Out of the corner of his eye, Jerath saw Duncan moving. He glanced back at the fight. Alistair and Trian pushed forward, fighting back to back as if they had done it for years. He snarled, and then turned to go chasing after his idiot of a king.

#

"Well, that went well." Hawke smiled.

Kieran frowned. "No." He shook his head. "This is wrong."

"We won..." Trian shook his head. "What's wrong with that?"

Salla nodded. "He's right. No Baradies. No Siofra. No Padar."

Alistair suddenly growled. "No Duncan or Jerath."

"They went that -" Kieran's head came up sharply. "Loghain and Caleb are under attack."

"Carver, Hawke, Fenris, get back to the warehouse." Cullen barked the order and saw all three men immediately start running. "Kieran, which way are..."

Green energy flowed from Kieran as he raised his hands. Lightning hit the barrier less than a heartbeat later, striking with enough force that the energy reflected back into nearby buildings, sending stone and stray magic flying. At the edges of the barrier, Leandra, Dorian, and Melavan were knocked off their feet. Kieran fell to one knee as the barrier faded. Salla rushed to the wounded.

"Leandra!" Magic wreathed itself around Gavren as he turned in the direction of the attack. His feet left the ground as the energy of the Fade flowed around him. The bridge the enemy mages were standing on suddenly ripped free of the building to which it was attached. It went hurtling through the night sky as some unseen force flung it away.

#

The spell slid off him as he slashed the blade through the first attacker. He saw Siofra's eyes widen slightly. Caleb popped up from behind his cover and sent a crossbow bolt into the face of the other mage.

A warrior got his shield up in time to block Loghain's blow. Loghain spun away, then used his own shield to push back. The warrior staggered backwards, and Loghain send his next blow low, taking the man's leg off at the knee, sending his enemy to the ground screaming. A blade opened a gash in his shoulder, and he used the edge of his shield to return the favor before running the man through.

Caleb's bolt bounced off Siofra's barrier as she ducked behind the remaining warriors, putting them between herself and Loghain. The staff glowed with power as she summoned her magic, crackling with lightning.

And Adralicus hit her with a tackle, knocking the staff out of her hand as both mages fell over the railing.

#

The mage was full on running. Duncan was only vaguely aware that a few other cultists had escaped the fray. If they saw him, they clearly decided to let him be. He growled with frustration as the city's architecture again prevented him from getting a clear shot of the moving man.

His mother's killer headed towards one of the towers, vanishing inside. Duncan hurried after him.

#

Salla saw Melavan's eyes stare openly up at the sky. There was nothing to be done for the man. She moved to Leandra's side, hands glowing white. Leandra's chest still rose and fell, though her breath rattled.

"Magister Pavus?" Arenda's voice shook as she knelt next to Dorian. "Dorian?" The woman's hands trembled as she tried the healing spell.

"I'm sorry." Kieran said as Alistair helped him back to his feet. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry."

The magic faded from Gavren as his feet touched the ground once more. Wordlessly, he went to Leandra, kneeling on the opposite side. "Is she...?"

"She lives." Salla nodded. "Melavan..." She turned to Arenda. "Dorian?"

Arenda covered her mouth with one hand as she shook her head.

"Maker, no." Cullen went to Dorian's side. He knelt, and bowed his head. "No."

She saw Tisallan do the same for Melavan, gently closing the man's eyes. "Mythal'enaste, lethallin."

#

Jerath saw Duncan leap, grabbing the edge of a balcony and pulling himself up before entering one of the towers. He shook his head in frustration. He'd never manage that in full armor, even with Kieran's spell serving to bolster him. Without breaking stride, he went for the stairs.

A man in servant's robes held up a hand. "Excuse me, you can't..."

"I have a sword." Jerath fixed him with steely eyes. "You don't. I am in a hurry. Be elsewhere."

The man swallowed and got out of his way.

#

Caleb saw the staff hit the ground. He dove out of cover and scooped it up before the enemy warriors could react. From the warehouse floor below, he heard an agonized scream from Adralicus before it abruptly cut off. "Loghain."

"Run." Loghain replied, hamstringing a warrior that had turned towards Caleb. "The safehouse, go."

He ran, clutching the staff to him.

#

Kels helped Cullen carry Dorian's body back into the house. They laid him on a table. Tisallan and Brehan entered a moment later, carrying Melavan, and laid the elf down next to him. Outside, Salla still knelt next to Leandra, eyes closed in concentration as she worked her magic. Kieran knelt next to her, his own hands glowing as he amplified her magic. Gavren was pacing back and forth as he watched them.

Lenore moved through, healing the minor wounds taken by the others. She touched Kels, fading the minor bruises he'd taken during the fight, before turning to Cullen. "Cullen?"

He nodded, and she stepped forward to work the healing magic. "Thank you." Cullen sighed as he looked back at the two bodies lying silently. "Maker." He turned towards where his son was pacing. "Leandra?"

Before Lenore could reply, there was a gasping sound from where Leandra lay, and the young woman opened her eyes. Gavren immediately rushed forward, pulling her into his arms and holding her close. Salla started to rise, and staggered. Kieran swung her up into his arms and carried her into the house, ignoring her weak protest of the action. Gavren kiss Leandra, and then picked her up and followed.

Kels saw the look on Alistair's face, and turned towards Kieran. "Kieran, you said you know where Duncan is?"

"He hunts. Jerath hunts him." Kieran set Salla down gently before looking up at Kels. "I can't focus. It's broken and bleeding, pain leaking across the echoes, drowning out the other tunes. I..." He stood, looking at the table. "I wasn't strong enough. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

Alistair walked forward and put his arms around the young man, holding him gently. "Kieran, at his best, even your father couldn't save everyone. None of us blame you."

#

Duncan waited patiently for his quarry to appear. It didn't take long. The mage came around the corner, and his eyes widened. "What the -"

The arrow took him between the eyes. Blood trickled from the wound, and he crumpled into a heap. "That was for my mother." He slung his bow onto his back, and started back to the others.

#

Gavren caressed Leandra's face as she looked around her in confusion. "What happened?" She asked, blinking up at him.

"The mages tried for a decisive strike. Kieran blocked most of it, but..." He looked at the table, hardly able to believe his eyes. "Dorian and Melavan are dead." She sat up, putting her arms around him. He held her close, and felt himself shaking. "I almost lost you."

He felt his father's hand on his shoulder, gentle and comforting. Guilt filled him as he realized just how much worry he'd put his father through in the past few weeks. And it wasn't over yet. He looked up. "They sprang our trap with one of their own." He stood. "Kieran?"

Kieran looked up at him. "Yes?"

Gavren stared at Dorian's body. At where the best of Tevinter lay, broken and lost. His eyes flicked to Melavan, a man that had been dragged into one war too many across the centuries. A curious calm filled him. "We kill Baradies, none of this ever happens?"

"Yes."

"Then we've got a long night ahead of us." He bent, and picked up his staff.

A smile came to Kieran's face as he stood. He clenched his fists, and there was a flash of energy. Gavren felt as if he'd just had several days of rest. Kieran nodded. "I believe you are correct."

"Are you two insane?" Arenda stood. "Simple as that? And you're off to kill a demon like that's something easy?"

"If it were easy..." Kieran held out his hand, and his staff flew into it from across the room. His eyes began to glow. "Someone else would do it."

#

He was really starting to hate Tevinter architecture. After a couple thousand years, the building had been re-purposed so many times the layouts made no sense what so ever. Jerath caught a glimpse of movement, and headed in that direction. Regicide might be taking matters a little bit far, but a certain king was in desperate need of an ass-kicking.

#

Salla rose as though she hadn't just a few minutes ago worked magic that would have driven half a dozen mages into exhaustion. Lenore couldn't help but feel just slightly impressed. The girl picked up the green staff, which glowed faintly in response to her touch. A moment later, Lenore's mouth dropped open as Leandra stood up just as smoothly and moved to Gavren's side. "There is a demon that really needs to learn who he's fucking with."

"And what exactly are the lot of you intending to do?" Lenore folded her arms.

"I think the general idea is to splatter the Formless One across the Veil." Gavren nodded to her.

"They are going to try to cut off our refuges." Kieran tilted his head. "They will think we are more vulnerable on the move."

"Is that why they struck at the warehouse?" Kels asked.

"It was vulnerable, and contained potential hostages." Kieran smiled. "I do not think it worked out well for them, being that Loghain and Caleb are on the move again. They are being chased, and will need our assistance."

"My boys are still out there." Alistair shook his head.

Kieran tilted his head, and then nodded. "They are at the tower with the silver spire. Duncan is very pleased with himself."

"I'm going to change that." Alistair folded his arms. "Rapidly." He turned towards Brehan. "I'm going after them."

"I'll come with you." Brehan nodded.

"Me too." Lenore rose.

Arenda glanced again at the bodies on the table. "I'll remain here."

"This position is vulnerable..." Cullen sighed, and nodded to Alistair. "I'll stay with Arenda until Hawke returns." He glanced at Kels. "Keep an eye on my idiot son, please."

Kels closed a fist over his heart. "Yes, ser."

"Time is rusting." Trian gestured at the door.

Lenore saw Tisallan move into a bodyguard position behind Salla as the girl... woman... led her small army out into the world. She glanced at Alistair. "Well, let's go save your boy from his bodyguard."

#

"Maker's breath." Hawke said as they approached the warehouse.

Carver stared. Part of the wall was missing, and he could see flames flickering within. "Shit." He started running again, Fenris and Hawke at his heels.

Bodies littered the top of the stairs, but he saw no signs of his nephew or Loghain. "Caleb?" Hawke called, his voice sounding frantic.

Fenris started moving through the rooms. "Caleb?"

"Loghain?" Carver headed back down the stairs, and caught a whiff of an unpleasantly familiar smell. He turned, and then rushed to the corpse. The left side of Adralicus's body was burned meat and char. "You poor bastard."

"Caleb?" He heard his brother's voice. "Carver, do you see him?"

"I found Adralicus." He walked back to the stairs and looked up at his brother's panic striken face. "He's dead. There's no sign of Caleb or Loghain."

"There are two more bodies near the other exit." Fenris joined Hawke. "Both dead to a sword blade. There are no signs anyone was dragged from the building." He put a hand on Hawke's shoulder.

Hawke wrapped his arms around his husband, and the two stood locked in a worried embrace. "They made it out. Maker keep them safe."

"We'll never find them without Kieran." Carver picked up a blanket, and went to wrap Adralicus's body. "We need to head back."

#

Duncan walked through the door to see three elven men in sentinel armor. He shook his head. "You guys really can't take a hint, can you?"

One stepped forward. "I am Abelas. You will come with us." Magic glowed around the man's hands. "It would be best if you did not make us hurt you."

He reached for his bow, and Abelas waved a hand. The magic jerked him off his feet, and his bow went skittering across the marble floor. Abelas started walking towards him when another voice rang through the corridor. "Let's get one thing straight." Jerath came around the corner, sword and shield at the ready. "The only person that gets to hurt him is me."

The nearest sentinel turned towards him, and Jerath flung his sword. It caught the elven man in the chest, sending him to the ground. Jerath charged, grabbing the hilt of his sword as he did so and slamming his shield into the next sentinel, sending the man flying backwards. Abelas threw a spell, and Jerath rolled to dodge it, coming up to run his blade through the staggered sentinel's midsection. He pulled it free and spun to remove the elven man's head from his shoulders. Abelas drew a blade of his own just in time to parry Jerath's swing.

Duncan rolled towards his bow. He came up with an arrow nocked just in time to see Jerath pull his sword free of Abelas's chest. The sentinel collapsed. Duncan got all the way back to his feet and let out a low whistle. "I don't pay you enough."

"You ran off without me." Jerath sheathed his sword and started for Duncan, fists clenched.

"Before you kick my ass..." Duncan held up his hands. "I got him."

"Got him?"

"The blood mage." Duncan smiled. "Put an arrow between his eyes."

"As pleased as I am to hear that..." Jerath shook his head. "As soon as I get you to a safe location I am going to beat the ever-loving shit out of you." He shook his head. "Let's get out of here."

"You do recall the part where beating up your king is treason, right?" Duncan started for the exit as Jerath fell into step behind him.

#

Caleb stopped in his tracks when he saw the sentinel step out of the shadows to block his path. The man drew his blade and took a step towards Caleb. "You have something we need."

He took a step backwards, and then Loghain was there. The knight's shield hit the sentinel with enough force to send him staggering backward. The sentinel parried the sword blow, and hurled ice with his free hand. For a moment, it looked as if he could see through Loghain, and the spell slid away harmlessly. The knight's blade tore the sentinel's head from his shoulders a moment later.

"Are you..." Caleb stared at Loghain in shock. The other man's eyes were glowing. "Loghain, you..."

Loghain shrugged as the glow faded. "Like father like son, as the saying goes." He looked down at the corpse. "If they were waiting here, then they know about the safehouse." He half closed his eyes, and a moment later a wisp started to glow in front of him. "Take us to Salla."

The wisp glowed brighter for a moment before it started to lead them westward.

#

Cullen rose when he saw Hawke. He felt his blood go cold when he saw the bundled form Carver was carrying. "Oh, Maker no."

"Adralicus." Carver looked down at his burden. "He..." Carver trailed off when he saw the bodies laid on the table.

"What happened?"

"Right after you left, there was another attack." Cullen shook his head. "Mages on the heights. Kieran sensed it, got a barrier up, but Dorian, Melavan, and Leandra were too close to its edge."

"Leandra." Carver's eyes widened, and there was panic in his voice.

"She's alright. Salla and Kieran managed to heal her, but it was too late for the others. Alistair has gone to retrieve Duncan and Jerath, and the others are looking for Loghain and Caleb."

Carver carried Adralicus's body to Arenda. Her face was tired when she gestured for him to lay it next to Dorian's. She shook her head. "He wasn't much more than a kid himself." Tears started to fall from her eyes.

"What's the plan now?" Hawke raised an eyebrow at Cullen.

"Now?" Cullen sighed. He spread his hands. "I once saw you throw a rock the same size as yourself half a city block. I remember thinking it was pretty impressive." Cullen met Hawke's eyes. "That was before I saw my son rip apart a building and fling it a few miles."

"He is impressive."

They all turned at the sound of the new voice. Cullen hesitated, and then nodded. "Solas."

The elven man walked towards the table, and looked down at where Dorian lay. He touched the man's head gently before shaking his head and sighing. "A light has gone out in the world." He looked down at Melavan. "I would take Melavan to lay with his niece, and the rest of his family."

"I..." Cullen nodded. "I'm sure he would appreciate that."

Solas turned to look behind him, and two men entered. They picked up the body, and left again as quietly as they had come. Solas stood there silently for a time before looking again at Dorian's body. "Iron Bull is not going to take this well. I..." He nodded. "Please convey my sympathy, to him and the Inquisitor."

"Thank you, Solas." Cullen nodded to him.

He stood there a moment longer before turning and vanishing into the night.

#

He stepped through the archway and found himself on landing overlooking a small garden. "I would have sworn -"

Jerath shoved him off the landing. He landed sprawled on the ground below. "What the hell, Jer-" He turned and stared up in horror.

A man stood on the ledge with Jerath. Esoteric white tattoos decorated the man's skin, glowing with an eerie pale light. And his hand was buried in Jerath's chest. He twisted his wrist slightly, and Jerath responded with a ragged cry of pain. The man smiled. "Your friend here has a strong heart." He looked down at Duncan. "I can feel it beating in my hand."

"Don't." Duncan shook his head frantically. "Don't. Please." He reached for his bow, only to stop as the man moved his hand again, eliciting another cry of pain from his best friend. "Please."

"Please." The man's lips curled back, showing his teeth. "Are you begging? For this life?"

"Just let him go. Please." Duncan stood, and held his hands out to his side.

The man looked back at Jerath. Blood trickled from the corner of Jerath's mouth as he gasped for breath. He turned his eyes back to Duncan. "I believe we can come to a suitable arrangement, your majesty."

Jerath coughed weakly, and his hand closed around the other man's wrist. He took a ragged breath before he managed to choke out a single word. "Run."

Time stood still. The edges of his vision blurred. And then he kept his promise. Hating himself with every step, he ran.