There was a set of five men Cullen knew from the Free Marches that had made it to Haven almost as soon as the Inquisition was announced. They had confided in him they were in Starkhaven and some of the things they'd seen but all were just recruits at the time- who had no idea what had really been going on around them. The only reason he considered they might be worth asking about Jadell was that they had the Templar insignia tattooed the same way she did. It wasn't a common practice, but one of the men knew the craft and had done it for practice after everyone agreed. Cullen's plan was to ask the men about Jadell during the mid-morning break, figuring the girl was likely to sleep in a bit while recovering.

As it turned out he didn't need to bother asking. Just after the morning practices had been assigned he watched as all five of the Starkhaven men actually dropped what they were supposed to be doing and rush as a group to the edge of the the small practice field they had cleared in Haven. Cullen was about to protest before he noticed what they had done was an unexpected response to Jadell walking up. If anything at that point the Commander anticipated they might treat her now as a younger sister, ruffling her hair or the like; instead they stopped right in front of her, coming to what seemed a very practiced formation and offering a swift yet coordinated salute. Jadell just brushed them off, pulling them in one-by-one in a brief hug as Cullen walked over.

Jadell finished greeting the men and looked up over their shoulders, meeting Cullen's disapproving glare but not backing away. "Boys," she admonished, "did you just shirk training?"

"Apologies, Cap," the spokesman apologized. He looked sincerely embarrassed, though directed it towards Jadell instead of Cullen- which the Commander found odd. "Didn't expect to see you around again."

The woman's expression softened, just slightly. "Tell you what? End of the day, why don't you boys stick around and we can all play catch up. I'll just need to tell my partner what's what."

"Is it that magey boy, Vin?" one of the other piped up. "We've been wanting to thank him."

"If he's up to it I'll bring him along then," Jade promised with a wink. "Now get back to work."

The fact that they actually did so was a tip in her favor. Cullen watched as she then moved cautiously to the fencing and leaned there, obviously still recuperating a bit. He leaned on the spot beside her. "You all right?"

"I just found out my greatest nightmare never came true," she whispered softly, watching where the Starkhaven group went to get to work. "I'm perfect."

"He called you Cap..."

Jadell lowered her head, and Cullen was sure he saw blushing. "Starkhaven was a very small circle at the end, Commander. I may have had some... undeserved rank because of that." Cullen bit his tongue from suggesting no man, soldier or not, remembered someone who was undeserving. "I had few duties. Keep an eye on my lone charge, and make sure the newest recruits could handle themselves. I was given eight to start. Three were..." She chuckled. "They were terrible. These five are good men. You are lucky to have them."

Pieces of the story he'd been told slid into place. "Those men said the Knight-Captain who handled their training single-handedly managed an Alienage uprising in Starkhaven."

"Maker's breath can't anyone shutter their mouths!" The outburst was quick and reactionary. She looked directly at Cullen, clearly embarrassed. "They exaggerate. It wasn't a traditional uprising, I wasn't alone, and I..." Here she stalled, turning away. "I failed."

Something didn't make sense. Maybe Rylen would remember her... or something. This wasn't something he would unravel right now, because she was being truthful just- painfully modest. For now he needed to find out if she was any good. His hand slid into a pocket, where he found the chess piece. Pulling it out he returned it to the owner. "You said you play?" he asked, remaining a bit soft.

"I do."

"I managed to find a board in one of the homes that was abandoned. Fancy a game this morning?"

Jadell blinked at the change of subject, but met his eyes with a glare. Cullen realized she saw through his attempt to test her skills. She just smiled though and replied calmly. "If you've nothing more pressing. It has been a while since I had a good game."

So it was that when the daily training ended, Vincent was grabbed by Jade's former charges and led to where she still stared at a board with few remaining pieces. "I think," she noted slowly, "that the best move now would be a tactical retreat. I yield, Commander."

Cullen nodded slowly, going over the game in his head. She could have won three times, but chose instead a maneuver that made little sense. Except that the men were watching, and she was playing to lose. "Excellent game."

"I appreciate the chance to have a worthy opponent."

At that point Jade turned to look at the men around her, pointedly at Vin. "Love..." She stalled a second, checking the reaction from her former men and seeing only understanding and teasing snickers. "Would you find a spot we can all talk for a bit? I'll catch up soon. Just needed to clear up a few things here."

Vincent hesitated, but nodded and guided the group away. Leaving Jadell and Cullen alone to talk.

"You lost on purpose," Cullen noted.

"Better for morale. Besides, you learned what you needed, didn't you?"

There wasn't much answer to that. "After we seal that breach you and I will have a very long evaluation before I determine how best to use your skills." Jadell sighed but did nod. "In the meantime, I can tell you that our lyrium stores will be open as needed."

Jadell shifted uncomfortably. "About that, Commander. That is... unnecessary. I was excused from that practice."

Cullen did his best not to gape. "Then how..?"

"Simple. We have been lied to, Commander. It wouldn't be the first time. The abilities are tied to our will, not some magic concoction. It might take a bit more concentration, and it does leave me a bit more vulnerable- but if you fight smart there's no difference."

Cullen found his mind reeling. How many men had he needlessly sent into madness then? How many times had he ignored this very possibility? This young woman had found the answer he should have been seeking all along. "You've never..?"

"Not once. It was Knight-Commander Ainslyn's best kept secret. She was scared after Kirkwall. That's why she sent Rylen to investigate, and then I arrived almost right after. She succeeded in her experiment, but didn't get to see the results." She gulped a bit.

Cullen found his curiosity perked. "All I know is there was something wrong with the lyrium supply. I haven't found anyone who can tell me more."

Jadell let out a slow, deep breath. "One day I will tell you about what happened in Starkhaven, but right now..." She shook her head. "It isn't important. The breach is where we have to focus, yes?"

"Of course." The possibility it could be important tickled at the back of his mind, but he ignored it for the moment. "You should get going."

Jadell smiled brightly as she swept off her seat. "If I don't, Vincent will start panicking. Honestly sometimes I'm not sure who keeps who in line." With a chuckle she darted off in the direction her group had left, leaving Cullen with even more questions than he'd started out having.