Chapter Sixteen

Friends and Foes: Part One

D'or Estate

Sahrnia, Orlais

The walk back to the D'or estate was slow. Even after Malakar's healing and a potion, Cullen's strength was failing. Valina was faring no better, the adrenaline of the battle worn off entirely. Although unscathed, her bronzed skin was ashen, her eyes dull and unfocused. She clung to Cullen so hard that in some moments he was all that held her upright.

Benet meet them at the door to his house, his stormy eyes churning when they fell upon Valina. Cullen bristled when Benet glared at him; the Marquis was raring for a fight, to renew the testosterone fuelled battle they started days before, but Cullen would not take any bait that D'or dared throw at him. It would be hard for the Orlesian to play a game in which Cullen refused to take part with anything but a solid fist if the opportunity arose.

When the opportunity arose.

'Valina!' Benet cried as he rushed forward, intending to take Valina's other side.

Cassandra ducked under Valina's other arm to assist her up the steps, blocking Benet's advance. Cassandra glanced at Cullen, sensing the tension between him and Benet. 'You will address her as her title demands,' Cassandra said coolly, throwing a pointed glare at the Marquis as they entered the estate.

'Of course, forgive me. I have forgotten my manners,' Benet covered quickly, 'Lady Voclain is an old friend. I have been beside myself with worry these last few days.'

'Then you would do well to show us to a room, Your Grace, so that she might rest.'

If Benet was angered by Cassandra's curt words, he hid it well. Even he knew better than to challenge a member of Nevarran royalty – no matter how far down the succession line – and especially when she was within reach of a sword.

Benet led them up to the second floor, past his study, to a lavishly appointed guest quarters. Malakar, Dorian, and the Iron Bull stayed at the door, though concern tugged at their brows. When Benet tried to follow their companions into the room, Bull placed a gentle hand on Benet's shoulder. If the weight of his massive arm did not convey the message clearly enough, the fact that Malakar closed the door behind the trio certainly did.

Cullen and Cassandra sat Valina on the edge of the mammoth bed, helping her shrug off her weapons and coat before allowing her to lay back on the plush pillows.

'Your horses are here, but Marquis D'or said you had not stayed. Where is your gear?' Cassandra asked as she hung Valina's coat over the end of the bed.

'Still in a cave, a short ride from here,' Cullen said.

'We expected to return to it in the evening,' Valina added as she sank further into the pillows.

'Why did you not just stay here if the Marquis was willing to accommodate you?'

'We camped in the cave the night before we met with the Marquis. As for not arranging accommodations here after that…' She shrugged. 'That's a complicated story that I will be happy to tell you after a few hours of rest. We were heavily drugged, Seeker, and after a significant fight and a miles-long hike I am not up to conveying it.'

Cassandra's eyes softened. 'Very well. We will retrieve your belongings.'

Valina gave the seeker more precise directions to the cave, then asked, 'Can you have someone to stay by the door?' At Cassandra's raised eyebrow, Valina added, 'I doubt I will wake as easily as I would normally, so it will make me feel better knowing that we are not alone.'

'All right, I will ask Bull to stay. In the meantime, I suggest you both get rest.'

'Thank you,' Cullen said.

Cassandra gave them both a curt nod before she turned away. She slipped through the door, closing it firmly behind her. Through the heavy frame, Valina could hear muffled voices talking, but she was too exhausted to focus on them.

Cullen shrugged off his surcoat, draping it beside Valina's coat. He stripped his armour as quickly as his tired fingers allowed and kicked off his boots, wearing only his shirt and his now worse for wear pants. He climbed onto the bed. Valina protested when he lifted her calf onto his knee to unlace her boots, but he quickly stripped them from her feet and laid her legs back on the mattress.

'Cassandra told us to rest,' Cullen said as he laid beside her, 'it will take time to retrieve our gear, so we may as well sleep until they return.'

'I know, but all I want is a bath,' Valina said with a grimace, 'I feel disgusting.'

'I will wake you up by placing you in a steaming tub then,' Cullen said, wrapping his arm tight around her waist to draw her back to his chest, 'for now, sleep, my love.'

'Fine, Amatus,' she said reluctantly, though she did snuggle back into his embrace.

He swept a few stray strands of hair back from her face, placing a soft kiss on her cheek before he nestled in behind her. When her breathing had eased into the deep rhythm of sleep, he allowed his eyes to close, his mind quickly drifting into slumber.

Cullen woke to a heavy knock on the door, as he had days earlier. He struggled to drag himself from his heavy slumber, his mind foggy with sleep and the lingering exhaustion of the drugs and escape. Cullen rubbed at his tired eyes with a yawn. His bones ached with every movement, and muscles that he had forgotten existed protested about being put to work when he sat up. He shook off the fog, glancing down at Valina as she stirred. She woke for only a moment before slipping back into oblivion. Cullen eased slowly off the bed, his bare feet quiet on the polished floor. He glanced back at Valina, ensuring she still slept before he cracked the door open.

'Did I wake you, Commander?' Cassandra asked, meeting his tired gaze through the gap.

Cullen glanced down the hall. Satisfied that no one else was nearby, he cracked open the door further. 'Yes, but that's probably a good thing.' He rubbed his aching temple. 'I feel like I've slept an age.'

'We were gone for some time,' Cassandra said, heaving two packs towards the door, 'I'm glad you were able to rest. Here is your equipment.'

'Thank you,' Cullen said as he took the heavy bags from her, leaning them against his legs, 'how long were you gone?'

'About six hours. We did some scouting on our way to the cave and also returned to the estate the bandits were squatting in. We did a quick sweep; if any bandits survived, they are long gone,' Cassandra said, 'Dinner will be served soon, also. I dare say you both need a good meal.'

Cullen felt his stomach clench at the words, his insides gnawing at themselves. 'Yes, that would do us good I think. After days on the floor of a cell, I think a bath might be in order first.'

'Benet boasted about his excellent heating systems. I will put it to the test and direct him to have your bath prepared for you.'

'Thank you.'

'We will debrief after dinner.'

Cullen sensed a note of displeasure in the Seeker's voice but was too exhausted to care. Whatever bothered Cassandra could wait until he ensured Valina was rested, refreshed, nourished.

'Of course,' he said, 'thank you again.'

'I'll leave you to get sorted.'

Cassandra turned toward the staircase. Cullen dragged the packs into the room, kicking the door closed. He leant the heavy bags against the end of the bed. When he glanced up at Valina, a smile tugged at his lips; she still slept soundly, but had rolled over, her arm wrapped tight around the pillow which his head had left only moments before.

Cullen gathered a change of clothes for each of them and laid the garments over the bed. Keeping his steps quiet, he moved to the adjacent bathroom and ducked his head through the door. He startled when his feet touched the stone floor, surprised to find the polished surface warm. As he marvelled at the temperature, a slow trickling sounded from a pipe above the ornate metal tub. The trickle quickened, growing louder until steaming hot water poured through a pipe at the end of the bath. Cullen would never admit to D'or that he was impressed at how quickly the tub filled, the room warming until steam clung to the walls, streaks of moisture dripping down to the polished floors. He was sure it would inflate the Marquis' ego to bursting.

Cullen ducked back into the bedroom and stripped his ragged clothes. He slowly stripped Valina's pants and smallclothes from her legs, ignoring her weak protests. She was unwilling to wake fully but he managed to lift her enough to strip her shirt. He gathered her in his arms, carrying her to the tub.

When her toes dipped into the water, her eyes flew open. He eased her into the tub, almost flinching at the intensity of the heat, but when he placed her into the depth of the tub he heard what could only be described as a purr vibrate through her.

Valina stretched languidly, her eyes fluttering closed once again. 'I'm dreaming,' she said as she leant back into the blistering water until only her face was uncovered.

'I told you I would wake you up by placing you in a steaming tub,' Cullen said, coaxing her up so he could slide in behind her. He gently pulled the tie from her hair, dropping it to the floor beside the tub. Dark strands cascaded down and he combed his fingers through the drenched mane, gently relieving a few tangles.

'And you delivered,' she sighed, leaning into his touch.

Cullen reached for the soap dish, working the bar into a lather in his hands. He massaged the lather through her hair; it was not her usual rose-scented soap or oil that teased his senses, but there was soft and soothing floral note to the aroma that slowly blanketed the steamy room.

'You spoil me, Amatus.'

'Do I?' he asked as he washed the lather from her hair, the silken strands sliding between his fingers as he combed through the length.

'Absolutely.'

A smile curled on his lips. 'Lean forward.'

Valina glanced over her shoulder at him but obliged. He lathered the soap again, placing it aside before he turned his attention to her body. He started at her shoulders, the slick suds allowing him to massage every inch of her bronzed skin as he moved along her arms, then down her back. He worked out the hard knots at her shoulders and her hips, soft mewls escaping her as he eased the aches in her muscles. Cullen was relieved to see that rest had relieved some of the ashen tones to her skin, but a dullness clung to her glowing complexion.

'Cassandra said that dinner will be served soon.'

'Thank the Maker. I'm so hungry I feel ill.'

Cullen washed the suds from her skin, preparing to climb from the tub, but Valina turned to face him. Strong, nimble fingers grasped his shoulders, keeping him in place.

'Your turn.'

'It can wait. You need to eat.'

'A few minutes more won't matter, Amatus. Besides, you're covered in dirt and blood. As much as I might find this ruggedness attractive, you won't hear the end of it from Dorian. That mage can smell a fashion disaster a mile away.'

Cullen sighed. When he ran his fingers through his hair, he was surprised to find it matted in some places: indeed he was covered in dirt and blood.

'We also can't have Benet thinking that he's better looking than you just because he deems a little dirt under the nails as barbaric. I won't stand for it.' She smiled mischievously. 'Which is why I think you should also wear your armour. The Commander of the Inquisition should not appear underdressed for dinner. Benet might forget his manners again.'

A part of Cullen's mind demanded he tend to her needs, but another was filled with vicious smugness at the knowledge that she wanted to show him off. He could never doubt her love for him, but knowing Valina wanted to put Benet in his place as much as he did after the Marquis fawned over her on their return was satisfying in a way he could not describe.

Cullen dipped his head under the water at her instruction, allowing her to lather the soap through his hair. Grit and grime were lifted, the matted strands softening to their natural wave and returning to their golden colour. When Valina was finished with his hair she cleaned his body, massaging his aching muscles just as he had massaged hers. They had bathed together before, but never had a moment felt as intimate as it did then, enveloped in the warmth and weight of the steam in the air that was stirred by their quiet breaths. He felt his strained body relax at her touch, his eyes locked on her beautiful face. A soft smile warmed her lips as she worked knots from his arms, his mind captivated by her tenderness.

Valina washed the soap from his body, her hands sweeping over his skin slowly, her caress lingering with her affection. Cullen shook himself from his reverie when she rose on her knees, her arms twining around his neck as she leant into his waiting embrace.

'Feel better?' she asked with a knowing look.

'Much,' he admitted, his lips answering her smile, 'I just hope I don't look too scruffy. I've not shaved for days.'

'I think it suits you, Commander,' she said as she cupped his cheek and trailed her fingers along the thickened stubble on his jaw, 'though I wouldn't suggest growing a beard like Blackwall anytime soon. It tickles far too much in sensitive places. And I enjoy the stubble more. It's part of your charm.'

Valina claimed Cullen's lips. Her kiss was soft, searching, filled with a smouldering passion that words could not express. When she drew back, resting her forehead against his, he was breathless, weightless with elation that they were together and safe.

'We should go to dinner, my love,' he said, catching her serpentstone gaze, her eyes filled with warmth. He wanted to ignite the spark that lay in her gaze, but he feared pressuring her after their distressing capture and escape, and he could not continue to deny the clamouring in his mind that demanded he tend to her needs, namely her growling stomach.

'We should,' she sighed.

Cullen placed a soft kiss on her forehead before extracting himself from her arms and rising from the tub. He helped her out of the bath; her footing was still unsteady, and the metal sides were tall even for him. He ensured she was dry then wrapped her in the towel for warmth before he dried himself. She did not protest as he ushered her back to the bed to dress, the thick material up around her ears as she clung to the warmth of the bath.

While she dressed in soft leather pants and a stunning fitted green tunic that matched her eyes, Cullen dressed in a fresh and unscathed pair of pants. As suggested, he donned his full armour and his surcoat, finding the weight reassuring. He smoothed back his hair but a stubborn piece fell over his forehead no matter how much he tried to train it.

'There's my handsome Commander,' Valina said, grasping his surcoat. She drew his lips to hers, her kiss still tender. Her tongue teased his lips and he was helpless but to surrender to her. He fought the urge to grasp her hips tighter, to slide his hands around her waist and lock her in his arms.

'My love…' Cullen whispered against her lips.

Valina sighed. 'I know.'

It took all his strength to draw away from her embrace. She slid her hand into his, entwining their fingers as they walked to the door and down to dinner. They followed the voices of their companions and the sweet smell of delicious food to the large dining room on the lower floor. Flickering candles lit the room, casting slow shadows over the table.

They entered the room, and Valina felt her stomach drop, churning with rage rather than hunger in that moment. There were only two empty chairs at the table, one on each side of Benet who sat at the head. He glanced up as Valina and Cullen, his smile dropping when his eyes fell upon their joined hands. He quickly covered his anger, his smile returning as a smirk as he glanced at the seats beside himself.

'And here they are!' Benet said, rising to greet them formally, 'I'm so pleased to see you both up and about. You were in such a state this morning when you returned. Come, sit. You must be starving.'

'We are, Your Grace, thank you,' Valina said with a curt nod. She squeezed Cullen's hand reassuringly as they approached the head of the table, splitting up only at the last second to take their seats. Servants rushed to their sides, placing steaming plates before them. Valina's stomach growled in earnest, her hand almost shaking with excitement as she lifted her fork.

The first bite was bliss. She heard voices around her, but no words registered, her focus dedicated to the plate in front of her as she devoured her first meal in days. Her stomach churned sickeningly with the sudden intake but she was too hungry to care. She masked a sneer when Benet dared to address her directly, trying to draw her attention away from the meal.

'Lady Pentaghast has informed me that you dealt with the bandits in the abandoned estate.'

'That is correct,' Cullen said, deflecting the question to allow Valina to gulp down a few more morsels, 'they will no longer be an issue for you and the citizens around Sahrnia.'

'And so my resources and the strength of Sahrnia will be at your beck and call. I am so relieved to see you safe,' Benet said, his stormy gaze locked on Valina as if she had spoken the words, 'how did they manage to capture you? I thought you were going to scout?'

Valina swallowed hard, masking her irritation again. 'We encountered the bandits on the road suddenly, before we reached our planned scouting location,' she said hurriedly, 'unfortunately, the force was under the command of a mercenary of similar skill and proficiency to myself, a woman I have encountered before. There was little to be done but allow ourselves to be captured and await an opportunity to escape, which would have come much faster had we not been heavily drugged.'

Benet clutched his chest, a little too dramatically for Valina's taste. 'Drugged?'

'Until this morning,' Valina said, 'it was potent, whatever it was.'

'That must have been a terrible ordeal. I'm glad that I was able to send for the Inquisition the moment I suspected you were in danger,' Benet said, 'I knew it was unsafe to send just the two of you, Valina. You should have requested reinforcements and stormed the estate.'

Valina grit her teeth, masking her anger as he echoed his previous sentiments that Inquisition troops should have been endangered for his benefit.

That Valina was not enough.

He would see me dressed as a doll and placed on his mantle if he had the chance, she thought. More infuriating, though, was that he acted as if he had been the one to rescue them personally.

Before Valina could tear his words to pieces Cassandra said, 'with all due respect, Your Grace, Lady Voclain and Commander Cullen could never have predictable that they would encounter such a large force of bandits on the road in broad daylight.'

'I merely mean to say that it was poorly planned,' Benet said, arching his eyebrow in challenge.

'Lady Voclain and Commander Cullen made a strategic call to investigate a low-level threat rather than to call Inquisition forces away from other duties on a whim, and although their capture was unfortunate, it was still the correct call to make given the information which you provided us.'

'You might recall, Lady Pentaghast that I stated in my letter that the bandits were not the usual sort of ruffian that prowls Sahrnia.'

'And you might recall that we are in the middle of a war,' Cassandra quipped, 'there is nothing usual about the rifts and cultists creating chaos throughout Thedas. There was no reason to believe that two of the Inquisition's most formidable members could not handle a group of bandits, especially when we have little manpower to spare to answer every whim of nobles.'

Although Valina had little contact with the Seeker – their longest discussion had been about Cullen's lyrium withdrawal – Cassandra was quickly becoming one of Valina's favourite people.

'We shall have to agree to disagree, Lady Pentaghast.'

Cassandra did not bend at Benet's stormy glare and he visibly bristled at her challenge. 'So we shall.'

The dining room fell quiet, unease settling over the guests at the exchange. Valina took the opportunity to return to her meal, desperate to sate her hunger. Her stomach was settling, the warmth of the meal relieving the last of her exhaustion.

As Valina ate she glanced at her companions. Cassandra offered a curt nod from further down the table. Across from her, Dorian and Malakar were locked in the silent exchange of lovers desperate for a moment alone, sneaking glances and smiles. The Iron Bull nudged her then rolled his eyes dramatically at the Marquis, making a smile dance on her lips.

Valina's gaze fell on Cullen. He kept his eyes on his meal but his shoulders were strained beneath his armour, his body coiled to fight. He would strike Benet, given an opportunity. Valina suspected that chewing too loudly would be enough to seal Benet's fate; even from across the wide table Valina could feel wrath rolling off him, heavy and thick as it filled the room.

Benet cleared his throat, and Cullen's arm twitched eagerly.

'Perhaps we should discuss a lighter topic,' Benet suggested, and Valina felt his stormy eyes on her again, 'tell me, Valina, how are your parents?'

'Quite well,' Valina said.

'They've joined you at the Inquisition?'

'Yes.'

'Their support has been invaluable,' Malakar said, peeking around Dorian.

'Truly?'

Valina bristled at Benet's arched eyebrow and the grimace that lit his lips as he glanced dismissively at Malakar, but she kept a polite smile on her lips as she said, 'truly.'

'That's such good news. It's been so long since I've had the pleasure of their company in my home,' he said, smiling as if recalling fond memories.

Valina nearly snorted. The last time Benet and Dranus had been in the same room – sometime around Valina's nineteenth birthday – Dranus had made it clear that incessant attempts to court Valina would be met with equally incessant fireballs.

'I would be honoured to have you and your family join me for dinner one evening. It is a short trip from the fortress, after all, and I have many rooms to spare. You could stay in comfort, and ride back in the morning if you wished to depart.'

'I'm afraid the Inquisition keeps us terribly busy,' Valina quipped, ignoring his suggestion, 'what with this war and all.'

'Of course. Perhaps once the war is over?'

Valina masked her grimace. Although she wanted to carve NO into his forehead so that the word might sink in for once, she managed a polite, 'perhaps.'

Valina glanced over at Cullen when she heard metal creaking. He stared absently down at the fork in his hand, and at that moment Valina thought he might be imagining it buried in Benet's throat, but he released his vice-like grip with shaking fingers. He placed the bent flatware on the table, his gaze darting, tawny eyes finding Valina. They shared their frustration at D'or's persistence, but they had already risked the alliance by playing the game rashly. Apart from brushing off Benet's advances, there was little they could do without jeopardising the fledgeling agreement and losing much-needed access to precious mining and agricultural resources.

Valina pursed her lips, hiding her laughter. Cullen's lip twitched in a nervous smile as he swept the fork beneath his napkin. For a moment, she dove into distraction, losing herself in his tawny gaze. She longed to feel the simple touch of his leg against hers, the playful caresses like those they shared beneath the tables at Herald's Rest as fingers danced across thighs.

Dorian glanced at Valina, then nudged Cullen's arm, drawing the Commander into talk of the morning's battle; he had noticed Cullen's building rage too. As much as Valina was glad that Dorian could distract Cullen from his frustration, if only for a moment, Valina ached at the loss of his gaze. She enjoyed watching flecks of gold light his irises as they lingered in the other's eyes. She was so desperate for contact that she swore she could feel his hand on her knee, the firmness of his reassuring grip as if he was determined never to let her go.

Valina froze as fingers caressed her inner thigh. She glanced down at the hand on her leg, her stomach churning as she stared at slim digits tipped with immaculate nails. She grasped Benet's hand, stopping its advance up her leg. He strained against her hold and their eyes locked. His smile turned sickly, his thumb caressing her, challenging her to remove his hand. He was playing the game, and he'd just upped the stakes.

'D'or–'

He bared his teeth in a malicious grin. 'Move my hand, Valina, and the Inquisition loses its precious resources,' he hissed, his voice low, hardly loud enough over the chatter in the room to reach Valina's ears.

'You've already agreed to terms.'

'The alliance is in word only,' he whispered, 'I'll break it in a moment.'

Valina tightened her grip on his hand, pushing it back an inch. 'Then I'll break you.'

'No, you won't. You won't risk those precious resources. They are so hard to come by in a war, after all.'

'Why are you doing this? How many times must I–'

'You should be mine,' he said, his voice almost a growl, 'you've denied me too long, Valina. If the Inquisition wants my resources…'

She saw the threat etched in his face before he said the words, but she had never believed he would resort to such vicious tactics. Her thigh ached at his grasp. She clutched tighter at his hand, trying to will him to release his grip.

Darkness flared in Benet's gaze when she pushed at his hand, an anger deeper than she had ever seen in the stormy swell as he said, 'I will trade them only if you agree to marry me.'

Valina grit her teeth, trying once again to push Benet's hands away, but she felt a wash of dizziness over her as she strained, her body still weakened from confinement.

'And I shall continue to deny your delusions,' she said, 'I will never be yours.'

Benet dug impossibly harder into her thigh with sharp fingers, his grip bruising already tender skin as he hissed, 'you don't want to cause a scene, Valina.'

She hardly registered the pain as white hot fury surged inside her belly, a vicious smile lighting her lips. 'Oh Benet,' she said, voice dripping with malice, 'you don't know me at all.'

Benet's stormy eyes dulled as she curled her grip around his middle finger. His scream rent the air as she snapped the digit back, a sickening crunch sounding as it broke under her assault. Benet wrenched his hand from her grasp, his chair clattering as he stood up. He clutched his hand to his chest, his tall frame shaking as he stumbled back a step. He stared at her anew, as if seeing her for the first time, his grey eyes wide with fear.

Silence weighed heavily in the room until only Benet's rapid, pained breaths could be heard. Valina felt the stunned gazes of her companions on her as she placed her hands on the table before her, pushing back against it to rise.

'I've had enough,' she said, turning towards the door.

As she left the dining room she heard the flurry of movement break out in her wake, heard Cassandra instructing Malakar to heal Benet's hand, heard armour clinking as Cassandra and Cullen hastened towards the door.

Valina was already halfway up the stairs when Cassandra caught up, Cullen on her heels. Valina paused as footsteps fell on the stairs behind. She turned, staring back down the few steps. It took Cassandra a moment to compose herself as she met Valina's icy gaze, but, to her credit, the Seeker did not back down.

'Shall we debrief now?' Valina asked, her hollow voice echoing in the hall. She saw Cullen suppress a shiver at the emptiness in her words: the tone held no fond memories.

Cassandra nodded her head subtly, her jaw tight. Valina watched her stalk towards their quarters, hearing Cassandra bite out a disgusted noise as she stormed past.

Cullen approached tentatively. 'Valina?'

She reached for him instinctively, her eyes still focused on the door Cassandra had disappeared through, the door to her and Cullen's quarters. She stared absently, her face blank. 'There's no point explaining it twice,' she said.

Valina and Cullen followed Cassandra's angry steps along the hall, closing the heavy door behind themselves. Cassandra waited at the desk, her arms folded, her jaw set as she stared down at the tabletop. When the latch clicked, she met Valina's gaze once more.

'What in the name of the Maker was that?'

'Diplomacy at its finest,' Valina said.

'I am in no mood for humour,' the Seeker said, her lips twitching as she fought to retain her composure, 'your mission was to defeat the bandits and secure an alliance from the Marquis.' She paced behind the desk. 'Your actions have cost us a valuable supply of resources at a vital time in the war. His mines alone–'

'Benet had no intent to keep his word. He was never going to ally with the Inquisition, even after we cleared up the bandits.'

Cassandra stopped mid-step. 'What? We were to sign the requisite documents tonight–'

'And in those documents, D'or planned to add a clause, a trade, one that the Inquisition would never have been able to satisfy.'

'We have numerous other resources which would be valuable to him, surely we can come to some sort of–' Valina shook her head sharply, and Cassandra let out an exasperated noise. 'What could the Marquis possibly demand that would cause you to break the man's finger?'

'Me.'

The room was thick with the silence. Valina could see Cassandra's thoughts as they played across her expressive face: confusion in the firmness of her brow, frustration in the hard line of her lips, anger in the tick of her jaw as she processed the weight of the word in the space of seconds.

'I don't understand,' Cassandra said finally.

'I am part of the Inquisition, part of your resources–'

'Valina, you are not a resource–'

Valina raised her hand. 'I know Cassandra, I know, but Benet's family history is ingrained in trade, much like mine. He has the same mindset that many nobles have, and, as I'm sure you know, the way alliances are often formed between noble houses only reinforces that mindset. To Benet, my skills and familial connections are a resource that can be utilised – for example, in ridding a region of bandits – and, because I joined the Inquisition, I am therefore an Inquisition resource.'

'I still do not follow. You are a person, you cannot be traded…' Cassandra trailed off. She leant on the desk, exhaling a sharp breath as the realisation hit her. 'He intends to demand your hand in marriage.'

Valina tightened her grip on Cullen's hand. 'Yes,' she said, and she wrenched Cullen back to her side when he attempted to stalk away, as she had expected.

'When did you realise this?'

'He made it quite clear when he grasped my thigh under the table,' Valina said, 'although his attempt to blackmail me, thinking that I would not make a scene during dinner, was what really gave him away.'

Cassandra scowled. 'I believe he is lucky you did not break his arm.'

Valina managed a smile at the Seeker, though it did not touch her eyes. 'That's what I thought.'

'There's still plenty of time to rectify the lenient treatment,' Cullen muttered, still straining against Valina's hold.

'What would make him think we would agree to that?'

'I don't know, Cassandra. He was once considered a potential suitor for me before I was eighteen, but my parents eventually turned him down. They couldn't bear the thought of deciding such an important part of my future when they had gone against their families' wishes so they could be together. Before this week, I had not seen him for five years. I thought he would have given up on the idea by now.'

'Apparently not,' Cassandra said. She rubbed her temples, then dropped her hands again. She was running in circles now, and she knew it, but she needed to cover all bases. 'Is there any reason D'or might think that he still had a chance?'

'No. Cullen and I made it quite clear that I was off limits in our initial meeting with him. The fact that I addressed Cullen as amatus in front of Benet made it clear enough. He is well aware of the meaning of the word. But, to be safe, and, if I'm honest, because it was satisfying to irritate Benet, we also implied that our relationship was more than platonic.'

'How?'

'By suggesting that I'm a screamer,' Valina said flatly, 'in more elegant terms, of course.'

Cassandra slumped into the chair, her anger falling away. 'I would propose that we depart for Skyhold this very moment, but it is quiet downstairs. Malakar has a way with people. Our departure should be able to wait until morning, as long as we pacify him. Somehow.'

'I'll ensure he's pacified,' Cullen muttered. He glanced down at Valina's hand, though he did not try to break her hold.

'What, by beating him up?' she asked.

Cullen grit his teeth, darkness clouding his tawny eyes. 'He deserves it, Valina. I'll break the arm he dared lay on you.'

'Trust me, Cullen, he knows the risks of playing the game and the defeat he's suffered at my hands is more humiliating than any punishment you could mete out. Even if the Inquisition loses the resources, throwing us out would be seen as acknowledging his failure twice, and, as you know well, the court is vicious.'

'I still want to.'

Valina grasped his chin in her hand. 'And I would love to see you break him, Amatus, but I am also not fit enough to return to Skyhold this eve in the cold. As much as I hate to say it, we need to placate him enough to keep a roof over our heads for one more night.'

Cullen's gaze still swirled with shadows but his face softened. 'I'll talk to him.' Valina arched an eyebrow at him and he reluctantly added, 'with Malakar present.'

'Commander,' Cassandra said, waiting until Cullen dragged his eyes away from Valina before continuing, 'as Valina said, you only need placate him. We will have some explaining to do when we return to Skyhold, but on principle alone, on the fact that he senselessly thought we would value a person less than material resources…' She scowled. 'I think Josephine would be quite happy to sever any connections to D'or.'

Cullen offered a curt nod. When Valina released her hold on his arm he turned sharply on his heels and stormed towards the door.

Valina sighed, moving to the seat opposite Cassandra. 'Benet is a dead man.'

'I do not doubt that.' Valina rubbed at her leg absently. Her thigh ached, but she was satisfied in the knowledge that Benet's pain had been worse, even if it was brief. 'I suppose we should discuss what happened at the estate.'

'Yes, we should.'

There was a hardness in Cassandra's tone that made Valina suspect that the Seeker was displeased, but that was not surprising, considering the carnage left in the wake of their escape and the failure of the alliance with D'or.

'Where would you like to start?'

'From your initial meeting with the Marquis.'

Valina recounted the specifics of the meeting, including the final terse exchange, then detailed the events on the road.

Cassandra sat forward. 'You attacked the Commander?'

Valina had expected the reaction. 'I used a strategic strike to knock him unconscious,' she corrected, 'if you'll let me finish, you'll understand why.'

Valina could sense Cassandra's doubt, but the Seeker nodded, waiting expectantly.

'As you stated at dinner, we had no warning but the sounds of their approach. I recognised a voice, that of Mireille Dubois, a mercenary. Word of my alliance with the Inquisition has travelled, and there was no doubt in my mind that she would have heard rumours. I knew that the best way to deceive her was to make it look like Cullen and I had fought. I convinced Mireille that it was a personal vendetta, that I had grown tired of the Inquisition pestering me, and stalked Cullen while he was recruiting in Sahrnia with the thought that I would send a message to the Inquisition with his blood.'

'And it worked?'

'It did. Too well, actually. Mireille thought to recruit me. When I refused, she decided to take me by force.'

'Recruit you to what?'

'She claimed to have made powerful friends, that they would be interested in meeting me also. She mentioned Corypheus explicitly, so it's not a leap to assume she had Venatori contacts.'

'Are you sure?'

'I would not be surprised. Mireille was certainly the type to make such an alliance without consideration of the consequences if she deemed it sufficiently profitable.'

'We'll post some scouts at the estate and have them scour every room. If anyone arrives seeking Mireille, we will know. As for Mireille herself, perhaps the Chargers can find her. We should compile a likeness of her if you can describe her.'

Clearly, the Seeker believed Mireille had escaped.

'Pale complexion, lithe figure, ashen hair,' Valina said, 'though I imagine she's significantly paler after being dead for a number of hours.'

The Seeker scowled. 'We could have extracted valuable information from Mireille,' she said, 'why would you be so rash as to–'

'Cassandra, you know quite well that there is nothing rash about my character,' Valina said, 'Mireille had become even more psychotic since the days when I knew her. It would have taken weeks of constant interrogation and torture to break her, assuming she did not find a way to kill herself first. Any information we could have extracted from her, we can discover on our own much faster, especially when we have an extensive and skilled network of spies at our disposal, as well as both mine and the Iron Bull's expertise.'

'Then why did you kill her?'

'Because I wanted to.'

The tightness in Cassandra's jaw dropped, her eyes widening slightly as she stared at Valina. Outside, she was composed, but in the depths of her gaze questions churned.

'I cannot believe that you would kill lightly.'

Valina levelled her serpentstone glare at Cassandra. 'I may be a mercenary, but do not mistake my flippancy about death as impetuousness, Seeker. There was nothing light about my decision, nor do I regret my actions.'

'You will need to account for those actions, Valina. Mireille should have been captured and brought before the Inquisition so that the Inquisitor could decide her fate.'

'When I say that I knew Mireille, I mean that I knew her intimately.'

Cassandra's eyes narrowed. 'Explain.'

'On one condition.'

'And what condition might that be?'

Valina pursed her lips. She glanced back to the door but heard no approaching footsteps. When she faced Cassandra again, the Seeker arched a dark eyebrow expectantly. 'Well?'

Valina met her gaze. 'What I am about to tell you must never leave this room.'