Accusations

"Why don't you and I take a walk?"

"You wait for me, now you want walk with me? What will Katherine think?" Cherry said with a bravado she didn't feel. "Bull, you break her heart."

He chuckled. "If Katherine wants more than a night of fun from me, that's her problem. Seriously though, it's not like that. The boss wants to speak with you."

"What?" Her eyebrows shot up. "In-quis-it-or wants speak with me? Why?"

All humor evaporated from his face. "We both know you aren't that stupid. Finish closing up and let's go. Wouldn't want to keep anyone waiting."

§

Her heart hammered in her ears as they stood in front of the door to the Inquisitor's quarters.

"Interesting."

Cherry startled and whirled around, a jolt of adrenaline shooting through her body. "Do not do that!" Brown eyes glared out from under thick eyebrows. "You scare me!"

Bull smirked. "Well, I'll say this: if you are a spy, you're the worst spy I've ever met. Your reactions are shit."

"Not a spy!"

"Mind explaining how you knew the way here, then?"

She blinked. "You show me?"

"No." He shook his horned head. "You led me up here."

Her stomach clenched.

§

Gone was the average Evelyn Trevelyan who had visited the tavern several days ago. In her place was a stoic leader dressed in the finest armor and leathers money could buy. Bathed in shadows and candlelight, her face was a frightening mask of stone. "Cherry, is it?" She gestured to an ornate chair in front of her desk. "Please, sit."

If not for Bull at her back, conveniently blocking the stairway, she might've made a run for it. Instead, she took a deep breath and clenched her trembling hands.

"Hello, Inquisitor," she said, moving forward to take the offered seat.

§

"Josephine tells me your Common is greatly improved." The Herald's eyes flicked over to where Bull remained standing. "I've also been made aware that you have a basic understanding of Qunlat."

Although the pause was a clear opening to speak, Cherry remained quiet.

"I have some questions," Evelyn continued. "Your mother tongue is Ing-glish? I've never heard of that before. I was hoping you could give me more information about it."

Still, she didn't say a word.

"Could you tell me where it is spoken? Perhaps a local dialect of some other language? I'm told it sounds similar to Ander."

§

What could she possibly tell them about home? Informing them they were all supposed to be fictional characters seemed wrong. She wasn't even sure if it was the truth any more. Everyone she had met in Thedas was a real person with individual thoughts and emotions. Looking back, the games had been a pale shadow of the vibrant life she saw in Skyhold.

There were two options: tell the truth, or lie.

Telling the truth meant they might—they would—label her insane.

Lying… well, she had been lying. It hadn't worked.

What was the best way to help everyone?

§

Evelyn switched tactics. She shifted in her grand chair and leaned forward. "You must know how this all looks. My commander found you in the snow. You just… appeared! Out of nowhere! You speak two foreign languages, one of which belongs to a hostile people—no offense, Bull—and your fellow tavern workers report that you are detached and aloof. You have to admit it all sounds suspicious."

Cherry shook her head. "Not a spy! I promise!"

"Then explain," the Inquisitor pressed. "Tell me how you got here. Tell me about your language. And tell me why you speak Qunlat."

§

"She isn't lying. Not about this."

A boy in patchwork clothes and a wide-brimmed hat stood on the Inquisitor's desk. Cherry stared up at him, positive he hadn't been there a second ago. Her mouth dropped open when she finally realized who he was: Cole! She had forgotten he existed until the very moment she'd laid eyes on him.

Pale blue eyes looked down at her in confusion. "You… know me?"

"You know him?" Evelyn's stare was accusing. "Wait, Cole—she isn't lying? How do you two know each other?"

"No." The spirit boy shook his head. "She knows me."

to be continued...

2016.09.28: I can now read reviews! To those of you who have left comments, thank you. :) If ever you have trouble reaching me here on FFN, this story is also being posted on Ao3 under the same pen name. For now, however, the issue has been corrected.