"Inquisitor, I hope you don't mind." Josephine looked up from her desk. "Some of our scouts thought they saw a few darkspawn still in the valley. I took the liberty of asking Iron Bull, Dorian, and the Chargers to go with Brehan to follow up."

"Good thinking." Ruya smiled. "I was planning on doing just that."

"He did remind me to remind you that he needs to speak with you soon." Josephine sighed. "And we have a few things to tell him as well. Leliana is contacting our agents in Halamshiral, in case Morrigan returns there."

#

She joined Cullen on his inspection of the camp. Most of their forces were back from the Wild, and the mood was celebratory. With Corypheus dead, the Orlesians and their other borrowed forces were heading home, but the core forces of the Inquisition remained. And they were not inconsiderable. Ruya thought they might still rival some kingdoms.

A token force had been left at the Temple of Mythal, though at this point they were more to protect from over-eager scholars than red templars. There had been Dalish sighted already. She'd have to send Brehan, see if he could sway an alliance.

They were walking near the siege engines when a voice called over to them. "How hard is it to keep these properly calibrated?"

Cullen turned around, and this his face broke into a warm smile. "Agent Rowland." Cullen glanced over at the trebuchet. "Unless you move them, they are good for a few dozen shots before accuracy suffers."

"Used to smaller ones. Your people make it out alright?"

"That potion did the trick. Thank you again."

Ruya tilted her head at the young man. "You're Rowland?"

He bowed. "Inquisitor."

"My apologies. I expected someone..."

"Taller?"

"I was going to go with older."

"I get that a lot."

She smiled, and held out her hand. He accepted the handshake. "I wish you could have joined us for the banquet. We could not have done this without you."

"Still a few things left. Corypheus was not all that stirred the Void, Inquisitor. I believe we may still be able to help each other."

"There will be many who vie to take the place of Corypheus." She gestured for them to follow her, and began walking back into Skyhold proper.

"The world is still under threat. I have a vested interest in its wellbeing." He shrugged. "It's where I keep most of my stuff."

#

They walked into the war room to find Leliana. She started to look up with a smile on her face, and then her jaw dropped. Ruya blinked. Her spymaster stared at Rowland for a moment. And then started throwing everything she could get her hands on at him. Ruya quickly threw up a barrier. "You. Dead. Looked. You. Oh, and Alistair knew. Killing him. You. Morrigan. Killing you. Disappeared. Dead. You."

"Remember the good old days when you could speak the King's Tongue?"

Leliana grabbed a sword off the wall and started towards him. Cullen immediately moved forward to grab her wrist.

"I take it you two know each other?" Ruya looked from one to the other.

"Inquisitor Trevelyan..." Leliana pointed the sword tip at the elven man. "Warden Commander Jerath Tabris."

Ruya blinked. "Well. Shit."

#

"Where have you been?"

"We should probably start with an easier question."

Leliana glared. "Why did you leave?"

"You and Brehan investigated my disappearance. You recall the state of Ferelden when I left? Unrest in the alienage, rumors of rebellion on Gwaren, bandits attacking the Dalish settlement..."

"Your father's death." Leliana nodded. "I remember."

"Once I left, those responsible had to put their resources into finding me rather than continue stirring the pot. And once they wrote me off as dead, they had no need to waste their efforts." He twitched a shoulder. "And it freed me to do what needed to be done without the consequences coming back on Ferelden. I've dealt with some of the problems, and acquired a considerable store of information. And a few other things."

"Why not come to us openly?" Ruya raised an eyebrow at him.

"Flemeth suggested it would be a bad idea. As irritating as she can be, she's usually right about such things."

"Just how well do you know Flemeth?" Ruya folded her arms.

"You're asking if I know she's Mythal?" Jerath rolled his eyes and nodded. "As if the Chantry wasn't a big enough pain in my ass."

Cullen leaned on the war table. "I was in the valley. Your people are formidable. Not to mention yourself."

"And you said you have information." Ruya nodded. "The Inquisition could use you."

"There is a catch." Jerath twitched a shoulder. "As with any good group of irregulars, my people have pasts. You set a precedent with your man, Rainier. I must insist you show my people the same courtesy. Any issues you have with anything they've done gets brought to me, and you let me handle it."

"Jerath..."

"Non-negotiable." Jerath met her eyes. "Inquisitor, I'll be blunt. I'm protective of my people, and I'm prone to acts of extraordinary violence. My people remain under my authority. Anything less is not going to end well." He shrugged. "Not to mention the last time I loaned you one of my fighters, you left him in the Fade. Little annoyed about that."

"Loghain." Ruya took a deep breath. "You sent Loghain to Hawke. I'm sorry, Jerath. If there had been any other way..." She held out her hand. "You have a deal." She tilted her head. "I suppose this means I need to withdraw the arrest warrants on Nathaniel Howe and Carver Hawke?"

"Probably best. Carver is enjoying being an outlaw just a little too much."

#

"One of these days, you and I are going to have to throw down." Iron Bull glanced down at the Dalish man.

"Next time I wake up with a death wish, I'll let you know," Brehan replied.

"Ever duel the Arishok?"

"Few times. His reach was..." Brehan stopped dead in his tracks. His face went pale as he stared at Skyhold.

"Songbird?" Iron Bull blinked. He snapped his fingers in front of the other man's face. "Brehan?"

"Fen'harel ma halam. Ar tu na'din..." Brehan headed for Skyhold at a dead run.

Iron Bull blinked and glanced at Dorian. Both men immediately followed.

#

Ruya paced the room. "Why would Weisshaupt cover up the existence of an eighth archdemon?"

"It may not have been entirely by their choice. As recent events have shown, Wardens are vulnerable to certain types of manipulation. That's one reason I've chosen to come here." Jerath shrugged. He indicated the stack of papers. "You have all the information on the matter available to me."

She nodded, and then looked at the satchel sitting next to it. "And this?"

"What we've found on the remaining magisters, the locations of the archdemons, maps of the deep roads, other tidbits." He opened the satchel, pulled out a bottle, and offered it to Leliana.

A moment later, Ruya heard footsteps. The door opened to admit Brehan, hot anger on his face. "Ar tu na'lin emma mi."

"I think I've actually missed being threatened by you." Jerath shrugged. "Probably says something unflattering about me."

Iron Bull and Dorian entered a moment later, both with hands on their weapons. "Boss?" Iron Bull gave the room a confused look.

#

Brehan offered the bottle to Cullen, who took a long drink. Cullen went to hand it back, and Iron Bull snagged it, taking a swallow before returning it to Brehan. Brehan took another drink. "Saitada is going to kill you." He took yet another drink. "And Alistair. He lied. To my face." Brehan shook his head. "So did Loghain and Morrigan."

"How much is the Inquisition paying you, anyway?"

"Emma shem'nan, da'mi." He sighed. "Don't know why I'm even surprised. Apparently, Lenore was the one hiding Hawke. Did she know about you?"

"No. Alistair wouldn't have known either, if he hadn't happened to recognize me at the events in Redcliffe."

"Where you came back to save our asses." Brehan set the bottle on the table. "Gods above, Mythal is your mother-in-law."

Ruya was pacing back and forth. "Why weren't you at Adamant?"

"I had every intention of being there. Flemeth had other ideas. She said she couldn't take the risk. Doesn't matter now." He shrugged. "You did what you had to do, and so did she. Let's talk about the orb." He leaned against the wall. "Flemeth had me meet her at Ostagar. We went north, to what she claimed to be part of the ruins of Arlathan. There, she had me get her past guardians and a few wards so that she could retrieve an item. When we were done, she dropped me back in Ferelden."

"Let me get this straight..." Iron Bull scratched his head. "Elven goddess turn into a big dragon lady needed a bodyguard, and called you?"

Jerath's smile showed a hint of fang. "Yes."

"You're suggesting Mythal gave the orb to Corypheus?" Brehan started shaking his head.

"No. She..." Jerath sighed. "Sit down."

"What?" Brehan looked at him in confusion.

"Sit. Down."

"Oh for..." Brehan sat. "Happy?"

"She gave it to Fen'Harel. He gave it to Corypheus."

"The..." Brehan stared. "The Dread Wolf?"

Ruya tried to wrap her mind around that. "Why?"

"My working theory is he's fucking stupid."

"Why would Mythal give the orb to him then?"

"Same answer."

"You've..." Ruya stared at the man. "We're talking about the elven gods. You've been face to face with Mythal."

"I've killed Mythal. Couple times now."

"You what?"

"Calm down, Songbird. She didn't take it personally." He shrugged. "Besides, she was expecting it. Wouldn't want to disappoint her."

"Maker's breath." Ruya folded her arms. "I can't tell if you are actually serious." She took a breath. "You can set your people up in the south tower."

He shook his head. "We'll make camp over in the valley. My people are already on their way." He bowed as he took his leave. "I'll let you know when they arrive. In the meantime, I have another matter to deal with."

#

"That man is a lunatic." Ruya sighed, and then looked at Brehan. "You alright?"

"Ir abelas. I'll have to get back to you on that one." He looked at the bottle in his hand, shrugged, and finished it off.

Leliana sighed, and leaned on the table. "He's not only alive, he's been helping us all along. We are the worst spymasters ever."

"Maker. If you two had figured it out, I'd be worried you were just as crazy as he is." Ruya ran her hands down his face. "What isn't he telling us?"

"A lot, is my guess. Though some of that may have to do with not having time to delve into details." Leliana seated herself on Brehan's leg. He put his arms around her, and she leaned her head on the top of his. "Maker. I had news when I came in here."

"What news?"

"The Conclave has selected a name."

"Really?"

Leliana drew a deep breath. "Mine."

#

"So Leliana, should I bow whenever you come into the room now?"

"The ceremony is not for a while." Leliana merely shook her head.

Josephine lifted her shoulders and grinned. "It will be strange to see you and think, there walks Divine Victoria."

"Then let us enjoy these moments while they last, as colleagues."

"Or as friends."

Leliana looked at Cullen in mock surprise. "What's this, a breach in decorum?"

"Perish the thought." Cullen rolled his eyes. "How are you taking this?" He raised an eyebrow at Brehan.

"As the Inquisition is allied strongly with the Chantry, there will be plenty of correspondence between our respective leaders."

"To be delivered personally by the Inquisition's spymaster?" Josephine laughed.

Ruya laughed. "Alright, report."

"Inquisitor, the information Jerath handed us was..." Brehan laid his hand on one of the journals. "He and his people have apparently been locating ancient thaigs and sifting through memories not seen since before the First Blight. Lost caches, hidden stores of information... It's going to take us weeks just to sort through it all. Translations alone are going to take months. Maker, he's got books written in actual Elvish. Solas would..." He glanced up at her. "Apologies, Inquisitor."

"No, I imagine you're right. He would." She waved a hand. "Jerath undoubtedly knows where to locate Morrigan."

#

Jerath came to tell them his people had arrived. They were halfway there when Brehan began cursing in elvish once more. "Jerath."

"Yes?"

"I am sensing a darkspawn."

"Huh. Anyone ever tell you that you could be a Warden?"

Brehan stepped in front of Jerath, facing him and blocking their forward progress. "Tell me you don't have a darkspawn among your forces."

"I don't have a darkspawn among my forces." Jerath's facial expression never changed.

"You're lying."

"Per your request."

"Maker's breath." Ruya ran a hand down her face. "The Messenger."

"Very good, Inquisitor." Jerath nodded at her. Then he furrowed his brow. "What are you paying him for?" He tilted his head at Brehan.

"You brought a darkspawn into my war camp?" Cullen lowered his head and glared.

"No. I brought him to my war camp. Your war camp is over there."

"Sweet blood of Andraste." Ruya turned to Brehan. "Is he always this sarcastic?"

"Since the day I met him, unfortunately." Brehan shook his head at Jerath. "Emma shem'nan, da'mi."

"You're threatening me again."

#

They'd taken three steps into the camp when Cullen went for his sword. He had it half out of the sheath when Jerath caught his arm. "Call him off, Inquisitor."

"Cullen?" Ruya raised an eyebrow.

"That man." Cullen was staring at a blond man who was looking anywhere but back at him. "Anders."

"Explain. Now." Ruya turned to stare at Jerath.

"I told you. My people have pasts. You have a problem, you bring it to me, and you let me deal with it." He let go of Cullen's arm. "I've dealt with this particular problem."

"The man is -"

"Mine." Jerath's voice was quiet and calm.

"Stand down." Ruya took a breath. "We can discuss this more fully later." Cullen slammed his sword back into the sheath, but let his hand on the hilt. "Any more surprises?"

"A few." Jerath turned back to the camp, and began pointing out its inhabitants. He started with a Qunari woman. "Talsaad. Temmerin. Messenger. Nathaniel. Carver you've met. Merrill. Reimas. Caronel. Anders. Loghain. Justice, Vigilance, and Valya you can meet later." He shrugged. "And you already know my lady wife and son."

"Morri..." Ruya started to greet the woman, and then blinked. Then she slowly turned to the vaguely familiar looking man standing next to Anders. "Come again?"

"Pleasure to see you again, Inquisitor." Loghain nodded. His voice was that of the man she'd condemned to a death in the Fade.

"How..." Brehan was shaking his head.

"Complicated. Let's leave it at that for now."

"I've met Justice." Cullen's voice was cold.

"And me." Merrill piped up. "Good to see you again. And you, Brehan."

"She's a blood mage, Inquisitor." Brehan's voice was just as cold as Cullen's. Ruya saw Carver's eyes narrow.

"A blood mage. An abomination. A darkspawn." Ruya folded her arms. "What the hell are Vigilance and Valya?"

"A spirit of purpose and an elven mage, respectfully."

"So she's an abomination as well?"

"No."

"Anyone else?"

"Me." A familiar voice chirped. Dagna stepped out from behind the tents. "Sorry, Inquisitor. I suppose you're going to want a refund of my pay."

Ruya felt electricity trying to crackle out of her hands. "You stuck a spy in my Inquisition?"

"No, Inquisitor. I loaned you the best mind I had available to ensure you had what you needed to do your job. And from what I hear, she earned every copper."

"If you wish to pick nits, Inquisitor..." Morrigan rose. "'Twas I actively engaged in espionage.

"Where are the rest of them?" Cullen glared at Jerath.

"Valya's holding down our base. Merrill will be heading back there soon. She doesn't do field work in her condition, but she wanted to say hello to Songbird here."

"And the rest of them?"

"This is my army, Inquisitor."

"This..." Cullen shook his head. "There were enough darkspawn in the trenches to overwhelm my forces, and you're telling me less than a dozen soldiers dealt with them?"

"You have soldiers, Commander. I have Wardens."

#

"Your darkspawn doesn't come into Skyhold. Ever." Ruya stared at Jerath.

"He'll rarely be anywhere near the camp at all, Inquisitor. He spends most of his time scouting the Deep Roads."

"As for Anders..."

"I believe I made my stance regarding Anders perfectly clear."

"He blew up Kirkwall's Chantry and started a war." Cassandra was very near shouting. "And clearly, you could have stopped him at any time."

"Nathaniel and Carver were both in Kirkwall when it happened." Cullen's voice was quiet.

"So were Loghain and I." Jerath shrugged.

"Why?"

"We were coming to blow up the Chantry. He beat us to it."

"You were what?" Ruya stared. "Why would you do such a thing, Jerath?"

"There was a magister underneath it."

"And so you were just going to blow it up?"

"My apologies, Seeker Cassandra. I didn't know who to talk to for the right to annul a chantry."

Cassandra glared. "You don't annul a chantry."

"Would you feel better if I used the word 'purge'?"

"How dare..." She took a step towards him before Ruya waved her back.

"That's enough out of both of you." Ruya glared. She turned to Jerath. "You knew he was in Kirkwall. Did you know what he was going to do? Is that why you didn't retrieve him?"

"Can we talk in private, Inquisitor?"

"Why?"

"Because that's the only way you are going to get me to answer that question."

Ruya stared at him. And then nodded.

#

"Years ago, Orlesian forces chased Loghain and the man who would become King Marric into the Korcari Wild, where they encountered Flemeth. Flemeth gave them her aid, but extracted a price from Marric. She told him the Blight was coming, but it would be his son, not him, who faced it."

"Alistair."

"Years later, Alistair was a Grey Warden. At Ostager, we were sent to retrieve the treaties. We encountered Morrigan, who took us to her mother. There, Flemeth asked a question, expecting an answer. I provided it. Or, to be specific, the demon who lived in my head provided it."

"The demon?"

"I was an abomination. From the time I was four until the time of our misadventure in Ferelden's Circle, I was possessed by a demon of rage. I believe Brehan has already told you of Varla. She was my sister."

"Maker's breath."

"Flemeth came to the Tower of Ishal. She told me to bring Alistair and come with her. I refused to leave without the others. She exacted a price. Five lives. Five favors." He met her eyes. "And they do not need to know that. Ever."

"Don't you think they have the right to know?"

"None of them have ever given me reason enough to hate them that much. Flemeth came to me at the Vigil. Her first favor. Let Anders go. Do not interfere with his time in Kirkwall. The second was to meet her at Ostagar and help her retrieve the item. The third took me from the fight at Adamant."

"And the last two?"

"Are my problem. If at any point they become your problem, I'll inform you."

She folded her arms. "I'm not sure that's good enough."

"It will have to be."

Ruya started to pace. "What you are telling me..." She rubbed the back of her head. "None of this was by accident. Flemeth caused this."

"No."

She stopped. "What do you mean?"

"Does the fact she knew what our choices would be change that we are the ones that made them?" He raised an eyebrow. "If I had come to you with all this back in Haven, would you have walked away?"

"No." Ruya sighed. "I don't want him in Skyhold."

"Your fort, your decision."

"How did you survive killing Urthemiel?"

"I'm not the one to answer that question."

"I'll be honest." She folded her arms. "The only reason I'm accepting you into the Inquisition is that I really don't think I want you running around loose."

"Fair enough."