The Frostbacks were cold. Jadell hated this part the most, the waiting around. She once again added a log to the small firepit they'd been able to set up, the wood seeped through enough it actually dulled the flame rather than fanning it. It was the only way to keep it going in the future however, so she let it be, making a ring of the next logs around hoping they might dry out some and wondering why she'd sent Vincent to help with the rest instead of staying here.

She sighed. It was because between the two of them he had the better chance of getting everyone left to this one clear site alive. If the blizzard came in before hand, one extra mage with a strong fire affinity could well save lives. Jadell looked at the scout she was left with, who was currently wounded and curled as close to the fire as possible. They were two people, there were dozens or hundreds coming from Haven. It wasn't much contest where his aide was best used.

This area was perfect, tucked in enough trees the snowdrifts were guided around the whole area. Only one entrance remained open, and that is where Jadell set their makeshift campsite. It was a clear marker to anyone arriving where to safely enter.

It felt like hours before the main bulk of the group arrived. She felt Vincent's pulse of magic, her affinity to it warning her exactly how close he was almost immediately. Standing, Jadell waved her hands and called out to them.

Within minutes the injured scout Jade had stayed with was healed up, and a sturdy camp was being erected with a new and much larger fire started. Jadell searched the faces in the crowd, finding all her former trainees from Starkhaven in good health. Thankfully. Commander Cullen just looked lost, looking out at the horizon back towards Haven. Apparently the reality had just caught up that Lady Trevelyan was gone.

Jadell felt for him. Truly she did. She gave a loud sigh. Maker-cursed red lyrium. She turned to the quintet she knew well and took the spokesman by the shoulder. "How well do you know the others?"

"Moderately," he admitted.

"Organize a watch schedule for the next twenty-four hours. Two at a time. Get me a census and our remaining troop numbers at the same time. Try to be discreet, Patrick. Give the information to me quickly."

Patrick looked pleased. "As requested Cap."

Jadell watched as her boys dashed off to do as requested, then closed her eyes and rubbed her forehead to ward against the headache coming on. As soon as she did, she heard a heard a smoothe yet heavily accented voice approving. "Good to see someone stepping up instead of stalling."

Jade spun on her heel to come face-to-face with the red headed spymistress. "Sister," she greeted stiffly.

"Don't worry. I don't think Cullen is thinking clearly- that any of us are thinking clearly right now. You seem to have the right idea however. Protect our own."

"It's all we can do," Jadell noted. "I'll let you know what remains of our fighting forces once I have the information. I take it your men are already set up?"

"We are watching where we can." Leliana looked over the smaller woman, thoughtful. "I had come to thank you for helping out Ritts, but I have a feeling it was less a favor and more an obligation."

Jadell just smiled, shrugging. "No news from Starkhaven then?"

Leliana blinked, the ghost of a chuckle swimming of her face. "No, nothing... recent. Though I had heard the strangest story about their lyrium supply..."

"Yes, well, now you know it isn't a story. The supply was tainted. I guess it was a test run for these super-Templars." She spat the words out, almost growling. "If you want to know more you'll have to raven Prince Vael. Supposedly he approved it." With that, they younger woman turned on her heel and returned to watch.

An hour later she had two lists of names, and was surprised yet pleased to see Patrick had left her off the next watch schedule. He took her place, giving her a chance to catch Cullen.

"Commander. I have the names of every fighting arm still swinging and a tentative schedule..." Before she could continue he grabbed the pages, taking a nearby quill and signing the schedule as he looked over the names.

"So few?"

"Some may be badly injured. We won't know until there is a civilian census."

"Get this to Sister Leliana before you find somewhere to rest a while," Cullen ordered. Jade saluted smartly and moved to leave. "And Jadell? Consider yourself acting second in command for the time being. I need your initiative while we figure out what to do from here."

Jade nodded understanding and rushed away to complete her current duty. Her mind was reeling with a single word: shit.

Vincent, in the meantime, was already finding himself a tent to hide away- or at least try in the cramped camp. He had used more than enough mana today between the battles and them trekking through these frozen mountains. Helping people was, in fact, hard. He needed to rest and replenish his reserves.

Just as he was about to actually fall asleep, Vin heard someone enter and sit down next to him. He opened one eye, expecting one of four- realistically three- people, all of them human. So he was quite surprised to find a man was the one who was there, looking very pointedly at him. The Tevinter mage if Vincent rightly recalled- Florian? No... Dorian. The man handed over a piece of bread and gestured a welcome.

"Vin, yes?" the Tevinter asked. Vincent nodded slowly, accepting the bread and taking a bite. He hadn't actually realized he was hungry yet, but apparently he was. "Usually I would dislike you out of hand because Madame de Fer likes you..."

Vincent snorted with a surprised laugh. "Yes, I finally got that impression that it wasn't mutual when you suggested using her wardrobe as kindling would be the most rational use. I think the blonde elf has a crush on you now and she usually only likes women." Vin looked panicked a second. "Don't worry. Sera's harmless. She won't hurt your girlfriend."

"Sera." It came out as a relieved sigh. "Right."

"I was thinking. You are good, but you aren't...well, ME good. There are a few things I thought you could do with learning. You know fire, yes, but we can do better I think."

The offer was tempting. "We will see what happens next," Vincent suggested. "You should understand I don't come alone."

"The little Templar who could is welcome to join us as well," Dorian chuckled. "Hopefully though this...Inquisition thing will stay together and leaving will be a moot point. There is still a crazy magister bent on destruction out there; I consider that my problem."

Vincent couldn't help but smile. "Then I will look forward to it," he noted, finishing the last bit of the bread in his hand. "Thank you."

Sleep came quickly. Vincent didn't even note it hours later when Jade found him and curled into his warmth, a contented sigh echoing through.

Neither woke when, even later, the Herald of Andraste was found again.