source of the reprimand, surprised when a much deeper voice echoed from behind her.
"No. It is ok; the Boss has every right to be mad. I failed her; I failed us all."
The Inquisitor turned back to look up at the reaver's face, surprised by the words and shamed by the qunari's acceptance of her violence towards him. She could read the sadness in his remaining eye and knew that the warrior blamed himself. The sight of such did what the reprimand did not and Evelyn reached forward and gently removed the marker from the warrior's chest, her voice tight with emotion as she spoke for the first time in what seemed like hours.
"No. If anyone has failed it is me. I am sorry. I should never have attacked you. It was very… unInquisitorly of me."
She felt the heavy weight of the warrior's hand as it rested on her shoulder, the gruff voice strangely soft to her ears. She looked up, allowing the familiar touch for a brief moment as the mercenary flashed her a crooked smile.
"We will find her boss. The seeker is tougher than most. No doubt those bastards are regretting their decision to take her at all."
Evelyn felt her lips twitch with a wry grin at the truth of the words and the memories they called forth; fond memories of the seeker's blood curdling cries during battle, the sickening smack of her shield as it flung their enemies aside, harshly accented words stating her unique point of view as she fought to win the few arguments she started and the stubborn set of that strong jaw when it was clear the seeker was not going to get her way. The memories cheered her and pained her all at once in a confusing mixture of emotion that the Herald flung far away from her mind. She did not want to feel them; the good or the bad. Emotion would only hinder her once they began their search. Back straightened the Inquisitor shook free that heavy hand and turned to the only companion who had the ability to shed any light on what had happened to the one she loved. Watery blue eyes stared back at her as a soft voice began a tale she would have to hear thrice to believe.
The scent of charred skin greeted her as she slowly blinked past the heavy fog of unconsciousness brought forth by her rash actions. Cassandra trembled as she rolled to her side, coughing to clear her scorched throat; her eyes slowly scanning the area around her. The dungeon appeared empty, unchanged save for the blackened state of its stone walls. Maker, what had she done… the absence of bodies and the fact that she still lived to draw breath told her that she had not accomplished her chosen task; that she had once again failed. She closed her eyes and sighed, the twisted sound of her stomach growling echoing in the silence. Hazel eyes immediately flitted to the fresh bowl of gruel that lay steaming within arms reach of the iron bars that continued to hold her prisoner. The smell was foul but it took every ounce of her will to not reach out and consume the unwelcome fare. The clicking sound of fast claws alerted her to the fat rats the Tevinter had mentioned earlier and Cassandra watched as a dark shadow waddled closer, grimacing as her mind toyed with a foul idea.
Before she could think better of her decision the seeker reached out, grasping the fur covered body, practiced hands snapping its neck in a sickening crunch. Bile rose to her throat as her hands twisted the broken neck further, thin bones breaking the surface of the skin as the heat of blood dribbled and slowly warmed her ice cold fingers. Closing her eyes she lifted the still warm body to her lips and let the thick drops of blood touch her parched lips. She had read once of seeker's resulting to such methods when faced with extraordinary circumstances but still the iron tang caused her throat to convulse rhythmically and Cassandra flung the rat's corpse from her lips and curled into herself as her stomach clenched in revulsion. She lay there, breath coming in harsh gasps as she fought to control her body's reaction. Minutes passed, maybe hours before she felt compelled to crawl in the pale light and pick up the rat's body once more. The fresh blood had congealed and the animal was no longer warm but she could not let that stop her. Her attempt to scorch the Tevinter mages had drained her of almost everything and the chill that had settled over her body told her that death was not far behind. Better to scavenge on the raw meat of vermin that to risk the corruption of whatever the Lord Seeker had fed Daniel.
Spine steeled, Cassandra jerked at the matted fur, pulling it away from the rat's body, separating the gamey stands of muscle from poisonous organs. The first taste gagged her but she fought the convulsion of her throat, forcing her throat to swallow as her starved stomach roared to life. It felt like mere seconds before the small pile of meat was no more and yet her stomach continued in its demand for more. Cassandra listened as more claws echoed in the dark and closed her eyes, praying that the Maker could forgive so desperate an action.
Evelyn only half listened as the members of the war council argued the pros and cons of each proposed course of action. In truth she was miles away and lost in memories. Hearing Cole recount the events that had befallen her lover had only served to feed the rage within her. It had taken the tightening grip of her spymaster on her forearm and the soft words of Solas to calm her enough to allow the young man to leave unscathed. To think she had thought him loyal! It was clear his only loyalty was to himself and the twisted sense of justice he felt towards his own special gifts; gifts that no doubt allowed him to hear every unspoken thought she had directed his way.
Cole's witness had not revealed anything more than what they had already suspected from the sparse intel previously sent by the Iron Bull but it did help solidify the identities of Cassandra's attackers. Exactly how Calpernia and the Lord Seeker had ascertained the nature of her and the former Right Hand's relationship was still unknown but from the spirit boy's description it could not be anyone but. Leliana was in an uproar, convinced that their had to be spies in their midst but Evelyn was not sure. A memory whispered at the edge of her thoughts, something the seeker had mentioned not long ago but the exact nature of the words eluded the Inquisitor. It frustrated her to no end but three nights without adequate sleep had rendered her mind a useless tool and her patience non-existent.
"Enough. We have wasted enough time arguing this. Now is the time for action. Clearly Corypheus wants my attention and he has it. Let me gather our companions and find him and this Calpernia myself!"
The unexpected outburst ceased the constant bickering and the tension thickened within the room. Unsurprisingly it was Josephine who broke it, her voice soft as she sought to dissuade the Inquisitor from such an action.
"Please your Worship, I know Lady Pentaghast is an irreplaceable member of our cause, a stalwart warrior and perhaps the next Divine, but none of these are reason enough to risk your own person. Surely this is a task you can trust to others?"
Evelyn shook her head and slammed her palms flat against the table, the action scattering several map markers. Her voice deadly soft as she turned to look each of her advisors in the eye, conveying the seriousness of her words.
"I will be the one to lead this search. I do not care about the risk and this is a mission I will entrust to nobody save myself. Cassandra has been placed in harm's way directly because of my own carelessness and I will not suffer another moment of "trusting others" to right my wrongs."
She held up a hand as two of the three advisors opened their mouths to protest. "No. My decision is final. I do not expect you to understand. I do not expect you to accept it either, but I do expect you to follow my command."
Evelyne paused, allowing her words to sink in, her eyes studying the worry etched across those pretty, dark Antivan features and the stubborn scowl that furrowed the brow beneath the curly blond hair of her templar commander. She stared at the two until both nodded their compliance and then turned her attention to her spymaster. The red haired bard's silence in the matter had surprised her for all that the former Left Hand had argued during the journey back but she was glad she did not have to deflect her feelings on the matter as well.
"Spymaster, have your agents uncovered any clue as to Calpernia's whereabouts?"
Leliana shook her head, her voice devoid of emotion. She felt numb inside. This mission Trevelyan was determined to lead put so much at risk but she had seen, riding back to the keep, that the other woman was not going to be dissuaded. No, the only way to stop her at this point would be to restrain her and it was not a move the spymaster could do without undermining the authority they themselves had given her. She sighed, "No. There has been no sighting of the woman but my agents have uncovered more on Corypheus himself, some of which may point towards a possible holding location."
Evelyn lifted an eyebrow, her head tilting in thought before nodding at the other woman to continue. She listened as the former bard wove the story of the magister's supposed origins; a tale that seemed too incredible to be real. According to the research her agents had just completed at Weisshaupt the self titled "Elder One" was indeed a magister from old Tevinter, and not just any magister but a High Priest, one of the seven who had sought and blackened the Golden City. She listened as Leliana explained that the importance of such a revelation, Evelyn's patience could only take so much and she interrupted what was sure to be an enlightening tale to demand that the spymaster get to the point.
Leliana huffed in annoyance and paused in her storytelling, a rebuttal ready on her lips but she kept her peace. She knew why the Inquisitor acted as she did and the spymaster knew if their positions had been reversed and it was her own Warden that was being held against her will that Leliana would be reacting similarly if not worse. A glare told her that she had held her tongue too long and the former Left shook her head to clear her thoughts and divulged the location her agents had uncovered hidden in the archives of the Warden's grand records.
"Corypheus was the High Priest of Dumat; the Ancient One whose awakening began the First Blight. There is a shrine dedicated to this ancient god, a shrine located in Northern Orlais. It would make sense that he would take lodging there. The shrine might even be a source of his power but we cannot be sure of that until it has been scouted, which my agents are doing even as we speak."
Evelyn nodded briskly and walked towards the door. "Good. Then it is settled. We will seek out this Shrine of Dumat." She turned the handle on the wooden door, surprised at the talon marked glove that covered her arm and the soft words whispered for her ears alone.
"Maker guide you to her Inquisitor, and may He see you both back to us safely." She paused for a moment, her grip tightening as her eyes glinted from beneath the dark cowl. "And if anything has happened to her… may you show them His justice."
Evelyn flashed the bard a crooked grin, her own voice just as quiet. "Do not worry. If anything has happened to her, there will not be a Shrine of Dumat or an Elder One when I am done."
Leliana released the slender arm and watched as the Inquisitor slipped from the room. She turned to the still surprised faces of Josephine and Cullen and shook her head.