She walked the halls of Skyhold, stopping in the round room. Shortly after coming back from the Exalted Council, she'd given thought to painting over the murals. She hadn't been able to bring herself to do so. Her hand touched the painted surface. "I know you are there."

"I suppose it was too much to hope the Inquisition would not involve itself in this matter." His voice came from behind her.

Ruya turned. Solas stood facing the single unfinished mural. Slowly, he turned to face her. She cupped the stump of her arm in her remaining hand. "Someday, four years from now, you come to Skyhold to save my son's life. I thank you, for that."

"Considering what he has done in recent days, I doubt my motives were entirely altruistic." Solas smiled sadly. "My agents have been instructed that under no circumstances are they to do the children any lasting or significant harm." He hesitated a moment. "Thank Brehan and Melavan for seeing to Renanin and Hanir." He straightened, and his tone became more businesslike. "The Formless One and his mage ally must not be allowed to retain the staff. Their plans present significant threat to us both."

"So tell me about this staff." She sat on the edge of the table he'd once used as a desk.

"Before I created the Veil, there was an order known as the Sulahnven. Artists, craftspeople, and musicians, serving with a particularly powerful spirit."

"Urthemiel."

"As he eventually became known, yes." Solas nodded. "I even studied for a time there myself." He gestured at the murals. "The Sulahnven was one of many things the Evanuris fought over. Mythal's intercession on their behalf is one of the events that led to the others turning on her."

"Why fight over the Sulahnven?" Ruya raised an eyebrow. "Prestige?"

"Among other things." Solas looked up at the first of the murals. "You have already seen one of their finest works."

She closed her eyes, and nodded. "They made the orbs."

"Tuned foci for the most powerful mages of my people." Solas leaned on the other side of the table from her. "The Sulahnven was a casualty of the fighting. Their works were stolen, lost, or destroyed. What few remained ended up in the hands of Tevinter. As, eventually, did the spirit. It was during this time that the staff itself was created. I believe he crafted it as a last attempt to save his disciples."

"Melavan says that the staff was used by Urthemiel's first High Priest."

"They would not have used so formal a term then, but yes. This was before Tevinter became the Imperium. Osthalias tried to work with the elves, rather than subjugate them. He failed, and the last of the Sulahnven were slaughtered. That is when, and why, the staff was hidden away."

"Until the Formless One found it." Ruya stood, and paced a circle around the room. "Urthemiel seems to think the goal of this cult is similar to that of Corypheus. Become gods. Only they actually know about you and the others, and intend to achieve that goal by killing you."

"Hence why our interests align." Solas nodded. "I will not lie and claim I do not wish to attain this staff. Yet, given the circumstances, it would be better for it to be destroyed rather than allow it to remain in the hands of the Formless One."

"And if it fell into my hand?" Ruya raised an eyebrow at him.

"My current paradox." Solas smiled. "I intend to see this through, and yet..." He looked at her. "I find myself hoping you succeed, and thus yes, I would rather it be in your hand than that of this cult. You, at least, I trust to do the right thing." He straightened. "However, the only one who can bypass the wards without it resulting in a duplication of the events at the Conclave would be Urthemiel himself."

"Which is why you sent Abelas to obtain him."

"The Formless One has the staff, but without Urthemiel, he cannot use it. Thus it made sense for me to acquire Urthemiel's host." Solas nodded.

"And if you have no other options, you'll kill him?" Ruya's eyes narrowed.

"Yes, though not for the reasons you think. Killing Urthemiel would be a temporary measure at best, given that his parents have anticipated the possibility." Solas chuckled. "I killed him seven months ago when I caught him redirecting eluvians into a public Antivan privy."

Ruya laughed. "Looks like we've got a cult to stop." She shook her head. "Again."

#

"Thoughts?"

"He's definitely hiding something, and I think it is pretty much a given at least some of what he gives us will be misdirection." Ruya looked down at the crystal in her hand. "But outright lies aren't really his thing." She frowned. "What do we know about the Sulahnven?"

There was a murmur she couldn't quite make out, and then an unfamiliar voice came over the crystal. "They were as he said, an order comprised of those of artistic bent. Being allowed to study with the Sulahnven was a mark of considerable prestige. Those who joined the order dedicated their lives to the Muse."

Brehan's voice came back over. "I think we've finally learned why Solas was always so angry at the thought of the Grey Wardens killing the Archdemons."

"I never really considered what they were before being twisted into demons." Ruya sighed. "Melavan?"

"Yes, Inquisitor?"

"Was Tisallan one of the Sulahnven?"

"He studied there, and later taught, when he attained the rank of Mi'nehn." The voice hesitated a moment. "The approximate translation in your tongue would be bladedancer. A more esoteric school than that followed by most dirth'ena enasalin. His wife, however, was one of the disciples, as was his son."

"Will you go over the information with Brehan? See if you can spot the holes?"

"Yes, Inquisitor."

"The meeting in the Fade went..." Brehan sighed. "Successfully is the wrong word, but it did go as planned and anticipated. The kids will continue coming at the problem from their angle, and check in on a schedule. They are all alive and healthy."

#

"Do I even want to know what any of this means?" Duncan stared at his reflection in the surface of one of his knives. He looked up at his bodyguard. "How could you let them do this?"

"I was patrolling outside of camp." Jerath did not meet his eyes.

"What about you two?" He glared at the sentinels. "You're supposed to be mature and dignified."

Tisallan shrugged. "I saw nothing."

Alai grinned widely. "I helped."

Kieran was peering at his own reflection. He glanced up at Salla. "What do you think of the mustache?"

"I like the curly parts, but not sure it's really you." She pointed. "What about mine?"

"Slightly disturbing."

"You've got your heart set on the goatee, don't you?" Gavren raised an eyebrow at Leandra.

"Just as soon as you manage to actually grow some decent facial hair." Leandra nodded eagerly.

"Father said I am to be clean-shaven when we get married at Skyhold."

Leandra's smile trembled for a moment. And then she reached out and grabbed the front of his robes, pulling him into a kiss. Abruptly fireworks started going off around their heads, and Gavren made a rude gesture in the general direction of Kieran and Salla.

"Alright." Salla clapped her hands. "Good news and bad. Good news is, we've reluctantly been given permission to hold our course. We'll continue to check in, they'll pass information to us and vice versa." She took a deep breath. "Bad news is word has definitely gotten out. There are at least four contracts out with the Crows regarding us."

"Well, that's always fun." Duncan shook his head. "How many of those birds are you going to have to pluck?" He glanced at Jerath.

"The House of Repose isn't quite as stupid, they turned down the contract. However, the Ben'Hassrath are aware of us, have decided we are incredibly dangerous, and are apparently on the move."

"It is possible killing the Ariqun and threatening the Arishok was not one of my father's better ideas." Kieran shrugged.

"And while we are talking about ideas that turned out not to be so good, word of what happened in Nessum hit Minrathous like a flood. Though we do have an advantage with them due to the number of factions. They aren't working together or organized. But, basically..." She sighed. "Half of Thedas wants to capture or kill us."

"So what else is new?" Leandra grinned.

#

Tisallan's foot caught Kels in the stomach, sending him off the log and into the river. Gavren sighed. "Come on, Kels, you're representing the Inquisition here."

"Yeah, remember the part where he's been doing this five thousand years longer than I have?" Kels hauled himself out of the water.

Leandra walked out onto the log, and set her feet. Tisallan shifted slightly, bringing up his hands. She moved forward, throwing out a couple light jabs. He blocked both easily before returning a strike with the edge of his hand. She blocked, but stumbled a little, catching her balance before falling. Tisallan moved in to take advantage, aiming a kick at her heel. She stepped back to dodge, faltered again, and he pushed her off the log. She came out of the water sputtering.

"Trian, your turn."

"I don't swim." Trian shook his head.

Gavren turned at the sound of footsteps. Duncan and Jerath were back, and had brought a ram with them. "What's going on?" Duncan raised an eyebrow.

"Training exercise." Gavren shrugged. "Objective is to get Tisallan into the water. Shooting him or just blowing up the log were disallowed as valid tactics."

"Which I find gives him a completely unfair advantage." Caleb looked up from where he was examining the mechanism of his new crossbow.

Duncan tapped Jerath's shoulder. "Go make Ferelden proud."

"I get him in the water, you butcher the ram."

"Deal."

Jerath stepped out to the log and tested his balance before approaching Tisallan. He sent a jab in Tisallan's direction. Tisallan blocked, and then countered with one of the knife strikes. Instead of blocking, Jerath grabbed his wrist, and then jumped off the log, pulling the elf with him. They both hit the water.

"Well, that's one way to do it." Gavren shrugged.

"What was that?" Duncan raised an eyebrow. "You fell in too!"

Jerath shook water out of his hair. "Objective was to get him in the water. No one said anything about me having to stay on the log."

"A fair point, da'len." Tisallan chuckled. "Well done."

Duncan looked down at the ram, and sighed. "Dammit."

#

"Can we please stay in an inn?" Caleb looked longingly at the city ahead. "My sore spots have sore spots."

"We are running low on a couple things, but we can't stay long." Salla shook her head. "The Ben'Hassrath have agents."

"Though not quite as many as they used to." Kels shrugged. "But this close to the border, yeah, they'll have people." He looked back over his shoulder. "And this crowd kind of stands out."

"Tisallan, Alai, keep your hoods up. Hopefully everyone will just assume you are Dalish. Loghain..." Salla frowned. "We didn't recover the masks, did we?" When he shook his head. "Keep your hood up as well."

"And the inn?" Cale raised an eyebrow.

"We resupply, and move on." Salla looked at him sternly.

He made a vexed noise, but nodded. "Fine."

"Trian, you know what we need?" She waited for him to nod. "Maybe it would be a better idea to just send you, Kels, and Caleb to get what we need while the rest of us wait outside town."

#

"How are you doing?" Lenore sat down across from Cullen.

Cullen shook his head. "Good question." He sighed. "Solas is involved."

"And Ruya?" Lenore raised an eyebrow.

"Conflicted." Cullen furrowed his brow. "Solas could make Ruya laugh, make her do that thing where she gets lost in thought and chews her bottom lip and..." He folded his arms. "They'd walk around Haven and Skyhold together, talking for hours about things I could barely understand. Sometimes he could be like a doting father, sometimes a teacher, and other times their friendship had an intimacy level that made me jealous. He was her first choice of companion when going into danger, and the one she turned to when she had doubts or questions. She adored him." He clenched his fists. "And the whole time he knew his magic was killing her."

"And now, the Dread Wolf has caught wind of your son."

"Yes." Cullen rubbed the back of his neck. "And he is the one that put our children on this particular trail."

"No." She shook her head. "He put us on this trail. The kids are following Kieran." She sighed. "I wish that was a comfort. The first time I met Jerath, I thought he was a nice kid. I wasn't exactly equipped for a walk through the forest, and when he realized I didn't have boots he gave me his. And that sweet little boy was a rage abomination with a higher body count than the rest of us combined, Commander of the Grey included. I wasn't lying when I told your wife I was terrified of what my friend could become." She leaned back. "Still am. And the worst part is it changes nothing. He's still my friend. He'll always be my friend. And his son is right smack in the heart of all of this."

#

Duncan patted the horse's neck, and offered a piece of apple. The horse accepted, then butted its head into his chest looking for another treat. He started to turn back to the camp to get another apple when he heard Agatha shout a warning. A heartbeat later, he found himself on the ground with Jerath atop him just as two arrows struck the tree near where he'd been standing.

Other arrows hit the barriers raised by the mages. Loghain got his shield up just in time to block one arrow, and another glanced off his armored leg.

He rolled back to his feet with the bow in his hand as men came out of the trees. Jerath intercepted a blade, slashing out with his own blade at the attacker, keeping Duncan clear as he fired arrows at their attackers. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Tisallan standing in front of Salla, glowing blade in each hand, keeping attackers off the mage. Alai and Loghain fought back to back on the other side of the camp. An attacker rushed at Leandra only to be thrown back with enough force to splatter against a tree by one of Gavren's spells. A giant bear flung an attacker out of the camp before lunging forward to maul another. Agatha moved in to assist Jerath, her twin blades easing some of the pressure on him.

Firing into melee was always chancy at best. He focused on those still coming. Light began to glow around the hands of an enemy mage, and he put two arrows in the man. The light vanished. Lightning crashed into their attackers, striking over and over as similar energy formed a halo around Gavren.

Jerath staggered as an arrow from an enemy archer caught him in the side, but got his shield up in time to prevent his attacker from gaining an advantage. Duncan growled as his own arrow took the archer between the eyes. Agatha flung a knife into the leg of an oncoming attacker, then slashed open his throat when he staggered. He nocked an arrow and searched for another target. None were left standing.

"Status?" Salla's voice called out.

"Jerath's hurt." Duncan immediately responded, moving to his friend's side. He saw a second arrow in Jerath's shoulder that must have come in the initial attack. An arrow that had been aimed for him. He gave Jerath a worried look and got a reassuring nod in return.

"Kieran, shift and fly in, see if you can spot the others." Salla gestured at the bear. Immediately the bear shifted into a raven and took wing, vanishing into the darkening sky. She gave Jerath a critical look, and then turned towards Duncan. "Hold him still while we remove the arrows."

Duncan all but pushed Jerath onto a nearby rock, and held him steady. Salla's hands glowed white as she put them on either side of the first arrow and nodded to Agatha. Agatha returned the nod, took a deep breath, and pulled the arrow out. Jerath grunted. They moved to the second arrow and repeated the action. Salla's hands glowed brighter as she finished the healing spell. "Try not to move around too much." She patted Jerath's shoulder before moving on to tend the much more minor wounds taken by others.

"Happy now?" Duncan looked down at his friend.

"Happy?" Jerath raised an eyebrow.

"You were complaining earlier you didn't get to take any arrows." Duncan shook his head. "You okay?"

"She's a good healer." Jerath started to test the motion of his shoulder.

Duncan caught his arm to arrest the motion. "She said don't move around too much."

Agatha plunked herself down on Jerath's lap. "There. Now he's not going anywhere." She caught Jerath's chin and pulled him to her for a kiss.

#

Kels drew his sword and stepped in front of Caleb as a half dozen men emerged from the shadows. Two drew back bows. "You boys are going to want to come along quietly." The leader of the men sneered.

"Yeah, that's not something we really do." Caleb shrugged.

Kels felt the urge to punch him. Even with Trian's blade to back him up, he wasn't looking forward to facing a half dozen. With archers, they would be too far from cover for fleeing to be an option.

A raven flew overhead, circling once. It dove, and then Kieran was between them and their attackers. Fire trailed up the mage's arms and legs, dancing in an aura around him as he straightened from a crouch to his full height. "Boo."

The men recoiled. Caleb laughed as he sent a crossbow bolt into one of the archers. Kels shrugged and moved in, slamming his shield into the nearest attacker.

#

It was rather unfortunate that the three survivors were local mercenaries hired just the day before. "They didn't have time to prepare, which means they didn't know we were coming this way." Agatha frowned.

"They may not have known before, but they do now." Salla chewed her bottom lip. She rose, and paced a moment before shaking her head. "We are two days out from Hasmal. I think we should stick with the original plan of continuing by the river."

"And I still disagree." Duncan shook his head. "Our chances of being spotted and noted increase with more people. Attacks like this one will continue to happen if we stay on the river path." He shot Jerath a concerned look. "Next time we might not be as lucky."

"Crossing the Silent Plains carry even more risks." Salla waved a hand. "We don't have good enough maps to be sure of finding water off the trails, and sticking to the trails won't solve the being spotted problem. You're the closest thing we have to a woodsman, and your skills are barely adequate for staying close to the road."

"What if we hired a guide?" Caleb asked.

"How would we know we could trust them?" Jerath asked him.

"What if they were Inquisition or Lucerni or House Brosca?" Caleb gestured. "We have a means of asking our folks for help now. They could send someone."

"That unfortunately does not solve the trust issue." Jerath shook his head.

"We shouldn't have let Brehan go." Caleb sighed. "What if we take a third option?"

"What third option?" Salla raised an eyebrow at her brother.

"The Deep Roads."

"No." The others answered in a chorus of shouts.

"It was just a suggestion." Caleb drew himself in.

#

Salla walked next to Kieran. She touched his hand, and felt his fingers curl around hers as he looked down at smiled at her. She returned the smile, and then started to chew on her lower lip. "Where are you normally?"

"I do not understand."

"I mean, were do you live? Do your folks have a house somewhere, or..."

"Yes, though it is likely not how you think of such things." Kieran shrugged.

"Yeah, I suppose you're not really what most think of as the typical family." She smiled. "Though from the few times Uncle Carver has spoken of them, they seem like nice people."

"My father would be the first to tell you he is not a nice person." Kieran shook his head. His voice became softer. "I think I am beginning to realize why he sent me."

"I thought he sent you because Alistair asked for help."

Kieran was silent for a time. "There were other options. I think though, that he wanted me to understand why..." He shook his head. "Do you know what my father is?"

"The host of an old god, like you."

"No. Not like me. Urthemiel is an Old God. Razikale is an Archdemon. My father remains a creature of the Blight even while he keeps his own mind."

Salla felt his fingers tighten around hers. "But he can cleanse the Blight now."

"He can cleanse it from others. But not from himself." Kieran shook his head. "If the Inquisitor succeeds in stopping Fen'Harel, the danger posed by the Blight and the last archdemons will remain. When the time comes, my father will end the threat of the Blight, forever." Kieran hung his head. "And it will be the last thing he does."

Her heart skipped a beat as she realized what his words meant. "The Warden is going to die."

"He accepts this. The duty cannot be forsworn." Kieran looked down at her. "But I did not. He is my father and..." He took a deep breath. "It isn't fair."

She bit her lip, and pulled him to her, wrapping her arms around him. He bent, resting his forehead against hers. "Kieran."

"It is loud, at times. The wanting. Calling out, calling us, begging and pleading and dragging, drowning us in voices until the wanting is all we hear. Offering knees to any who could grant desire, without care for the cost. Screaming into the wind for us to save you from yourselves." He shook his head. "And our names are reviled because we answered, black instead of gold."

"And..." She rubbed his back gently. "What if Fen'Harel wins?"

"Then the Evanuris will be freed, and the world will be in even greater danger. And so my father holds his course, buying time but not confronting the Wolf directly. For if they are freed, the only choice that will remain is for my father to take them with him, ripping them all from the world."

"Meaning The Warden is going to die either way."

"Yes. He did not choose his path, but he walks it willingly."

"Oh Kieran." She kissed him gently.

He brushed the hair back from her face. "I am beginning to understand what he meant though."

"What did he mean?"

"When he told me..." Kieran's smile was sad. "That this world, its people..." He kissed her, one hand on the back of her neck as he held her to him. "You are worth it."