"It's not as shiny as I was expecting." Caleb looked down at where the city of Starkhaven could be made out in the distance.

"Why were you expecting it to be shiny?" Kieran glanced at him.

"Sebastian always was. Isabela used to use him as a mirror." He sighed. "I liked Sebastian. He was nice. Tried to teach me how to use a bow."

"Until he threatened to raise an army and burn Kirkwall to the ground, and put a bounty on Papa." Salla frowned. "Doesn't he still have a bounty on Papa?"

"That only matters if Papa goes to Starkhaven."

"Sebastian is the man that put the bounties up?" Kieran's eyes narrowed. "He put one on my father as well, after he heard the rumor my father had recovered Anders."

Kels snorted. "I can't imagine there is an assassin or bounty hunter in the world stupid enough to try to take that job."

"Seven."

"What?"

"There were seven stupid enough to take that job." Kieran tilted his head. "A group of tal'Vashoth mercenaries. They threatened Uncle Carver with their serabaas." He smiled. "It was funny."

"He's got a grudge against my father too then," Leandra shrugged.

"Brehan was of the belief he had a grudge against the Commander as well." Kels shrugged. "Probably more so since the Inquisition backed Aveline on the Commander's orders."

"Guessing he's not going to be on good terms with my grandfather then either." Loghain shrugged. "Though that's not a surprise."

"Stone, who here isn't this Sebastian fellow going to be holding a grudge against?" Train glanced back at his companions.

"Um..." Caleb frowned. "Well..." He looked back. "Jerath's name might be an issue, not sure how he'll feel about Duncan, Lenore's feelings on various matters are pretty well known, so I guess..." He looked back at Trian. "You."

"His father is the Warden Commander."

"Ah. Good point." Caleb shrugged. "Nope."

"The last time he saw Caleb and I was a decade ago. Unless we introduce ourselves, there is a good chance he won't even recognize us." Salla sighed. "Admittedly, our luck on going unnoticed has been lacking just a little."

#

"Any ideas what to do for coin?" Trian glanced back at the others.

"We could always do what Papa Brosca used to do in times like these." Agatha stretched her arms over her head. "Go find and rob some bandits."

"I don't suppose Starkhaven has an Inquisition safehouse for us to rob?"

"The Inquisition isn't exactly welcome in Starkhaven." Kels frowned. "I think there is a cache, but I'm not sure where it is located.

#

"Fenris."

"Cullen."

Cullen leaned on the ramparts next to the elf. The sun had yet to peek over the edge of the horizon. "Can't sleep?"

He sighed. "Salla..." Fenris shrugged. "She has strange dreams, at times, and wakes during the night. I would find her in the kitchen, and we would talk over tea. I keep waking up thinking I hear her moving in the hallway."

"Gavren used to wake up in the middle of the night and crawl into bed with Ruya and I." He turned, and shook his head. "Do you ever find it ironic?"

"Ironic?"

"You and I have more cause to hate and fear mages than most." He shook his head. "And we ended up marrying two of the most powerful mages in Thedas." He looked back at Fenris. "Is it difficult, raising a mage child?"

Fenris stared up at the sky. "It is."

"How do you manage it?"

"I have seen mages do horrific things in the name of power. I have hated and feared them with good reason." Fenris shrugged. "And all that pales before one simple truth."

"What is that?"

"She is my daughter."

#

Alistair found Brehan going over a map. "Sending your birds?"

"Wondering if it is worth the effort to send agents to Ostagar." He frowned. "I'll send a bird to Fenarel, let him take a look just in case, but any trail that might have been present has long since been trampled over." He straightened. "And Fen'Harel searched Varla's last known location. If there had been any trace to be found there, he would have."

"I uh..." Alistair sighed. "I heard about the assassins sent after you."

"Were I you, I'd be more concerned about the ones going to be sent after you."

"Brehan..." Alistair folded his arms and leaned on the table. "How close did they get?"

"I came out of it without a scratch."

"Can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"The ones they sent after me succeeded. Or will. They kill Cathiel, me, Rory, some others. And then later on their boss punches a hole in time and goes after our kids."

Brehan tossed the marker he was holding down on the table. "And you're wondering why, if Jerath answered you now, he doesn't stop it then?"

"Same question occurred to you." Alistair shrugged. "Thoughts?"

"The assassination..." Brehan sighed. "Things like that are fast. He may not have had time to intercede."

"And now? The letter said Kieran got hurt. And still..."

"I wish I knew." Brehan looked down at the map. "Any idea where else to send agents?"

He picked up the marker. "Nope." He tossed the marker up, caught it, and then shrugged and tossed it up higher. It tumbled a few times, hit, bounced, and came down again point first to stick in the map. "There you go. Starkhaven."

"Well. That should be fun."

#

"So you can't turn into any fish?" Caleb raised an eyebrow at Kieran.

"It is difficult to observe them properly."

Caleb frowned, and shook his head. "We've got fish in our fountain, I watch them all the time."

Kieran tilted his head. "Then you know how they breath?"

"I..." Caleb blinked, and considered. "Well, no."

"Dolphins are easier. They just hold their breath. But they need salt in their water, or their skin burns."

"Oh, that's awesome." He turned to Salla. "You should learn dolphin."

Salla rolled her eyes at him, and finished wringing out her dress. She hung it on a tree branch next to Agatha's, and then looked down at her shift. It was already drenched. She shrugged, and turned back to dive into the water. Trian sat on a rock near the shore, combing out his beard. Kels and Gavren were deeper in, apparently trying to drown Loghain with the encouragement of Agatha and Leandra. She hadn't heard what he'd said, but odds were he deserved it. Jerath and Duncan were racing up stream. The bodyguard was in the lead by half a length.

Caleb cannonballed into the water a couple feet from her. She immediately began splashing him back. He started using both hands to drench her, so she called up magic and started using that. "Cheater!" He started to turn towards the shore, and a cat made of water tilted its head at him. Caleb blinked. It pounced, splashing onto him and leaving him sputtering.

"Not bad." Gavren's voice said. He half closed his eyes, and the surface of the water near him swirled as it formed into a small dragon, which immediately took off. Almost immediately, a griffin leapt out of the water to give chase.

The two creatures engaged in mock battle above the surface of the river, occasionally sending splashes of water onto the cheering onlookers. Gavren and Kieran directed them to soar upwards, locked in a fight, before finally spiraling downward to slam into the water and send a wave over the swimmers.

"Okay, that was awesome." Caleb said.

#

Clean and somewhat refreshed, they made their way into Starkhaven. Caleb found himself looking around the city curiously. Sebastian had told him a few stories of his home, back in the years when he and Papa had been friends. It had more people than Kirkwall, but where Kirkwall had built up, Starkhaven had built out. He could make out the ruins that had been Starkhaven's mage tower. It didn't really surprise him that Sebastian hadn't rebuilt it.

The city itself was grand, especially compared to Kirkwall. But then, it was wealthier, handling trade with Antiva, Tevinter, Orlais, and Nevarra. And it hadn't exploded or been invaded recently. And had probably not been built as a Tevinter ritual chamber that resulted in a deliberately thinned veil.

Trees lined walkways made of granite, and fountains dotted the marketplace. He found himself glad they'd bothered to clean up before entering. They'd have drawn even more attention otherwise.

"Starkhaven still has sanctions on trade with Ferelden." Duncan was giving the city a disapproving look.

"He's still holding a grudge over sheltering the mages?" Salla raised an eyebrow at him. She, Kieran, and Gavren weren't carrying their staffs. Starkhaven wasn't quite openly hostile to mages, but they'd still draw questions. Loghain and Jerath had both complained about the Orlesian style masks they were wearing, but they had the most distinctive faces.

"There..." Duncan shrugged. "Well, we also had your father for a court mage before he went back to Kirkwall. At which point, we replaced him with a Grey Warden mage that happens to be his cousin. And..." Duncan rubbed the back of his neck. "He learned that The Warden and his people had spent time in Gwaren and demanded the Teyrna be held accountable for sheltering Anders. I was not particularly diplomatic in my response."

"Really?" Caleb glanced back at him. "What did you tell him?"

"Um..."

"Piss off." Loghain grinned when he answered.

"Ferelden politics are awesome." Caleb snickered.

"Didn't hurt us much. We don't need anything Starkhaven has a monopoly on, and most of our Free Marches trade goes through Kirkwall anyway. We trade openly with Kal'Hirol, so our lyrium doesn't go through carta or Tevinter." Duncan winked at Trian. "There are benefits to playing nice with the dwarves."

"Like not getting stabbed in the knees." Agatha spread her hands.

"That too."

#

"Learn anything?" Agatha raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah, being penniless refugees isn't any more fun now than it was when we were kids." Caleb folded his arms.

Kels chuckled. "We aren't exactly penniless."

"Twenty one gold for eleven people isn't exactly going to go far, especially when we need to replace armor." Caleb sighed. "And I really don't want to sleep in a barn or on a sidewalk."

"I remember when a barn would have been a luxury. You got soft." Kels put his hand on Caleb's shoulder, and patted his cheek.

"You're mocking me again."

"You kidnapped me."

"Rescued!"

#

Leandra took Gavren's hand as they walked. "You don't think the Vaels are in league with the cult, do you?"

Gavren shook his head. "I doubt the prince even knows about the cult. Starkhaven is centrally located, but avoided most of the problems of the recent years. And the prince isn't welcoming to the Inquisition or any of the other forces most likely to trip the cultists. Frankly, I'm surprised it's not a refuge to more groups like this one."

"Vael is a good man, just a bit of a pretentious ass." Leandra shrugged. "Do you think he knows?"

"Knows?"

"About..." Leandra sighed. "Fen'Harel, and Mythal, and Kieran, and all of it?"

"We can't rule that out. He knew enough to know Anders ended up back with the Wardens." He frowned. "And we don't know that the cult is here, just that the sentinels have a base here. I'm somewhat more willing to believe he might have some kind of alliance with them."

"We need more information."

"I think that's the Inquisition's motto." He narrowed his eyes, and squeezed her hand as they passed the gates of a particular estate. "There."

"Not exactly what I was expecting." Leandra frowned, and continued holding his hand as they strolled past. "Not exactly a hideout."

"Safer for them, I suppose. Guards aren't going to come across them randomly." He frowned. "Could be they've acquired a patron of some kind."

"Let's tell the others."

#

"Why would sentinels be aligned with the cult?" Agatha shifted the pillow behind her to a more comfortable position. Once again, they were all sharing one room, which meant there was some sharing of beds.

"The cult is tearing down shrines, and you know Fen'Harel's opinions on the gods." Gavren sat behind Leandra, rubbing the woman's shoulders. Agatha thought she could actually hear Leandra purring.

"It's also possible they aren't aligned at all." Loghain looked up from where he was playing some board game with Trian. "Maybe they want whatever it was the cultists took from the temple. Or maybe they just want us. Rumors had to have gone round by now." He frowned. "I don't even want to think about what the Dread Wolf could do with sixteen years of information on the future."

"Did you tell our folks about the staff?" Salla turned towards him.

He furrowed his brow. "I'm not sure I did. What do we know about the staff anyway?" He turned towards Kieran.

Kieran raised an eyebrow. "What staff?"

"The staff they took from your temple," Salla said.

"They took a staff from my temple?" Kieran's eyes widened.

Silence fell on the room. Gavren took his hands off Leandra's shoulders. "Kieran, you're the one that told us they took a staff from your temple."

"I..." Kieran tilted his head to one side, and his eyes half closed. Several heartbeats passed. "Are you sure?"

"Very." Salla folded her legs under her. "You were surprised by it, because you couldn't remember a staff being in your temple..."

"And now you don't even remember that much." Gavren rubbed his head.

"If it was in my temple, I would remember." Kieran shook his head. "My temples do not keep secrets from me."

"You said that too." Gavren frowned. Then his eyes narrowed. "Cole used to be able to make people forget certain things, including himself. Could..." He stared at Kieran. "Could something like that even affect you?"

"But why just him?" Salla shook her head. "I mean, if it's that powerful, wouldn't it affect the rest of us too?"

"These are very good questions." Kieran tilted his head again. "We are going to need to find the answers."

"We need to get a spy into that estate."

Kieran nodded. "I have a friend who can help."

#

"He's kidding, right?" Kels looked at Caleb.

"I certainly hope so." Caleb's facial expression was skeptical.

Kels folded his arms and rubbed the bridge of his nose. Fifty feet away, Kieran was standing at the base of a tree. Holding an argument with a squirrel. An argument that he appeared to be losing, much to the man's annoyance. Salla stood a couple feet from them, apparently fascinated.

Finally, Kieran came back over to them. "He's already been keeping an eye." He waved one hand. "He said the sentinels are looking for the Tilde Staff, which the Formless One has found but seems to be unable to use." He glanced back at the squirrel, and then tilted his head and frowned. "He claims the sentinels intend to destroy the staff."

"Why would the Dread Wolf want to destroy the staff?"

"They are not working for Fen'Harel." Kieran frowned.

"So what were you arguing about?" Gavren raised an eyebrow.

"I was attempting to convince him to go back in and see what else he can learn, but he believes I should not be involving myself in the matter of the staff." Kieran's eyes narrowed, and he wrinkled his nose. "He threatened to tell mother if I do not drop the matter."

"Maybe he should." Gavren glanced around. "We can deal with the Formless One, and leave the staff to her and your father."

"Perhaps." Kieran nodded. "We should do what we can to ensure that Fen'Harel and the Formless One do not get the staff in the here and now, however."

"Wait..." Caleb shook his head. "I'm stuck on... 'the squirrel threatened to tell your mother'."

"The squirrel is an abomination?" Agatha gave the small furry creature a dubious look. It chittered at her.

"She did not mean to offend you." Kieran turned to the squirrel. It chittered at him again. "Yes, I know." It chittered and squeaked. "She called me one too, if it makes you feel better." It gave a curious squeak, and then squeaked something else. "Don't be mean." It squeaked one last time before running off. Kieran shook his head, and turned back towards Agatha. "You hurt his feelings."

"Agatha..." Leandra gave a disapproving shake of her head.

"What kind of spirit is it?" Salla stared in the direction the squirrel had gone.

"Wisdom." Kieran shrugged. "Though more like curiosity, I suppose. He did agree to see if he could locate cultists for us. I told him to be careful, as the Formless One may be able to sense his nature."

"Does he have a name, or is he just called 'Curiosity', like Justice and Vigilance?" Salla asked.

"He was, but Aunt Merrill dubbed him Fluffy, and now he only answers to that."

"Yeah, that sounds like mother." Leandra chuckled. "At least most of the griffins got dignified names."

Duncan sighed. "Can we get this conversation back on track, please?" He shook his head. "While..." He sighed reluctantly. "Fluffy gets us information, we should see about getting gear."

Salla nodded. "We could check out the Chanter's Board, see if there is anything good."

"Clearing rats out of basements for a few coppers doesn't sound particularly useful." Trian sighed.

"I was thinking more letting Caleb convince people we are a mercenary band and seeing what jobs we could find that way." Salla shrugged. "Worked for Papa."

"Alright. Maybe we could also get into the Chantry library and see if we can't get any information on this staff." Trian nodded.

"We might also want to let our folks know about the staff." Gavren folded his arms. "At the very least, they need to be able to respond if someone like Fen'Harel does get hold of it?"

Kieran gave Gavren a curious look. "What staff?"

"Are we going to have to re-explain it to him every time something distracts him from it?" Duncan raised an eyebrow.

"Looks like it." Salla shook her head, and took Kieran's arm. "Maybe I'll have you write it down."