It felt a little odd, walking into town with his staff openly on display. And absolutely nobody stopping to look at it. He wasn't sure anyone was looking at them at all, despite the oddness of their group. Both the sentinels were wearing masks, masks that matched the one worn by Loghain. He'd complained again, but he was able to affect a rather convincing Orlesian accent. Agatha's mask matched Jerath's.

Gavren walked through the street as if he knew where he was going. Leandra fell into step a pace behind him, taking on the role of bodyguard. Kels was performing the same role for Salla, as Duncan shadowed Kieran. Salla was doing a little too much staring for his liking, but Kieran had simply adopted the mannerisms of his alter ego. It was actually just a bit creepy. All in all, he felt they were doing a fairly good imitation of merchants arrived on business.

An inn wasn't an option. They'd be watching for that. There was no Inquisition safehouse. And Kels didn't know enough of the Lucerni to know who to trust here. After some discussion, they had decided to go a different direction.

Kieran led them to their destination as though he had been there a thousand times. It was possible he had. The house wasn't large, but certainly adequate enough for their needs. The door opened at Kieran's touch, letting them inside. "And this belongs to Lord Balith?" Duncan asked skeptically.

"Actually, I believe this belongs to Uncle Nathaniel, or one of his alternate identities." Kieran gestured for them to stay back as he focused his magic to begin taking down the wards.

"He's going to know you were here?"

"There is a spirit guarding the place. I have asked it not to speak on our arrival. It will listen, I think." Kieran lowered his hands. "There."

"You think?"

"Justice and Vigilance would know if it lied, thus if asked, it will answer them truthfully." Kieran tilted his head. "And Uncle Nathaniel likely knows where we are anyway. Grandpa Loghain would have told him, if he did not already know. Uncle Nathaniel does have a tendency to know things."

Caleb ran a finger through the layer of dust on a sideboard. "I take it nobody has been here in a while?"

"Two years, I think." Kieran frowned. "I am not certain."

"I will look around, make sure." Alai nodded.

"Be sure to check for dragons." Tisallan pointedly did not look at her.

Alai said something in elven that made Gavren choke and Kieran snicker.

Salla rubbed her forehead. "Who is coming along for tonight's check in?"

#

"Any insight?"

"It wants to be the only power left standing. It is vengeance, it is desire, it is hunger. Tearing down what it could never have, lashing out against those it feels wronged it. It wanted to make them into weapons. It thinks it still can." Cole nodded.

"And the kids are heading right for it." Alistair paced. "Anything else?"

"It's harder to hear now." Cole shifted his weight apologetically. "I'm sorry."

Cullen put a hand on his shoulder. "We appreciate you coming at all, Cole." He sighed. "Any insight into the kids themselves?"

"Duncan is very angry. He wants to fill it with arrows so it never happens. Hot blood on his face." Cole shook his head. "He's loud inside."

He glanced at Alistair, who nodded and bowed his head. "And the others?" He swallowed. "Gavren?"

"It's hard to see past the fire. It's part of him. He's scared of that part."

"And..." Cullen took a deep breath. "Any insight on Kieran?"

"The music plays, swirling with color and taste and touch and light, echoing across old born new again. Laughing, loving, relearning what was lost. Teacher and student. He wants to make his father proud." Cole met Cullen's eyes. "They all do."

"Of course they do." Alistair rubbed his forehead. "Because they are all too dumb to realize how proud we were of them already."

"Loving so much it hurts." Cole nodded. "His father wants him to learn, so he understands. He hoped you could teach him, as you once taught him. Dragons are not born knowing how to fly."

"I..." Alistair blinked. "Cole, are you talking about Jerath? Er..." Alistair frowned. "The Warden Jerath?"

"Yes. No." Cole frowned. "I don't know."

"It's never really a cut or dried sort of thing." Cullen nodded. "Cole, I'd like for you to head back to Kirkwall."

"The Inquisitor needs me." Cole nodded to him. "I will try to help."

"Thank you."

#

"Well?" Salla raised an eyebrow at Alai.

"There is an eluvian in the basement." Alai turned towards Kieran.

"It is one of Aunt Merrill's. It is not connected to the main network."

"That doesn't mean he can't access it." Alai shook her head.

"I will check the wards." Kieran tilted his head. "Unfortunately, we may need an escape route."

Trian wrinkled his nose. "I'll see what I can do about getting this place livable. And figure out what supplies are here that we can use."

"The king of Kal'Hirol just appointed himself our butler." Caleb snickered.

"Just for that, you're helping." Trian grabbed him by the front of his tunic and dragged him into the next room.

"Any idea where to start looking?" Salla leaned against a wall, and turned her gaze to Agatha.

Agatha frowned. "She's an elf, so she can't pretend to be a magister. I'd wager they have themselves an actual magister, either hoodwinked or actually controlled in some fashion."

"Alright." Salla nodded. "We'll settle in tonight, and start hunting tomorrow. Is there anything resembling food stores?"

Kieran tilted his head. "No."

"I'll see about getting food." Kels stood up. "We passed a market on our way in."

"Leandra and I will go with him." Gavren stood.

"There is clothing, if you wish to make yourselves look more..." Kieran shrugged. "Tevinter."

"If anyone tells Dorian I tried Tevinter fashion, I'm going to turn them into a nug." Gavren headed in the direction Kieran indicated.

Duncan frowned, and looked over at Kieran. "Can he actually do that?"

"It is highly unlikely."

"That's..." Duncan frowned. "Not exactly a no." He raised an eyebrow. "Can you turn people into a nug?"

"I do not believe I can in the here and now." Kieran tilted his head. "In the before or after, if sufficiently motivated, it is possible. I have never tried."

"Well, if you ever feel like trying..." Agatha grinned. "I have a list."

#

"Why are you shadowing me?" Salla glanced up at Tisallan. He wasn't particularly obtrusive, but she was pretty sure he was never more than twenty feet from her.

"To keep you safe."

She blinked. On some level, she supposed she'd expected him to deny he was doing anything of the sort. "I would have expected you to be worried about Kieran, being that he is the Muse."

"I am looking out for him." Tisallan nodded to her. "That is why I am shadowing you."

"That..." She shook her head. "I guess I don't quite get you. I thought you were along because you wanted to look out for Urthemiel and avenge Enara."

"The trouble with starting on a path to vengeance is that it is extraordinarily difficult to know when to stop. It is far too easy to become the monster you once set out to destroy."

"Maybe you do have a bit of wisdom, after all." She smiled up at him, and then shook her head. "I've never really asked, but..." She folded her arms atop her legs. "Why didn't you follow Fen'Harel?"

"The wolf looks at the world, and sees the way it has changed. I look, and I am struck by all the ways it has remained the same. The rich gorge, and the poor hunger. There is war, and those who strive for peace. There is anger and compassion, hatred and love, sorrow and joy, greed and selflessness, injustice and hope. He wants to recreate a world that only ever existed in dreams."

"Did you know him, before..." She chewed her lip.

"Yes. He was a good man. A hero, and I am proud of the son that died in his service." Tisallan smiled. "But then, no man sees himself as the villain of his own tale. There are undoubtedly those in this cult we face who see us as beasts come to steal away their last hope."

"Then why come with us?" She frowned. "Because Melavan offered to help?"

"Because the only one of our gods worth following was the one that remembered how to love." He gave her a small bow. "And so, my blades are here, should you have need of them."

She felt a wetness behind her eyes. "Thank you, Tisallan." She rose. "Any advice on facing an incredibly strong desire demon on its own turf?"

"Don't die." Tisallan shrugged.

"That's your advice?" She stared at him a moment before laughing.

"It's worked for me for a very long time, da'len."

#

"And where is your estate?" Cullen raised an eyebrow at Magister Arenda.

She smiled apologetically. "Estate is a very strong term. I own a house here, and three businesses, one of which has a warehouse. As the house is occupied by one of my underlings, the warehouse may actually be our best bet. It has room for the griffins if we need to bring them in for a quick exit."

Arenda led them to a stone building that had to be almost a thousand years old. It was in impressively good repair. Most of it was unused, and Hawke and Lenore immediately busied themselves setting wards while Zevran and Brehan searched the place. "I do apologize for the poor accommodations, your majesty." Magister Arenda sighed.

Alistair chuckled. "My dear woman, do remember I used to be a Warden. There were days when a semi-flat surface was a luxury."

"If it turns out there are no leads to be found here..." Dorian waved a hand. "Or if we run into trouble and must flee, I do own a villa a couple days' journey to the east." He shrugged. "It can serve as a fall back point."

"Well, we have a plan." Cullen shook his head. "Now to find our kids before someone else does."

#

"I am going to regret starting this conversation, but..." Duncan glanced up at Loghain. "You and the elven sentinel?"

"Are you looking for details?" Loghain waggled his eyebrows.

"Asshole." Duncan shook his head. "You're married to my sister, and sleeping with an ancient elf. I feel like I have a justified concern here."

Loghain raised an eyebrow. "Exactly what sort of future do you think Alai and I have?" He shrugged. "Either the timeline resets, and none of this ever occurs. Or we fail, and die horrible deaths." He frowned. "Mine quite possibly at your father's hands."

"Father knows, by the way. Melavan apparently let it slip."

"Ah." Loghain shrugged. "Do say something nice at the funeral. Lie if you have to."

"I think the best I can come up with is 'he didn't usually fart in public.'" Duncan folded his arms. "I'm serious. She's..." He sighed.

"I am fond of Alai, I will not deny that. Frankly, I think Wynne would be as well."

"Yeah, that horrible death you mentioned a moment ago?" Duncan narrowed his eyes threateningly. "It's going to involve arrows."

"You know, just because you are determined to die a virgin..."

"I'm not a..." Duncan glared at him. "Asshole." He shook his head. "How did you even manage to convince an ancient elf to sleep with you in the first place?"

"Well..." Loghain shrugged, and leaned against the wall. "Some men think they are gifts from the gods. I, on the other hand, actually am."

Duncan blinked, and rubbed his forehead. "Tell me you don't actually use that line?" He sighed. "Just be careful, alright?"

Loghain smiled flirtatiously. "Why, Duncan, darling, I never knew you cared."

#

"Why is Duncan trying to hit Loghain with the broom?" Trian asked.

"I'm guessing because Loghain asked for it." Kels looked down at him.

"Eh, probably." Trian leaned on the table and stared at what they'd found in the cache. "I'm not sure what all of this stuff is." He picked up a rune. "This is designed to be fitted to a weapon. Fire, if I'm not mistaken, but I don't know how to do the fitting."

"Dagna's work, I'm sure." Kels frowned. "Kieran would know. Maybe. What about those?" He pointed at four intricately carved copper rods.

"Not a clue. And considering just who they might belong to, I'm kind of leery about being in the same city as them." He looked up. "Tisallan?"

"Yes?"

Trian pointed to the rods. "Any idea what those are?"

"I believe they are ward-spikes." Tisallan held his hand over one, stopping just short of touching them. Set them in a square, and they will generate rather strong barriers." He frowned. "And then, some undefined time later, explode."

"Right." Kels nodded. "Maybe we'll just leave those be. What about that?" He pointed to an etched glass vial containing what looked to be ashes.

"I have no idea. It is of modern make, and the etchings do not appear to be elven."

"Well, the weapons are..." Kels picked up one of the swords, and let out a low whistle. "Maker, is this dragonbone?" He looked at the markings on the hilt. "Dagna made this."

"Not a surprise. She worked for The Warden before she worked for the Inquisition." Trian frowned. "Terra suspects she still does."

"Sera thinks the same." Kels held the sword up, and gave it a longing look. "Think anyone would mind if I..."

"Kieran did say to help ourselves." Trian tested the weight of an axe.

"Right." Kels looked over his shoulder. "Hey, Jerath. Come see what we found."

#

Duncan hefted the bow. "Nice."

Leandra spun a greatsword around in her hands. "You can say that again."

"Am I the only one finding this just a little strange?" Trian raised an eyebrow.

"Finding what just a little strange?" Duncan glanced down at him.

"That the cache here, in a safehouse that hasn't been used in years and belongs to his parent's team..." Trian pointed at Kieran. "Just happens to contain the correct quantity, fit, and style of weaponry and armor to meet the needs and preferences of a group comprised of..." He gestured. "Us?"

They all stopped and looked down at the items they had selected. "That is..." Alai looked at the elven style shield she was holding.

"Huh." Duncan looked again at the bow.

"The Warden's group did contain elves and dwarves." Caleb looked down at the crossbow like contraption he was holding. "I mean, he's an elf. Sort of."

Kieran looked down at his staff. He twisted it in the center, and it came apart to form a weapon for each hand just as his previous one had. He put it back together, and tilted his head. He looked over the items again, and then pointed at the shield Jerath had chosen. "That was made by Wade, from ancestral heartwood. Justice used it in the battle for Amaranthine."

"And it ended up here?" Trian raised a skeptical eyebrow.

"And that axe." Kieran nodded to the one Trian was carrying. "Father carried it during the Blight." He blinked, and pointed to Loghain's chosen blade. "And that is the one he gave your grandfather after conscripting him."

Loghain ran a hand over the blade almost reverently. "I thought it lost in the Fade."

"That staff..." Kieran pointed at the one Gavren held. "Father found that in Amgarrak."

Gavren lifted it, and traced a finger along the intricate pattern carved upon it. "Wow." He looked up at Kieran. "How did it end up here?"

For a long moment, Kieran was silent. Then he nodded, and smiled. "Mother always was very good at providing a nudge where needed." Kieran put his staff into its harness.

"Well..." Kels shrugged and looked up. "Thank you."

"Thank you." Duncan added a small bow.

The others echoed the words.

#

Agatha glanced up at Alai. "Can I ask you something?"

"Could I stop you?" Alai smiled.

"Well, um..." Agatha sighed. "You and Loghain? I mean..." She shook her head. "I mean, you're not just an elf, you're like one of the elfiest of elves. And he's..." She shrugged. "Him."

"He's young." Alai looked down at her hands. "And he helps me remember what that was like. As do you." She chuckled. "And he is rather pretty."

"Yeah, I'll give you that one." Agatha sheathed the dagger in her boot. "Trouble is he knows it."

"And your own paramour?" Alai offered her another dagger.

She couldn't quite keep the smile off her lips. "He's um..." She blushed. "Yeah. Wow." She put the dagger into her other boot. "So, um..." She rubbed the back of her neck. "We were heading out to chase bad guys?"

"We were indeed."

#

Salla raised an eyebrow when she saw the happy expressions on the faces of Alai and Agatha. "You found something."

"We did." Agatha pointed back. "We saw one of the men who was with..." Her eyes narrowed. "That bastard that killed Noamin."

"We trailed him, but lost track of him when he went into the market district." Alai folded her arms. "But they are here."

#

Caleb followed Loghain and Alai through the market. Loghain occasionally stopped to finger wares, occasionally barking something that Alai pretended to note on the writing board she was carrying. He doubted her sharp yellow eyes were missing anything as they occasionally scanned the crowd from behind the mask. He wore Alai's sword and shield, but he knew her loose clothes concealed at least a half dozen daggers.

On the other side of the market he spotted Gavren, Kels, and Leandra doing much the same thing. Seeing Gavren dressed in the robes of a magister and wearing a cold sneer was a little disconcerting. He couldn't locate the others, and hoped that was a good thing.

Alai offered Loghain a drink from the wineskin she was carrying, and flicked her eyes to the north. Loghain drank and handed it back, and started making his way in the direction she'd indicated. Caleb hurried to keep up.

#

Salla held Kieran's hand as they walked. Two young lovers out for a stroll, accompanied by their elven serving man. Tisallan had traded the mask for a hood that hid his features, and carried a small parasol that he used to shade her from the sun. With his magic, he didn't need to openly carry weapons, and could get by with armor light enough to wear beneath clothing.

The Tevinter style dress felt odd. The neckline plunged in a way that made her more than a little self-conscious, and the tightly laced corset really wasn't helping there. Neither had Loghain openly staring when she'd come out wearing the thing. The flowing trail that formed the back of her skirt was far heavier than she was used to wearing, though the heeled boots prevented it from dragging on the ground. The envious stares a few of the other women were giving her upon noticing Kieran did nothing to set her at ease. Perhaps subterfuge was not her strong point.

"What is the purpose of having this many buckles to get in and out of clothing?" Kieran asked, causing her to giggle.

"Indolence." Tisallan answered the question. "It requires servants to make the act of dressing easy, thus such clothing makes it clear you possess people who serve no other purpose than to do the most basic of tasks for you."

"I hate it." Kieran shook his head.

"A situation I find most satisfactory." Tisallan's lips twitched slightly. His eyes suddenly narrowed. "There."

Casually, Salla glanced the way he was looking. She saw an elven woman accompanied by three men, one of whom was dressed in the style of a magister. The elven woman was carrying an unusual looking staff. It looked like a large length of copper had been looped back on itself and twisted, forming an oval shaped head. The other side ended in the length of copper having been shaped into a wickedly curved blade. The staff was otherwise rather plain, devoid of any carvings or other additions. "Kieran, thoughts on the staff?" When he did not respond, she looked up at him. "Kieran."

"Drums."

She caught his arm, and he blinked down at her, expression surprised. "Kieran?"

"Yes?"

"Thoughts on the staff?"

"What staff?"

"Oh for..." She glanced at Tisallan before looking back up at Kieran. "We should follow her, and try to signal the others if we can."