Gavren put his arm around Leandra as they listened to Tisallan sing. It wasn't the same song Brehan had sung at Rainier's funeral, or on any of the other occasions the Inquisition had mourned its own. The Dalish eulogy was of letting sorrow go and moving on, a dirge of mourning and healing. The song Tisallan sang was of facing death on one's own terms, fighting side by side to the very last, accepting the end without fear, with the only hope remaining being that they would be remembered. Not a eulogy, but a warrior's battle song.

Tonight, a far more fitting tune.

#

"Any sign of them?" Alistair paced. "They should have been back by now."

"At any point did they actually say they were coming back?" Brehan raised an eyebrow.

"No." Alistair sighed. "No they did not." He picked up his shield. "I'm going after them."

Hawke and Fenris both stood. "We can split up, cover more ground."

Arenda gestured at the guards that had gathered. "Some of my people should stay here, but the rest can accompany you."

"We'll find them, drag them back here, and sit on them until reinforcements arrive." Lenore grabbed her staff. She shoved her finger into Carver's chest. "And then you are contacting your wife so we can shove them through her eluvian and back to Kirkwall."

"Where my wife and guard-captain Aveline can sit on them." Cullen strapped his own shield to his arm.

"I don't recall confining them working out all that well for Sebastian." Carver stood, and then his eyes went to the bodies on the table. "If nothing else, they could likely use backup."

#

Salla moved to stand next to the glowing being as he looked out over the city. "What is it you hear now?"

"A thousand melodies racing to the sunrise, only to begin anew." Urthemiel shook his head. "The song did not end. It simply changed." He folded his arms. "Thank you."

"For what?" She raised an eyebrow.

"Being."

"I don't -"

He caught her arm and pulled her to him before kissing her. It felt like Kieran's kiss, and yet there some something else. She felt lightning race through her bones, bordering for a heartbeat on the cusp of pain before he released her. "A very old song. And by far the greatest." Urthemiel smiled, and turned back into the building.

She touched her lips, and then followed.

#

Cullen took two of the guards, and headed in the direction he'd last seen the children go. After a bit of hesitation, Arenda accompanied him. Alistair and two others of the guard headed back towards the last known location of Duncan. Brehan headed back up to the rooftops with the one guard that thought she stood a chance of keeping up. Carver and Lenore headed towards the safehouse. Hawke and Fenris went to see if they could pick up the trail from the warehouse.

#

"What's going through your head right now?"

Kels glanced over at Loghain, and turned back to watch the others make their preparations. Leandra refastened her vambraces, then helped Caleb adjust his armor. Trian strapped a shield to his arm. Duncan added a second quiver to what he was carrying. "Skyhold when the breach reopened, knowing that darkspawn were on their way and we didn't have enough forces to hold." He folded his arms. "The red templars bearing down on Haven, with an archdemon in the sky." He shook his head. "Demons falling out of rifts while we tried to open a path to get the Herald to that first breach. Standing with the templars when Meredith went insane and turned the Gallows into a charnel house." He leaned back. "Running after Evelina, dragging two other kids with me as we tried to stay ahead of the Blight."

"You've had an interesting life." Loghain put a hand on his shoulder.

"I'm just wondering how many last stands one man gets in his life." He glanced at Tisallan. "How many are you up to?"

Tisallan frowned thoughtfully before answering. "One hundred and forty-two."

"You've tried to get yourself killed a hundred and forty-two times?" Kels raised an eyebrow at him.

"Yes." Tisallan adjusted his gauntlet, and shrugged. "Turns out I am sort of bad at it."

"Well, you know what they say." Loghain put his helmet on. "The hundred and forty third time is the charm."

He started to ask something else, and heard Salla's voice ring out. "We all know what we have to do." She looked around. "And I think we are ready." A determined smile came to her face. "We know our timetable. The music is playing." She unlimbered her staff. "Let's dance."

They strode out into the night.

#

Alistair moved through the building, looking for any sign of his son. One of the guards found signs of a fight. Blood on the ground, looking as though it had come from three different sources. And a single arrow by the wall. "Tracks?"

"Two sets, from what little I can see." The guard pointed. "Someone stepped in blood and walked off that way. And then someone else took the bodies off that way." He gestured in another direction." He frowned. "The ones that took the bodies, at least one of those was barefoot, your majesty."

The running tracks led towards where he had found Jerath's body. He looked down at the smears of blood on the stone. A fight, and then his boys had walked away to where one of them died. Had Jerath even seen the attack coming? There was nothing else to be found there. And he wasn't sure he could bear to step into that garden again. He waved at the second set of tracks, and the men with him started in that direction.

Now and then he saw servants. Slaves. They barely looked up enough to acknowledge him, but he watched them with a wary eye anyway. The trail led them into a courtyard. One of the guards turned towards him to say something, and cut off with an agonizing cry as a glowing hand suddenly came through his chest. The second guard went for his sword as the tattooed man turned on him.

He drew his own blade as the lyrium warrior's sword took the guard's hand off at the wrist. The gauntleted hand sank into the guard's chest, and the lyrium warrior smiled at Alistair. "Hello, your majesty."

"You." Alistair's eyes settled on the blade the man held, and he felt a chill of recognition. He'd given that sword to The Warden when awarding him the title of Arl. And the last time he'd seen it, it had been in the hands of his namesake. "You killed Jerath."

"Was that his name?" The man raised an eyebrow. He smirked. "It really wasn't my intention, but your coward of a son decided to save his own skin. Ran like a mouse. Even when I did this." He twisted his hand, and the guard screamed.

Fury filled him. "You son of a bitch."

The lyrium warrior twisted his hand again, and the guard cried out. Then he ripped his hand free with a sickening tearing sound. The guard fell to the ground and convulsed once before going still. "He begged for mercy before I crushed his heart. Your son kind of annoyed me, scampering like that, abandoning his friend." The man's smile was cruel. "So I took my time." He raised the blade as he started towards Alistair. "Perhaps he will care a little more when it's your heart I hold in my hand."

#

Several large figures moved out of the darkness. "Bas."

Cullen drew his sword, as did the guards with him. The qunari were accompanied by a mixed group of humans and elves. Viddathari, likely their agents in the city. The qunari men held spears, but the humans and elves held bows. The guards shifted nervously when they realized the bows were pointed at them. One of the qunari wore different markings than the other. "Surrender, bas."

He felt a stab of irritation. "For what purpose?" He hefted his shield.

"You are the father of the saarebas. He must be contained."

A laugh escaped him. "If he could be contained, I wouldn't be out here at this time of night."

"Lay down your weapons, and you will be taken to the Viddathlok." The man hefted a spear. "Anan esaam Qun."

"Let me see if I recall the correct response." Cullen took a deep breath. "Mashev defransdim, venak hol."

The qunari started hefting their weapons. "Um..." Arenda gave him a wide eyed look. "Did you just say what I think you just said?"

"Vinek kathas!" The qunari in the lead started to hurl his spear, only to suddenly freeze into a statue of white stone.

"Ebasit kata. Ebadim maraas issala toh." Solas stepped out of the shadows. Two of the qunari turned towards him, and his eyes flashed briefly. Two more horned statues decorated the street.

The rest of the qunari turned and fled. The two guards with Cullen looked like they wanted to do the same. "Solas."

"Commander." Solas gave him a disapproving look. "You and your son are forcing my hand." He shook his head. "Perhaps he will be more inclined to seek sanctuary if he must go there to recover you."

#

Brehan moved across the roof, slowing his pace just slightly so the guard could keep up. Few stirred at all in the streets below. None of them looked to be the kids. He leaped to the next ledge, then caught the edge of the roof and pulled himself up. The guard faltered slightly, and he pulled her up by the wrist.

They continued, spiraling in towards the center of the city. He looked up, and considered moving to the bridges that spanned between the towers. Except for where two of the towers sported damage where a bridge had been ripped away. To think, he'd once found Lenore's abilities terrifying.

Together, they headed through what appeared to be a factory district. He could hear grinding from the foundry below. He was considering which building to move too next when the tiles beneath his feet exploded. They slid, both desperately seeking purchase amid the sharp and jagged pieces of broken tile.

Landing hurt. He felt something in his leg snap, and was unsuccessful in biting back the cry. The guard struck her head on the edge of a table, and stopped moving. Footsteps rang on the stone as something moved towards him. "Well well." He looked up to see a man in magister's robes, holding a staff. Magister Valis, if he recalled the name correctly, accompanied by a dozen others. "The White Divine's pet elf, if I'm not mistaken."

He tried to get to his feet, but the attempt to move sent a wave of pain that nearly made him black out. A glance down revealed the bone was actually sticking out of his leg. "Fenedhis."

"Collect him." The magister waved at the men accompanying him, and three of them started forward. "And search him thoroughly. He's the one they call The Raven."

#

Gabriel paced the landing of the warehouse before running a hand through his hair. "Of all the family, I thought Caleb had the closest thing to a self-preservation instinct." He flung a handful of magic at the remains of a bottle, shattering it.

Fenris stepped to him and caught him by the back of the neck. "They will be fine."

He leaned down slightly and kissed his husband, drawing what comfort he could. "Alistair was right. I wish you were a better liar."

"Kieran said he could find the others, and they all certainly seemed to agree." Fenris let him go reluctantly. "Which means wherever they are, they are likely all together."

"I'm not sure that makes me feel better or -" He felt a tingling on the edge of his senses, and suddenly what little magic he was still holding vanished from him. "Templars."

"Well, well." A tall man with glowing eyes entered the room, accompanied by a dozen armored men. "If it isn't the Champion of Kirkwall, and his pet dog."

"Baradies." Fenris drew his blade.

"You killed my favorite sister." Baradies showed his teeth, lips curled back slightly. "Given our respective histories, I'm sure you understand what I mean when I say this is a little bit..." Fire appeared around his hands. "Personal."

"So personal you brought a dozen templars to the party." Gabriel drew his staff, preparing to provide Fenris with what backup he could.

"Oh, they aren't templars." Baradies laughed. "We simply do not..." He waved a hand casually. "Desire your magic to be a factor." He gestured at the men. "I want him to watch the elf die."

The men started forward, and Gabriel felt a chill as he saw their eyes begin to glow.

#

Lenore felt the tingling of magical energy and gestured a warning to Carver. He immediately drew his sword. She called her magic to her.

"Dragonsworn."

They looked up to the balcony above and saw an elven woman. Lenore narrowed her eyes. "Siofra."

"And the Lady Brosca." Siofra smiled. "This is somewhat bittersweet for me, I admit." She nodded to Lenore. "You are something of an inspiration. Almost a personal hero of mine. The first mage to not only gain her freedom, but to actually fight back to gain that freedom for others." She shook her head. "Under any other circumstances, I'd be trying to convince you to join us."

"Oh, go ahead." Lenore smiled. "I have a perverse fondness for the crazy cult recruitment speeches. I might even be able to give you a few pointers."

"I would love to oblige, but I fear I would just be wasting both of our times." Siofra side. "You see, I'm about to rip out your cousin's soul, and I just don't think you are going to take that well."

#

He blocked the blow with Starfang. The lyrium warrior grinned. "Nice sword." He spun away, dodging the blow from Alistair's shield. "I look forward to adding it to my collection."

Alistair lunged, aiming a low sweep at the man's leg. The man leaped his blade, and then brought his own down on Alistair's shield arm, slicing both strap and flesh. Alistair jerked backward before the lyrium warrior could capitalize on his advantage. "The only place its going is through your guts."

"It's clear your son really wasn't suited for the roll we planned for him anyway." The lyrium warrior came in with an overhand blow that Alistair parried. "We do have standards, after all." He smiled as he sent another blow at Alistair. "Fortunately, you have other children. Perhaps your daughter will be more suited."

He roared as he lashed out with his shield again. The lyrium warrior met it with his blade, knocking it free of his arm. Alistair rolled to dodge the next blow. He came up holding his broken arm to his chest.

The shield slid across the ground. A foot stopped its motion. "Really not a good idea to threaten my wife." Loghain Mac Tir drew his blade.

#

For the first time in many years, Cullen found himself wishing for a vial of lyrium. Not that he expected it to do a lot of good against the likes of Solas.

"Really?" Another voice said, and they turned to see Tisallan leaning on a nearby wall. "The old 'I have your father' play?" He shook his head. "How disappointing. What next, indulging in diabolical laughter?"

Solas slowly turned. "Tisallan. You would think given the sheer number of years I have spent ignoring you that you would have the common courtesy to go away."

Tisallan raised an eyebrow. "Name one person who would call me courteous."

A chuckle escaped Solas. "I know what you told Bahalan. It is not too late to reconsider. There are many who could learn from the wisdom of the last Mi'nehn."

"Name one person who would call me wise." Tisallan straightened, and took a couple steps towards them. "Here we are again, lethallin. Still making the same mistakes."

"Some things never do change." Solas nodded.

"True. I am still on the side with the most lunatics..." Tisallan shook his head. "And you still desperately need to get laid."

Cullen stared at the other elf in utter disbelief. Next to him, Arenda's jaw landed in the Deep Roads, and both of the guards were wide-eyed. "Oh for..." Solas cleared his throat, and shook his head before spreading his hands. "Really? Thousands of years later, you are going to start up with that again?"

"It is not like the criticism has become less valid over the years." Tisallan shrugged, and smiled innocently.

"Odd, lethallin. I recall you being much better with words."

"That is only fair, I suppose." Tisallan nodded. "After all, I recall you being much more difficult to distract."

#

He buried a knife in the first one to approach him, and flung a pouch of powder at the next. The man went down, choking and gagging. The third man removed a whip that was coiled at his waist, and sneered. "You'll learn your place, rabbit."

"Indeed." The magister drew his staff, and the crystal on the tip began to glow. "Perhaps a lesson is -"

Metal, molten and otherwise, burst into the room as the nearby machinery exploded with enough force to send the men standing near it across the room. Those not killed by the force of the landing screamed in agony from the molten steel. A glowing figure stepped through the opening he'd just created.

"What the -" Brehan stared.

"The term you are looking for..." Urthemiel smiled. "Is deux ex machina."

#

Fenris was thrown backwards by the force of a spell. Gabriel whipped the blade of his staff across a man's face, opening a jagged gash. The man kept coming as though he hadn't been touched at all, and Gabriel found himself being forced back. He tried to keep himself between the attackers and his husband.

A man lifted an axe, and then was sent spinning away in two different directions as a massive blade cut him in half. A crossbow bolt took another of the men in the face. "I'm not sure anybody has explained this to you..." Leandra Hawke stepped between the attackers and the injured Fenris.

Caleb stepped out of the shadows. "But fucking with Hawkes is a really bad idea."

Baradies laughed. "You think the two of you are any threat to me?"

Leandra and Caleb exchanged a look. Leandra smiled and shrugged. "Well, no."

"But then..." Caleb pulled back the winch on his crossbow. "We're not the dangerous ones."

"Have you met my fiancé?" Leandra set her blade on her shoulder.

#

Lenore glanced at Carver, who shrugged in response. "Yeah..." Lenore shook her head. "Not really going to let you do that. Not that he isn't capable of taking care of himself."

"I know." Siofra leaned on the railing. "Being that he carries a shard of a god inside himself."

Carver blinked. Lenore stared at him. "Um..." She raised an eyebrow. "What?"

"Oh." Siofra smiled down at her. "You didn't know?" She made a tsking sound. "So many secrets and lies." She waved a hand. "Just a piece. A tiny piece. But..." She shrugged. "I need it. And unfortunately, he is not going to survive its removal."

"You really are on the insane side, aren't you?" Carver shook his head. "You've got to know what a bad idea taking me on is going to be."

She smiled. "Fortunately, I prepared." A hint of teeth showed. She flung something as cultists moved in from the sides. A rune landed at Carver's feet and exploded. Lenore felt a surge of power from it, and Carver cried out before falling.

"Carver!" Lenore rushed towards him. "What did you do?"

"A mortal can take only so much power before their bodies overload." Siofra shook his head. "By the time he recovers, I'll have what I need. I do regret this." She nodded to the oncoming cultists. "Kill her."

Lenore reached for her magic, and felt a surge from one of the men. Her magic slipped out of her grasp. "Templars."

"Oh no." Another voice said. "Templars."

"Whatever are we to do?" A deeper voice added.

Kels Marland and Trian Saitada came to either side of her, swords in hand. "How many of these cultist guys have we killed this week?" Kels asked Trian.

"I lost count somewhere around the second hundred." Trian smirked.