"Is he still there?" Leliana held the crystal in one hand.
"I'm not really sure." Brehan's voice came back over. "After he filled us in, he stepped back into the Fade. I'm not sure if he's going to keep an eye on the kids or if he's returned to whatever he was doing before Carver contacted him."
"How did Carver contact him?" Leliana fought the urge to pace. Even knowing what Morrigan and Jerath were, it still hadn't quite occurred to her they'd have an agent who could step in and out of the Fade at will, nor whom that agent might be.
"I'm..." Brehan's voice hesitated. "Honestly afraid to ask. And I doubt he'll tell me."
"Do you think the kids are right about where the cult is based?"
"They found the temple of Urthemiel. They found Baradies. They tracked down elven sentinels willing to ally with them, and in doing so located one of the cult's strongholds. Gavren was in Nevarra city less than an hour before literally running into Cassandra. The first tavern Loghain tried to enter at random in Hasmal contained me." Brehan chuckled. "Honestly, they could have pulled the location out of their asses and I'd be betting on them being right."
"How is the situation in Starkhaven?" She looked up at the map on one wall, focusing her eyes on their location.
"Oddly cordial. Hawke and Sebastian seem to have reconciled considerably in the past few days, and the prince has dropped the trade sanctions against Kirkwall and Ferelden. Lord Hendry is rather put out by the damage to his estate, but as the fire did not reach the area where he was keeping his work, he's willing to let bygones be bygones."
She heard a note of excitement in his voice. "I take it you've had the chance to see said work?"
"Ma'arlath..." She could almost see the gleam in his eye. "The history they've compiled. Ionai is an artist. Tisallan a musician. They..." He was silent a moment, and she could hear his voice thicken when he spoke again. "Leliana, there is so much here, I don't even know where to begin."
"I cannot wait to see it." She smiled. She hesitated. "Where are the sentinels now?"
"Delaon and Ionai are with the Inquisitor in Kirkwall." He chuckled. "Apparently, they were rather in awe of Merrill."
"Of Merrill?" She blinked.
"The sentinels seem to be of the notion that she is Mythal's high priestess. Merrill is apparently having some difficulty dissuading them from that line of thinking."
"And Melavan?"
"Insisted on remaining. He's worried about Alai and Lord Hendry. And since he offered the children his protection, he feels it is his duty to help us aid them." She could almost hear Brehan roll his eyes. "And I think he's used to being in charge and didn't want to be sidelined." There was a murmur she couldn't make out. "Dorian just arrived."
"Give him my best, and keep me informed."
#
"Kels?"
"My guess is without horses it's going to take us at least a week to get to Solas." He looked over the map. "And we may have to make camp early tonight, or risk camping without anything nearby for shelter or defense."
"We'll camp early." Jerath nodded to him.
"That's a lot of flat nothing." Caleb scanned the area ahead of them.
"It's called the Silent Plains."
"Well, at least if anything is out there, we'll see it coming."
#
Dorian stared at them as they took turns filling him in on recent events. Next to him, Cole's mouth was hanging open slightly. "You lost me at..." He shook his head. "Well, him." He pointed at Melavan. "Elven sentinels have been hiding in Starkhaven, completely unknown to the Inquisition, for the past five years until your children happened to find them?"
"Welcome to our world." Cullen nodded to him.
"I need a..." He trailed off when Iron Bull handed him the drink. "Thank you, amatus."
#
"Hey Kieran?" Duncan glanced over his shoulder.
"Yes?"
"I don't suppose you have any insight as to why there is a statue of a giant nug with a cheese wheel in front of it sitting out here in the middle of nowhere."
"It's an easter egg."
"I..." Duncan sighed. "Am eventually going to learn not to ask."
#
"You've changed your mind about accompanying us then?"
"Since it's not going to involve asshead, yes." Hawke nodded. "Besides, Fenris was pouting that he wasn't going to get to kill any magisters."
Magister Arenda glanced over her shoulder at Hawke. He winked at her. Cullen rolled his eyes, but smiled. "I admit to being relieved to have you along. If there is trouble in that city, odds are you'll manage to trip over it."
"Excuse me? Whose son literally ran into Cassandra?"
"If you two don't knock it off, I'm taking my griffins and going home." Carver shook his head.
"Hear that? My little brother said for you to grow up."
"Yes." Melavan sighed. "Those were definitely your children."
#
"And we are walking. And walking. And walking." Caleb kicked a rock.
"That is generally how people get from one place to another." Kels shook his head at him.
"We should have stolen the griffins."
"Yeah, messing with the griffins is really never a good idea." Leandra shook her head.
"Your father did teach us how to ride them."
"And I know for a fact he gave you both the full spiel on the many, many ways a griffin can fold, spindle, and mutilate someone who annoys it."
"If it's all the same, I would very much prefer to keep my feet on the ground." Trian shook his head.
"I will have to agree with our esteemed dwarven prince." Alai shook her head.
Caleb blinked. "Wait, they didn't have griffins in Arlathan?"
"We had them." Alai shook her head. "I just did not ride them."
"How can you not like griffins?" Duncan blinked at her.
"I do not dislike them, exactly." Alai frowned. "It is more the not having anything between me and the ground part that gives me pause."
"Exactly." Trian nodded. "And they are smelly."
"Griffins are not smelly." Leandra glared at him.
"Um..."
"That's a good smell." She narrowed her eyes as if daring anyone to disagree.
"I admit, I am rather missing Isana and Urtok at the moment." Duncan sighed.
"Wait, you have your own griffins?" Caleb looked back at him.
"Being king does have a few advantages." Duncan chuckled.
"So, when Trian becomes king, does he get a griffin?"
"Actually, Kal'Hirol has a stable of six griffins which do technically belong to House Saitada. But as far as I know, he doesn't ride them."
"Ah. Good. Nice to know I retain some sense."
"How come the Inquisition never got any griffins?" Kels glanced at Kieran.
"Father owed no debt to the Inquisition."
"Any debt he felt he owed Ferelden was paid in full when he stopped that crazy broodmother out in Amaranthine." Duncan shook his head.
"That did not count. It was his job."
"So what debt was he talking about?"
"That is a matter between him and my grandmother."
"I..." Duncan raised an eyebrow. "Is this going to be one of those conversations I regret starting?"
"Most likely, yes."
"Right."
"Hey." Caleb suddenly jumped excitedly and pointed. "Look, a city."
#
"Well?"
"As near as I can tell, those are the ruins marked on the map here." Kels indicated the location. "Which means we are going the right way."
"You really don't have to sound surprised by that." Gavren chuckled.
"We should get there a bit before sunset. What say we camp there?" Caleb glanced at Salla.
"I think we should scout the location first. With so few good sites around, it's possible we won't be the only people there."
#
Salla raised an eyebrow when Alai and Agatha returned. "Well?"
"Looks empty." Agatha nodded.
"It would appear that until sometime with the past few months, it was inhabited by a dragon. I see no sign that the beast is a current inhabitant, but its presence may have been enough to convince the smugglers to find a safer route."
"Alright. Let's head in, and find shelter, but stay under cover just in case it does return." Salla shook her head. "You know how our luck runs."
#
They found a room that was sheltered from the sky, and would conceal their fire from anyone, or anything, that might be looking. Several stone benches still dotted the room, providing comfortable seating. And best of all, some kind of magic remained in a nearby fountain, causing clear water to continue to burble and pour forth. It didn't take them long to decide to strip off armor and do some much needed bathing.
Agatha ran the damp cloth over Jerath's shoulder before seating herself in his lap. She felt his arms go around her, pulling her close to him. She kissed him. He rose, swinging effortlessly up into his arms, and carried her towards one of the shadowed alcoves.
"How come you never carry me off like that?" Leandra elbowed Gavren.
"Well, there is the part where you are usually wearing fifty pounds of armor, the part where you often have six feet of blade strapped to your back, and the part where you are stronger than I am." Gavren chuckled.
"I'm not wearing armor now." She grinned, and touched his cheek. "And my sword is over there." She gestured.
"And the part where you are stronger than I am?" He smiled playfully.
"You mean the part where if you don't sweep me off my feet right now, I'm going to hurt you?" She smiled coyly.
"That's my girl." He kissed her nose before abruptly throwing her over his shoulder and walking off towards one of the other room.
"Gavren Dorian Rutherford!" She started hitting him as he carted her off.
"I guess this means I'm getting stuck with first watch." Kels sighed.
"Well, if you are volunteering." Loghain shrugged and stood up, holding out a hand to Alai. Alai let him pull her to her feet, a smile on her face.
"Asshole." Duncan chuckled. He blinked. "Wait, why are you two taking rope?" When Loghain grinned, Duncan shook his head. "No. No, I don't want to know. Do not, under any circumstances, tell me. Just go." He rubbed his forehead. "Asshole."
Caleb snickered. "You think you'd learn."
"Hey, Duncan?" Trian raised an eyebrow. When Duncan looked up, Trian shifted a bit uncomfortably. "So, um..." He sighed. "Leta?"
"Yeah." Duncan nodded. "Kieran, make a note. Two years from now, do everything in your power to stop Lady Dace from convincing Trian that the full traditional dwarven ceremony is required for the wedding. Seriously, turn into a dragon and start eating guests if you have to, just don't make me sit through all those speeches again. Lord Vollney talked for three hours. Three. Eat him first."
"I am not eating any dwarves." Kieran shook his head.
"Please?"
"Hairballs."
"Ah."
Trian sighed.
#
Salla laid her head on Kieran's shoulder, staring up into the darkness and shadows. Kieran's arm curled around her protectively, holding her close. She sighed.
"What is wrong?" His voice tickled her ear.
"If we succeed, I won't remember this moment. Here, with you." She turned towards him, draping her arm over his chest. "All of this will be undone."
"I will remember." He said the words softly.
"I suppose, in some ways I'm lucky. I know how this is going to end. How much time I have left." She drummed her fingers lightly, and felt him catch her hand.
"It does not have to end."
She lifted her head, and kissed him. "I think all of reality is conspiring against us." Her fingers trailed down his cheek. "You'll be whole again. It will all be undone. I'll forget. You'll be gone and I won't even remember you."
He pulled her to him, holding her tightly, lips barely a hair from her ear. "You are Salla. You will remember, and I will come back to you. And if reality knows what is good for it, it will stay out of my way."
Her eyes closed, and she kissed him again, letting time fall away as she lay in his arms.
#
They were halfway through breaking camp when there was whooshing sound followed by a dull thud. Everyone in the camp went still.
"Alai?" Tisallan shot the other sentinel a very annoyed look.
"The freshest spoor was at least three months old." Alai shook her head as she hissed in response.
"Maybe we all imagined it?" Caleb whispered hopefully.
He was answered by a load roar, and the sound of something big moving nearby.
"May I recommend stealth?" Jerath strapped his shield to his arm. "Strongly?"
"What are you worried about? You already killed a dragon."
"A little one."
"And Loghain has hunted dragons." Caleb glanced at the other one.
"Which is why I'm seconding Jerath's 'run as fast and quietly as possible plan'." Loghain secured his breastplate as he spoke.
"Leandra likes fighting dragons."
"When I've got ballistas backing me up and know what kind of dragon it is before I get there." She hissed as she finished fastening her greaves.
"I bet Tisallan has taken on a dragon before."
"And it will be at least another five hundred years before I again do so willingly."
"And Kieran used to be a dragon." Caleb pointed.
"I vote for the running." Kieran slung a pack over his shoulder.
"You guys are lousy adventurers."
#
"Is he still pouting?" Duncan glanced at Loghain.
"I'm not sure. I asked, and I was informed he's not speaking to any of us." Loghain's lips twitched. "He even called me an asshole."
"You are an asshole."
Salla tried to hide a smile as she glanced back at her brother. The ruins had vanished in the distance, and with them, the dragon. Caleb had spent several miles attempting to convince them to go back and fight the dragon, but they had pointed out that fighting a dragon was dangerous and foolhardy, that the dragon was far enough away not to present a danger to people, that fighting a dragon was dangerous and foolhardy, that they didn't have the proper gear for doing battle against a dragon, that fighting a dragon was dangerous and foolhardy, that the dragon would serve to dissuade anyone attempting to follow them, that fighting a dragon was dangerous and foolhardy, that they had a chance for escape and should take it, and that fighting a dragon was dangerous and foolhardy.
She noted that once again Tisallan had taken a position a pace behind her and slightly to her left. The same position Jerath habitually took when accompanying Duncan. She made the mental note to ask why he was taking that position for her instead of Kieran. "Kels, how far?"
"Assuming the map is accurate, we should be in sight of it by this time tomorrow."
"Alright." She frowned. "What do we actually know about this city?"
"It's old. As in elven ruins still standing and being used old. Most of the city predates the Chant by a couple hundred years." Kels furrowed his brow. "It's Tevinter, so..." He shrugged. "Slaves, blood magic, demons, mages openly dueling in the streets, decadence, and strange fashions." He looked over the party. "My suggestion is you, Gavren, and Kieran make it clear you are mages and pretend to be snooty nobles, and the rest of us act like your entourage."
"Snooty nobles." Salla said. "Okay, I can probably manage that."
"Pretend you are a de Launcet." Agatha grinned at her.
"I think the objective is to not have people trying to kill us." Salla shook her head.
"Walk as though you own everything you see, don't actually give a shit about any of it, and will be offended if it gets on your boots." Agatha waved a hand. "It works for the deshyrs."
"Why am I asking you?" Salla glared. "Duncan, suggestions?"
"Look bored while your diplomatic attaché does all the talking." Duncan shrugged. "Try not to fall asleep."
"For a king, you suck at being a noble."
"Why Salla." Duncan put a hand over his heart. "That is the nicest thing you've ever said to me." He gestured as though wiping a tear from his eye then nodded towards Agatha. "Go with Agatha's suggestion. It always works for the Warden Commander." He sighed. "Even when it's the palace I own."
#
Caleb quickened his pace to catch up with Tisallan. "You know, for an old guy, you're pretty light on the 'words of wisdom.'"
"I do not believe I have made any claims towards possessing wisdom."
"You've been helping us with our fighting, but not doing the wise old man guide thing. I mean, Melavan was all full of advice. 'Grandpa' Loghain yelled advice at everyone. And every noble I've ever met can't wait to shove pearls of advice at me." He glanced at Tisallan. "But not you.
"Ah." Tisallan smiled. "It is advice you want? Well then." He took a deep breath. "Always walk a mile in the other man's shoes. That way, when you fully realize just how wrong he really is, you are a mile away. And he is barefoot."
"Tisallan..." Caleb glanced down at his feet. "You don't even wear shoes."
"I used to. But people kept walking off in them and never coming back." Tisallan shrugged.
He snickered. "I'm serious."
"Wisdom is a word and a spirit. Like compassion, or justice. It means different things, to different people, and can all too easily be twisted." Tisallan waved a hand. "I knew a wise woman once, and she often gave me a piece of advice that I never once regretted following." He spread his hands. "She would say, 'Tisallan, if you know what is good for you, you will put that down and come to bed.'"
"Wait, that's advice?" Caleb blinked.
"A wise woman indeed." Loghain said, trying to keep a straight face.
"That is why I married her." He glanced back at Caleb. "The sky is blue, the grass is green, the company is good, and our socks are clean. What more do you seek, da'len?"
"Yeah. I guess you've got me there." He chuckled. "Rhymed it even."
"A cool drink, a warm bed, and someone willing to share both," Loghain said.
"You are a wiser man than most, young Mac Tir." Tisallan nodded.
"What was her name?" Caleb asked.
"I called her Mahvira."
"What was she like?"
"You are a brave man indeed, da'len, to ask an old poet to describe the love of his life." Tisallan's smile was sad. "I think you might have been better to face off against the dragon."
#
They stood, looking down at the city. The walls alone were imposing, and inside stood jagged towers well over a hundred feet high. Some were connected by spans of graceful bridges, high above the streets below. "Bigger than I thought it would be." Salla said.
"It's very..."
"Tevinter?" Kieran supplied.
"Yeah. Like it doesn't like anyone and doesn't care if they know it." Caleb nodded.
"And somewhere in there is a demon that needs killing." Duncan folded his arms.
"From the looks of it, maybe more than one." Trian added.
"Let's go."