"I need answers."

"Magister Arenda, we are..."

"Commander Cullen, all due respect, but I've taken a lot of risks on behalf of the Inquisition and Magister Pavus." She folded her arms. "I was risking my life for your cause even before Corypheus was vanquished." She shook her head. "I've heard the rumors, the same as most, and put no stock in them but this..." She took a deep breath. "This is a temple of one of the Old Gods. And it's alive." Her voice actually shook. "Please. I need to know."

Cullen bowed his head. He really couldn't blame her. Or deny her point. Even knowing what he did know, he was finding it hard enough to believe. He'd stood in the war room of Skyhold when The Warden had revealed to them what he really was, and it hadn't hit him quite as hard as walking into temple had. He could feel the tingling of the air around the altar that had clearly been broken and somehow reassembled. "You're right. I just wish I knew how to begin explaining."

He walked away from the altar toward one of the fallen statues. At the gallows, the statues had come to life. One of the many things that had featured heavily in his nightmares over the years. The fact that there was not a trace of red lyrium present was surprisingly little comfort. He looked up at the magister watching him. "The rumors regarding Fen'Harel are true."

"Then..." She looked around. "Did he...?"

"Two of the Old Gods are awake and active as well. Urthemiel is one of them."

"No." Magister Arenda shook her head. "The Warden killed Urthemiel to end the Fifth Blight."

"That is what we were all led to believe, yes." Cullen sighed. "There are two Old Gods awake and active. The Warden is one of them. His son is the other."

Magister Arenda wobbled slightly before sinking to the ground in shock. "Sweet blood of Andraste. This..." She ran a hand through her hair. "We have to..." She swallowed and visibly collected herself. "The world can't know this. It isn't ready."

"I agree."

#

Leliana watched Ruya pace her office. The note Brehan had read to them over the sending crystal was disturbing, but at least now they knew the particular interest the Formless One had taken in the children. Any knowledge could be put to use. "They are alive."

"They are going to find they are not too big to put over my knee." Orana's voice caused her to turn towards the woman. "And yes, I am including Master Hawke and Master Fenris. I can see them both, right now, a couple of proud fools."

"I don't know, you've kinda got to hand it to those kids. I mean..." Orana firmly moved the plate of pastries away from Varric. He swallowed the bite he had just taken. "I mean what were those kids thinking, running off like that? I'm going to make them scrub every sidewalk in Kirkwall with toothbrushes."

"You do realize what this means?" Ruya stopped pacing and turned towards her. "They might as well have lit a beacon for themselves."

#

Salla's fingers glowed white as she finished fading the scrapes and burns on Loghain's arm. Blood mages. It could have been so much worse. She glanced over at where Leandra was sitting in Gavren's lap, his arm around her protectively even as they both slept. With Kieran's magic added to her barrier, they'd taken more damage from escaping the burning building than they had the blood-fueled fireball. If it had hit even a minute earlier, it was possible they wouldn't have been injured at all. She'd never felt anything like that before.

She patted Loghain on the shoulder before rising and going to sit next to Kieran. "Are you sure you are alright?"

"Last time I did that I was fueling a dozen Wardens as they crossed Thedas to battle a Qunari vanguard." He tilted his head. "I held the spell the entire night. I was not expecting to hit my limit quite so soon."

"I've seen Uncle Carver jump off a twenty foot high tower without batting an eye."

"Uncle Carver followed my father for a long time. Gradual changes built over the years, and my father's capabilities in this particular regard exceed my own." Kieran frowned suddenly.

"What's wrong?" She raised an eyebrow.

He shook his head. "He wouldn't have had to be carried out of the fight, nor would he have let any of you get hurt." Kieran folded his arms atop his knees and rested his chin upon them. "He would have fixed this by now."

She shifted to sit next to him. "I'm sure your father didn't do so well on his first adventure." She elbowed him gently. "And he had Wardens. You're stuck with us."

Kieran smiled. "'Tis not so bad."

#

Kels stared down at his hands. The soft-spoken mage for who'd once spent an afternoon telling him stories was Dread Wolf. The brusque swamp witch for whom he'd run errands was the goddess Mythal. The elven warrior even the Commander had a case of hero-worship for was an archdemon. And the weird young man that had been traveling with them had brought a temple of Urthemiel to life. He was having some trouble pinpointing the exact moment the world had gone completely mad. "What happens now?"

"We track the cultists, figure out where their leaders went, and kill them." Duncan shrugged.

"Oh. Is that all?" Trian rolled his eyes.

He shook his head. "Commander Cullen is here in the city, along with the Champion. We should regroup with them."

"They'll drag us back to Kirkwall by our ears, and lock us in the basement while they waste time trying to figure out what we already know." Duncan folded his arms.

"Kels might have a point." Caleb gestured back the way they'd come. "Uncle Varric and Spymaster Brehan would do a better job than we can figuring out what to do with the information we have. All we really know is the cultists were looking for some kind of staff, which they apparently already found."

"And we know the cult is Tevinter in origin." Agatha spoke up from beside him. "House Brosca has contacts. They can figure out where else the cult might be."

"We know where else they might be." Duncan gestured at the documents they'd found in the temple. "We have their intelligence, plus that cultist we were able to question." He pointed to Kieran. "And he's got the best chance of figuring out what they want the staff for anyway."

"I think we should all calm down." Salla stood up.

Duncan sighed. "Look, you guys can do what you like. I'm going after them."

Salla shook her head. "Duncan, we aren't about to let you go off on your own. Give us some time to figure out what we have and we can figure out where to head next. We could all use a good night's sleep anyway."

#

Duncan didn't have to look to know it was Jerath who'd followed him. He smiled. "We're close."

"Kels is right."

He blinked before turning around. "What are you talking about?"

"We have a support network. The best in the world. ." Jerath met his eyes. "And we aren't using it."

"They'll..."

"Is it really so important that it be your arrow that takes this Formless One down?"

"No." His mother's blood had splattered on his face when she'd died. He thought he might be lying. And from the look on his oldest friend's face, Jerath knew it. "You want to kill it too."

"Not enough to get these kids killed for it." Jerath shook his head. "Gavren hasn't said three words since we left Nessum."

"That spell was pretty damn impressive. I wouldn't have thought..."

"Do you know if there were people in that other building?"

A frown crossed his face. "No. I don't."

"Neither does he." Jerath glanced back over his shoulder. "For all he knows, he killed innocent people today. Because he did not realize just what he was in for here. And he is going to have to live with that for the rest of his life." He sighed. "That is not an easy thing."

"Jerath..." He ran a hand through his hair, and turned away. He took a couple deep breaths before turning back. "Look, if you want to leave, I won't..."

"Halam sahlin." Duncan blinked. He could count on one hand the number of times he'd actually heard Jerath speak his mother's language. "Duncan, if you want to invade the Black City, I'll be there, going in first. Just..." He sighed. "Be damn sure this is worth it. You're the one who'll have to live with yourself if you change your mind too late."

#

"Alright." Caleb waited until everyone was looking. "Agatha and I managed to learn some things. Our folks are, in fact, here. And Cassandra and her Seekers entered the city this morning. If we stick around much longer, they are going to find us. So, we need to figure out where to go next."

"And we have a lead on that." Agatha waved a hand. "Our folks called in contacts of their own. Specifically, contacts of Dorian's. Odds are, if the cult is going back into Tevinter, they are the folks with some idea where."

"The woman sticks pretty close to the others, but they've been leaving the man to do research in the tavern. And you have to know that's the absolute last place they would think to look for us. And there are catacombs that go right into its wine-cellar."

"Oh for the love of..." Kels shook his head. "You're growing incredibly blasé about kidnapping people."

"Well, the last guy we kidnapped is having such a grand time of it we thought we'd share the experience."

"I hate you."

#

Agatha crept down the hall and peered around the corner. She saw no one in the tavern except a man in magister's robes and the bartender. She drew back, and gestured to Jerath, Loghain, Duncan, and Caleb.

Rather than worry about explanations, the men just walked into the room to where the magister sat, grabbed a limb each, and carted him out of the room. She tossed a coin to the bartender and followed.

#

"And elven woman, you said?"

"And four men. One of whom looked a lot like him." The bartender pointed to Alistair. "One had a dragon on his face, like that guy." He pointed at Carver.

Lenore ran a hand down her face. "So you didn't call the guard because..."

"One looked like him and one had a dragon on his face. I thought they were with you."

She opened her mouth, and then closed it again and shook her head before walking into the next room. Cassandra was pacing back and forth in front of the two Seekers who she'd assigned to be on guard at the tavern. "You can stop yelling at them." Lenore sighed. "Apparently, the kids came up through the basement, not through any of the doors or windows."

"I am going to strangle them." Cassandra clenched her fists.

"Hey." Alistair's voice was sharp. "Duncan and Jerath are my kids, in case you've forgotten." He folded his arms. "I'm strangling them."

"Why would they take Magister Adralicus?" Carver frowned.

"They are masochists on top of being lunatics?" Alistair raised an eyebrow.

"No." Lenore frowned. "No. They must have a lead, and think for some reason he can help." Lenore rubbed the back of her neck. "Agatha has never met him, but would know he is one of Dorian's people. They must think we have information they don't."

"How can that be?" Carver shook his head. "They've been ahead of us this whole time. If Kels hadn't sent us that note, we wouldn't have even known they were in Nevarra and Cassandra would have been on her way to Orlais."

"We do have an advantage now, at least." Lenore nodded. "Unlike Kels, Adralicus has no reason to be a cooperative prisoner."

#

Salla handed refilled their guest's cup. "So this was the third Blight?"

Magister Adralicus took a drink. "Yes. Nevarra was still part of the Imperium then. Tevinter allied with Orlais, but both nations refused to press forward into the Free Marches. The temple of Toth was destroyed in the early days of the Blight, but the wards of the temple of Urthemiel remained intact. It was the only building in Nessum sturdy enough to be used as a refuge, and the mages used it as a stronghold as well." He continued expanding on the history of the Blight, and it took them several tried to get him back on topic.

"So the mages might have hidden things inside?"

"Well, yes. Things they didn't want the darkspawn to get their grubby little hands on, certainly. Who knows what treasures may have been abandoned inside before the temple was buried?" He gestured excitedly. "Did you hear what they are saying about the temple now? The statues inside actually activated once more."

Kieran turned to Agatha. "I thought you said this man was a magister?"

"He is a magister."

"Oh, yes." He rose, and offered Kieran his hand. "Magister Adralicus, at your service."

"I think you may be using that word incorrectly."

"Which word?"

Salla elbowed Kieran before he could reply. "You said you were writing to an expert regarding information the Inquisition wanted?"

"Baradies, yes. He studied at the University of Orlais as well as the Circle in Minrathous."

"And where is he, these days?"

"Hasmal, looking into relics recovered from the circle there." He looked up as Loghain entered, and his eyes widened. He actually walked over and caught Loghain's chin so he could examine the mark on Loghain's cheek. For a moment, Salla thought Loghain was going to punch him. "Did you know Guardsman Carver Hawke has a tattoo just like that one?"

"No. Really?" Loghain pulled backwards.

"Oh, yes. I asked him its significance but he wouldn't tell me. Commander Cullen's manservant was also very reluctant to discuss the nature of his tattoos. His look similar to those used by the Dalish elves."

"Cullen's..." Salla blinked. "You mean Brehan?"

"Was that his name? You know, there was a Warden-Constable by that name during the Fifth Blight. A dwarf, I think. I would have thought King Alistair would know what happened to him, but he wasn't able to tell me. Did you know King Alistair used to be a Grey Warden? I think the queen was one too."

Salla just stared as their kidnapped Magister turned to Duncan and began giving him the history of King Alistair's participation in the Fifth Blight, four times pausing to comment on how Duncan bore a fascinating resemblance to the king. Kels was leaning on the wall, tears running down his face as he shook with silent laughter. "Magister Adralicus?"

"Oh, yes dear?" He turned back to her.

"You were telling us about the cult."

"Oh, that's right. Siofra was one of the elves King Alistair sold into slavery to finance -"

"What?" Duncan's eyes flashed and he took a step forward. Loghain and Jerath each caught the man by an arm and hauled him out of the room.

Magister Adralicus sent a confused look his way before turning back to Salla. "As I was saying, she was originally from Denerim. Her magic must have manifested later." He launched into an explanation on how her master had been fascinated by the lyrium warrior that had been crafted by a Magister Danarius.

"You mean Fenris?" Salla raised an eyebrow.

"Yes. I met him, you know." He gave a low whistle. "He's a work of art. A bit temperamental though."

Her fists clenched and she forced them to relax. "So he made Siofra into one of those?"

"Oh, not her. You can't infuse a mage with lyrium like that, they'd explode. No, it was some human slave. Siofra stole him after she killed her master."

"And then she started a cult?"

"Yes. The Inquisition seems to think one of the Forbidden Ones was involved somehow. That's why I was writing to Baradies. He studied at the University of Orlais you know." He shrugged. "Do you know the Inquisitor fought one of the Forbidden Ones? Imshael, at Emprise du Lion." He started giving them a history of the formation of the Inquisition, which caused Kels to actually slide to the floor. She was starting to be a little concerned the man was actually going to die laughing.

She rubbed her forehead and sighed.

#

They left the magister under the watchful eye of Trian, who actually appeared at least somewhat interested in the the description the man was giving of Kal'Sharok. "So, it looks like this Baradies has the information we need."

"Hasmal is near the Tevinter border." Caleb nodded. "It's a lead, anyway."

"I really do think that man is using the word magister incorrectly." Kieran looked back over his shoulder.

"We'll worry about his grammar later." Loghain shook his head. "Can I kill him now?"

"I'm going to second Loghain's initiative." Duncan glared.

"If we could stay on topic?"

"Hasmal it is."

#

Magister Adralicus followed them as they started down the highway, filling them in on the events of the Chantry explosion in Kirkwall despite Kels and Caleb repeatedly informing him that they were there when it happened. Salla sighed, and took pity, though she wasn't sure which one she was taking pity on. "Tell me more about your friend Baradies."

"He studied at the University of Orlais, you know." He went on for a while about some papers the man had written. "He really is quite brilliant, you know, despite his disability."

"What disability is that?" Salla raised an eyebrow.

"Well, he is..." Magister Adralicus gave sad shake of his head. "Half elven."

Leandra, Jerath, and Kieran all stopped in their tracks and slowly turned around. Salla sighed, and buried her face in the palm of her hand.