She looked up as Trian walked back to the table that held his erstwhile companions. "I managed to get us a bunk room, for a total of three beds. And before you ask, no, sleeping in the barn is apparently not an option. Though I did manage to procure us some additional blankets."

Groans greeted his pronouncement. "You did note there are eleven of us, right?" Caleb raised an eyebrow. He grumbled. "I really don't want to spend another evening on the ground."

They headed up the stairs. Fortunately, the beds were large enough to accommodate two people each. Salla glanced back at the others and frowned. "Well, I guess we can draw straws." She plucked some bits of straw from a nearby broom. "Short straws get beds." She offered Trian the first pick. He drew a long straw. Gavren, Leandra, Agatha, Duncan, Kels, and Kieran drew short straws. "Gavren and Leandra, I assume you two don't mind sharing?" Leandra's grin answered that question.

Kieran handed her his short straw. She took it, and then raised an eyebrow. "It gets you the bed."

"There is room." He stepped towards the bed and a moment later a black cat was curling into a ball in one corner. She stared a moment, as something about the cat tried to trigger a memory.

"Huh, convenient." Agatha sat on the edge of the bed and gestured for Salla to join her. "And now we don't have to worry about mice."

Salla saw Duncan and Jerath get into a brief argument, and to her surprise saw that it was Jerath who ended up taking the bed next to Kels. Caleb grumbled good-naturedly before grabbing a blanket and trying to make a pallet out of his cloak.

#

Trian slipped back into the common room just in time to see Loghain come down the stairs. He waved for the blond man to join him at a table. "Tell me, do you think anything about this is a good idea?"

"The breakfast or the mission?" Loghain gestured to the innkeeper.

"Both, I suppose."

"Absolutely not. I'll get back to you on the breakfast."

He sighed. "And yet here we both are."

"And for similar reasons." Loghain stood to collect their plates from the bar, and set Trian's down in front of him. He went back to get them mugs.

The food looked a bit questionable. Caleb might not be useful in a fight, but the guy had managed to make ship food taste good rather than merely edible. "I suppose you've got a point there. Though Duncan being your king probably added another level." He took a bite of what he was pretty sure was eggs. "What..." He sighed, trying to figure out how to ask the question. "What kind of king am I?"

"Every house in Kal'Hirol was willing to defy Orzammar to crown you. I would think it obvious." Loghain smiled. "Ferelden is the only nation in Thedas where elves, dwarves, and humans manage to work together, abet not without some tension. Qunari are still something of an issue." He glanced back over his shoulder at the stairs. "Duncan can be a hot-head and stubborn, but he's a good king."

"Where do you fit into the Ferelden hierarchy?" Trian took a drink from his mug. "I mean, considering the family history and all, you two seem friendlier than I would have expected."

"When Alistair was assassinated, some of the bannorn would have preferred my mother to a boy prince. My mother responded to their call by going to Denerim and reswearing her loyalty to the Therin family. Maric's legacy endures."

"A golden age, I suppose." Trian smiled. "Kind of good that the families are getting along again.

"True, even if it did result in me being married off to Princess Wynne."

Trian choked on his drink. "Wait, you're married?" He stared. "To the princess?"

"Given our current situation, I admit to not being entirely certain."

"You're married." Trian looked down at his plate, and then back up at Loghain. "To the princess. And you..."

"Wynne and I have an arrangement that suits us. She has what she needs within reach, and is not concerned about my flexibility."

"Duncan didn't mention that to his father. At all."

"Probably for the best."

#

Salla woke, and stared uncertainly at the ceiling before remembering where she was. Agatha was snoring softly beside her. She crawled out from under the blanket, careful not to wake her friend. Idly, she reached over and petted the cat that lay on the foot of the bed.

The cat jumped as if startled and promptly fell off the bed, turning into Kieran as he landed in a heap on the floor. In the next bed over Leandra immediately sat upright and knocked Gavren off into the floor. He yelped, waking everyone else in the room. Both Kels and Jerath went for weapons before getting their bearings.

"Well." Kels shook his head. "This is an auspicious start to the day."

#

Agatha lengthened her stride a little to walk next to Jerath and Duncan. "This has to be weirder for you than the others."

"Why?"

"You're older." She shrugged. "The rest of them were four or so at the Dedication, but Duncan, you were eight and Jerath you were thirteen. I mean, you're only supposed to be eight years younger than me, and now you're eight years older. You've got to remember all these people, but now they are sixteen years shifted."

"It is..." Duncan shrugged. "Weird."

"I can hardly imagine." She looked Jerath over. He was definitely the kid she'd met the times she'd visited Denerim, but he didn't quite look as she'd have expected. The freckles had faded at some point, and his hair had darkened from the more orangey color he'd had last time she'd seen him. "How'd you pick up the scars? Werewolf? Demon? Ex-girlfriend?"

"Carta, disapproving of the alliance between Ferelden and Kal'Hirol and worried it would cut into their margins." Jerath gave her an odd look before frowning.

"What's the matter?" She raised an eyebrow.

"As you said. Weird." He shook his head. "You were there when it happened."

Duncan chimed in. "Three days later you visited him in the infirmary with the gift of a combat training manual helpfully titled 'How Not to Get Stabbed in the Face'."

She laughed. "Did he read it?"

"It consisted of a drawing of a dagger with a line through it and the word 'duck'." Duncan smiled.

"That's me. Helpful." She grinned.

Jerath sighed.

#

Caleb led the pack horse he and Trian had managed to procure. Salla had been stingy with the coin they had, but they'd found supplies enough. He sighed, and rubbed the back of his neck. Several days of sleeping rough had him missing his bed. Funny how he'd grown used to being a nobleman after years of sleeping in the streets. But none of the others were complaining. And Duncan was a king even.

He missed his lute. Leaving the estate as they had done had left them little time to pack. His clothes itched. And Varric was right, everything outside the city was uphill. "How much longer?"

Kels shook his head. "I thought you wanted an adventure."

"I wanted an adventure. This is just walking." He sighed. "And walking. And walking. And walking." He sighed again. "At least the bandits broke up the monotony."

"Why are you complaining?" Kels raised an eyebrow. "You actually wanted to come."

"We could at least have bought horses."

"Horses cost coin."

"You're enjoying my misery."

"You kidnapped me."

"That was forever ago. Get over it."

#

Gavren shook his head as he listened to the men behind him. The Caleb of the future had taken over as Kirkwall's seneschal after Bran had retired, and the common consensus was the man would be the next Viscount. He searched his memory, but was unable to recall Salla's role in things other than she'd been a healer of some note.

"You're doing the worrying thing again."

He smiled, and put an arm around Leandra's waist. "I believe you've said you enjoy my brooding face."

"Observing, not complaining." She lifted her face to his for a kiss. "You know, we could go ahead with our earlier plans."

"Do you really want to explain to our parents that not only did we elope, we did it sixteen years ago while fighting a primordial horror?"

"Your parents eloped while battling a primordial horror."

A small laugh escaped him. "The Exalted Council is not primordial." He chuckled. "Though I suppose we could find out where Mother Giselle is these days."

"Did you tell your folks that we are...?"

"Father was having a difficult enough time with the mage thing." He sighed. By the time his magic had manifested, his father had been prepared for the possibility. They'd even talked about it over one of their chess games. His father may have been disappointed that neither of his children followed in his military footsteps, but he'd always supported them. When the Grand Enchanter had broached the idea of making him tranquil, it had been his father that stepped in front of him and told her in no uncertain terms, 'you first.'

"I'm sorry. At least Kieran distracted them from asking you about..." She frowned. "Him." He closed his eyes for a few steps. Of course Duncan would bring that up. He still didn't know how Agatha had found out any of it. Leandra hesitated before continuing. "He's who told your mother about the Formless One. Could he...?"

"Yes. Of course he could." Gavren sighed. "Would he is another matter. No. I don't think he's directly responsible for what happened. I also don't think that he'll hesitate a moment to try to turn it to his advantage."

"We could be furthering his plans."

"I'm a piece he put into play. Everything I do likely furthers his plans, regardless of my personal feelings on the matter. But time magic remains beyond him."

"How certain of that are you?"

"If he could change time, he would have an orb."

"Good point."

#

"I'm sorry." Kieran blinked and turned towards her. Salla sighed. "About this morning. I wasn't all the way awake, and when we were in Antiva I had a cat that slept on the end of my bed."

"I was not offended, only startled."

She walked in silence for a time. "How do you learn to take other forms?"

"It is skill as well as spell. One must understand the nature of the beast before one can draw its shape upon the will."

"So you have to spend a lot of time observing the animal first?"

"Yes. Which makes some forms difficult to take. Fish do not like to be watched."

"And you learned how to become a cat from watching a pet?"

"I never had a pet cat." He frowned. "Well, Anders, I suppose." He gave her a contemplative look, tilting his head to one side. "I could teach you, if you've a wish to learn?"

"I..." Salla raised an eyebrow. That raised several fascinating possibilities. If she could turn into a bird or even a cat like he did, she could go anywhere. "I may take you up on that. What would I have to do first?"

"Study the animal. Learn to think as it does."

She looked around their small band. "The only animal we have at the moment is a horse."

Kieran wrinkled his nose. "That isn't a horse."

"Um..." She glanced back at it. "That is definitely a horse."

"No. It may have been born such, but its spirit has been shackled for so long it has forgotten. Freed, it would falter before it frolicked, and limp back to the safety of cage and master. One cannot learn the wild from a broken will."

"Oh." She glanced back at the animal plodding along placidly after them, pulling the cart behind it. "I think I see your point. So you could turn into a wolf, but not a dog?"

"Grandpa Loghain gave me a mabari. It is a good form for exploring Ferelden."

"You've explored Ferelden while pretending to be a mabari?" She gave him a disbelieving look.

"Oh, yes. I've looked in on my cousins from time to time. On my last visit, Shianni's daughter Hanna saw me at the gate and was very insistent I return the toys she kept flinging."

"You..." Salla started laughing. "Played fetch with your cousin?"

"She assured me I was a very good dog, and gave me a ball as a present when she had to go inside for dinner." He grinned. "I still have it."

#

Leliana waved the note as Ruya and Alistair entered the room. "They are in Nevarra. Two days ago, they were in Blinth. All of them are fine, and they are traveling along the Imperial Highway to Nevarra city. Brehan is sending word to our agents now."

"Thank the Maker." Alistair let out his breath as though he'd been holding it the last two weeks. "Kels got word to you?"

"Presumably. The note was unsigned." Leliana sighed. "Apparently, Kieran knew where to find the Formless One, though the note does not say how."

Ruya looked up as the Hawke brothers entered, accompanied by Cullen and Brehan. "Does Kieran also know how to kill the Formless One?"

"The note does not say. It does, however, include a message regarding where they left Isabela's ship. Champion, if you'd be so kind as to inform her?"

"She's going to insist on coming with us." Hawke nodded.

"You're heading after them?" Ruya raised an eyebrow.

"Of course. We have a plan and everything. Step one. Locate our children." Hawke counted points on his fingers. "Step two. Rescue our children. Step three. Kill our children."

"The ship that brought us is fast." Alistair rose.

"My griffins are faster." Carver nodded to him. "Cullen and Brehan have already informed me they are coming."

"I'm coming as well." Alistair folded his arms.

"I..." Ruya sighed before shaking her head. "Should remain to assist Dorian with the research into the Formless One." She rose and went to Cullen, wrapping her arm around him. "Bring them home safely."

"I will."

#

"There it is, Nevarra City." Caleb spread his hands as they looked down over the view. "Hey, can we visit the Grand Necropolis while we are here?" He winced as Agatha batted him in the back of the head. "What?"

"We aren't staying long. Just need to get supplies and see what information we can get without alerting anyone to our presence." Salla glanced over her shoulder at him.

"At least not without ensuring we get a good head start." Duncan shrugged.

Salla turned towards Kels. "You going to be trouble?"

"As much as possible." He nodded cheerfully, and gestured at the sprawling city below. "There is a safehouse, if you feel like coming to your senses."

"You know, I bet the safehouse has a cache of gold and gear." Caleb drummed his fingers against his leg thoughtfully. "We could resupply."

"First you kidnap me, now you are robbing the Inquisition?" Kels stared at him.

Caleb turned to Gavren. "Mr. Rutherford, may we use any supplies in the safehouse?"

"Well, since you asked nicely."

"You don't even know where the safehouse is." Kels folded his arms.

"Yes we do." Leandra grinned at him. "Four doors down from the White Bear Smithy."

Kels shook his head. "N-no. And you don't have a key to get into the cache."

"Hey..." Salla turned to her companions. "Anyone here know how to pick a lock?"

Caleb raised his hand. He wasn't surprised to see Agatha do the same, being as she was the one that had taught him. He chuckled when Duncan also raised his hand. "Seriously? You're the King of Ferelden, son of King Alistair."

"And of Cathiel Cousland, daughter of the Seawolf." He grinned.

"Agatha, you and Caleb get the location from Leandra and Gavren and go see what you can find. Leandra, Gavren, you two keep an eye on Kels. Loghain, maybe give them a hand. I'm sure the Inquisition's agents know about your mark by now, so try to keep out of sight." She shrugged. "The rest of us will go find an inn with enough beds, and maybe some hot baths."

#

"You do realize that after your father kills me, he's going to kill you?" Kels glared at Gavren.

"He's not going to kill you."

"He is absolutely going to kill me."

"That's what you said when I launched the bags of flour out of the trebuchet and all he did was put you on stable duty for a month."

"Commander Cullen is going to kill me. And when he's done, King Alistair is going to kill me. And then when he's done, Lieutenant Hawke is going to kill me." Kels sighed. "The Teyrna is going to hire someone to kill me, probably from House Brosca."

"Is he always like this?" Loghain asked Gavren.

"Only when we are causing him trouble, so..." Leandra shrugged. "Yeah, more or less."

"And then I'm going to be eaten by an archdemon."

"From what I know of The Warden, he'll probably just stab you in the face." Loghain gave Kels a commiserative pat on the shoulder.

"You are not helping."

Gavren shook his head, and sniffed the air. "Something up that way smells good."

"We are supposed to be staying out of sight." Loghain folded his arms.

"You're supposed to be staying out of sight. We're supposed to be keeping Kels out of sight." Gavren glanced at Leandra. "I'm going to the food stand and get something to eat. The rest of you want anything?" Leandra nodded, followed by a somewhat more reluctant Loghain and Kels.

"Be careful." Loghain warned.

"I'll be fine." He started around the corner, hit something, bounced off it, and landed on his backside. A moment later, an armored woman stepped into view and started to offer him a hand up.

"Seeker Pentaghast!" Kels' face immediately lit up.

Leandra buried her face in the palm of her hand as Loghain just stared.