Alistair reached the top of the tower only a half pace ahead of Cullen. He saw Duncan put a flame covered arrow into a despair demon, and a moment later saw Kels almost casually fling a man in Orlesian armor off the roof. A terror demon started towards them, and he and Alistair exchanged only the barest glance before moving forward to meet it.
On the other side of the roof, a pride demon appeared in response to a mage's summons. Hawke and Fenris started in that direction only for the dragon to grab both demon and mage and hurl both into the city below. The dragon turned on a wing and started back in their direction.
"The dragon is on our side right?" Alistair asked.
"Maker, I certainly hope so." Cullen yanked his blade out of the terror demon as it started to disintegrate.
Men with swords started towards where Salla was standing, and the dragon landed, shifting into the form of a tall young man. Lightning crackled around Kieran like a miniature storm as he began hurling spells.
And then the remaining attackers atop the roof abruptly turned to statues of white stone.
#
Cullen turned to see Solas, with twenty sentinels and twice again as many Dalish warriors accompanying him. The Dread Wolf looked around the rooftop.
The children were starting to turn in his direction. Leandra set her blade point down in front of her. Kels and Trian both set folded arms atop their shields. Weapons of steel and light vanished from the hands of Tisallan and Agatha. Duncan slung his bow back over his shoulder as Caleb did the same with the crossbow. Loghain leaned on the remains of what had been some kind of statue. Kieran and Salla laid their staffs on their shoulders. "Fen'Harel." Kieran nodded politely.
"I think this has gone on quite long enough." Solas shook his head as he walked towards them, flanked by his agents. He turned towards Salla. "I will be taking the staff."
Salla smiled. "What staff?"
"I believe I have shown considerable patience thus far, da'len." Solas narrowed his eyes. "Do not try me further."
"I believe that is a threat." Kieran glanced at Salla. "Was that a threat?"
"It sounded like a threat." Salla nodded. "I mean, I am definitely feeling a bit threatened."
"He does have us outnumbered." Duncan called from where he was standing.
"With elves even." Agatha added.
"Maybe we should hand it over." Loghain wiped blood from his sword.
"I mean, they do have a god on their side and everything." Caleb waved a hand.
His jaw dropped when Salla nodded, and casually threw the staff to Solas. The Dread Wolf caught it easily, and Salla smiled. "No hard feelings, right?"
Solas stared down at the staff in his hand. He turned it this way and that, eyes narrowing. "This..." He shook his head, and looked up at Kieran. "You sacrificed the last of the Sulahnven for this?"
"It is a very good staff." Kieran nodded.
"I can attest to that." Salla smiled. "Best I've ever used."
"But the answer to your question is no." Kieran shrugged.
"This is ridiculous." Solas shook his head. "Baradies is still loose in the city. Did you even have a pla -" He cut himself off as he looked around the rooftop. With a start, Cullen realized just who was missing.
"Copper in the air..." Tisallan's lips twitched.
"Where is Gavren?" Solas and Cullen asked simultaneously.
"Copper drops." Agatha grinned.
#
Salla leaned into Kieran, and felt his arm go around her. Across the roof, her fathers and the others were staring. The Dread Wolf handed the staff to the sentinel next to him. "What game are you playing?"
"Well..." Duncan spoke from where he was standing. "We started trying to come up with a plan, and Caleb made a pretty good point."
"Having a plan would give you the opportunity to disrupt it." Caleb nodded.
"So we decided to just do what we do best." Leandra chuckled.
"Go with our strengths and all." Agatha nodded.
"And then Kels made a very good point." Kieran gestured at the man. "The Inquisition's strength lies in finding the right people and giving them the right tools."
"Delegation and all." Kels nodded.
Loghain spoke up. "So we asked ourselves, what happens when you take the most powerful mage in Thedas..."
"Let the God of Inspiration boost him further..." Tisallan folded his arms.
Kieran smiled. "And then hand him an ancient elven foci?"
#
The orb hovered above his hand, responding to his will. The Formless One had abandoned the host body that had served it. The vibrations of the Veil shrieked as Gavren strengthened it, preventing the demon from fleeing back across.
It shifted as it ran, and dove down a grate into the cities under levels. Hunting through the labyrinthine catacombs would take more time than remained. Gavren focused his magic.
#
Nearby a tower suddenly tore free of the ground as an unseen force picked it up and moved it outside the city walls, leaving a jagged opening in the heart of the city. The sky broke open as boulders started to rain down in that area.
"And there is your answer." Trian shrugged.
Seconds passed while everyone just stared. "All of this was purely a distraction." Solas shook his head. "Creating enough chaos that I would not be able to sense Gavren."
"Hey, a lot of those folks were legitimately trying to kill us." Leandra glared.
"Or capture us." Trian glanced at her.
"Or make us go to bed without dinner." Loghain added.
"You..." Alistair gave them a disbelieving look. "Your plan was not to have a plan so you could trick the Dread Wolf?"
"Ah, audacity." Kieran smiled. "There truly is no greater refuge."
Solas actually laughed. "Incredible. He is manipulating the Veil across the entire city."
"You always were an excellent teacher." Tisallan leaned back against the remains of a pillar to watch the chaos below.
"Want to know the best part?" Kieran waited until Solas turned towards him before continuing. "You will not remember this." His smile showed teeth. "But I will."
#
The Formless One shifted desperately, shifting from desire to envy to pride to despair as it continued trying to hide. It ripped and tore at the Veil as it fled, and he healed the damage before it could create an opening big enough to pass or pull other demons through. He was gaining.
Then there it was, right before his eyes. He closed the barrier as it frantically tried to escape. Gavren smiled as he called forth the magic, drawing deep from the wellspring in his hand.
And the Formless One ceased to exist.