Chapter 11: Inquisitor, Huh?

Summary:

Bull walks around Skyhold with the Inquisition's Inquisitor and introduces him to a few faces.

Bull was pulled awake by the sound of talking. Bull lay still in his bedroll for a few minutes and listened.

"I don't know about you, but I'm going to be pissed if we walked for a week and this place is crawling with demons. Or worse."

"The Inquisitor wouldn't have brought us here if it wasn't safe."

"Gonna take a long time for me to get used to that. I was still getting used to a knife-ea—I mean, an elf being the Herald of Andraste. A Dalish elf. But he's not the one that got us here. It's that Egg Head elf, that one Seeker Pentaghast was so suspicious of. Haven't you noticed anything weird about this place? It's warm here. There's a meadow. And a forest. There shouldn't be something like that up here in the Frostbacks. The structure all looks Fereldan, but there were these elven statues everywhere on the path leading here. What even was this place?"

"Something special. I can feel it. I think it's the perfect place for us."

Bull sat up and pulled his eyepatch on over his horn and over his head. Then he dressed for the day. He stepped out of his tent and searched for the two people who had been talking. They were soldiers. They looked tired. He couldn't tell which one had almost called Samahl a knife-ear. He'd keep an eye on them.

Tents were set up in the giant courtyard of Skyhold. The fortress itself was still being cleaned and searched for anything unsavory. So far, there were no demons. According to Solas, there was an ancient ward here against evil.

"Anyone seen the Inquisitor?" Bull called.

"Inside in the Great Hall," called a scout.

"Thanks!" Bull said with a grin.

Bull strode up the steps towards the Great Hall. He passed through the threshold. He expected to see Samahl in another meeting. He'd been in them all week with his advisors and with dignitaries. Bull didn't think Samahl had allowed himself a break since he arrived in Skyhold. So when Bull heard Sera and Samahl's cheerful voices coming from one of the rooms beyond the Great Hall, Bull smiled and followed the sound of the voices.

"Oh, shit!" It was Samahl.

There was a peal of laughter and a loud snort. "Sammy! You're afraid of spiders?"

"You aren't?"

"Nah."

"No matter how many spells I knew, I could never cast the right one to keep them out of my aravel."

"What's that?"

"Our wagons. You might call them 'land ships.'"

"Oh, I've seen 'em. The ones with the big sails."

"My sails were blue. And had fish on them. I'm sure one of my siblings is making use of the aravel now. They probably changed the sails, though. They all always thought the fish were too much. I'll have to ask about it in my next letter home."

Bull heard Sera snicker. "You're afraid of spiders," she said in a sing-song voice.

Samahl sighed loudly. "I was trying to distract you from that."

"Too bad. I remember, Sammy. I'll always remember."

"No. Absolutely not. Get that look off your face. Shit! Don't pick it up!"

There was another peal of laughter.

When Bull finally found Sera and Samahl, they were in a large room with a giant table made from a tree stump in the center of it. Samahl was skipping out of reach from Sera's outstretched hand. Samahl looked over at Bull and his face flushed. "Hello, Bull," he said with an embarrassed smile.

Too fast for Samahl to react, Sera lunged forward and rubbed her hand all over Samahl's hair. Samahl shouted in alarm and danced away, laughing and patting himself down. Sera sniggered and put the small spider she was holding onto the wall. Even after seeing this, Samahl kept patting himself down. "I'm gonna find more work to do," Sera said. "See you around."

Samahl ran his hands over his braid and shuddered as Sera skipped out of the room.

"So," Bull said as Samahl continued to pat himself down. "Spiders?"

Samahl laughed. "Shut up. Is there anything in my hair?"

"Turn," Bull ordered. With no shred of hesitation, Samahl turned around with his vulnerable back to Bull. Bull stared down at Samahl's back quietly for a moment before he reached down and ran his fingers over Samah's braid. Bull heard Samahl take in a deep breath. "What's the story?" Bull asked.

"There is no story," Samahl said as Bull picked dust off Samahl's shoulder. "Shit, is that a spider?"

"Nope. There's gotta be a story, Boss."

Samahl laughed softly as Bull lifted Samahl's braid in his hand and checked under it. "I was 7, decided I was an adult because I had been training with mother for a whole year with a wooden practice sword, and walked out into the woods to find adventure. I found a giant spider. That's also when my magic manifested. I forgot I was carrying a sword, froze the damned thing and burned it at the same time, and ran back to camp screaming." Samahl shuddered. "My elders had me turn back around and drag the spider home because I was the one who hunted and killed it and should have the honor of claiming it's damned carcass. When they saw the burns and the frost, they knew I was a mage. That's when keeper Deshanna started mentoring me herself to become her First."

Bull let go of Samahl's hair. "I'm not finding any spiders," Bull said and patted Samahl on the head.

Samahl laughed, patted down his braid one more time, and glanced around the room. "What do you think this room was?" he asked.

Bull looked around the room. "War room," Bull said. He pointed to the table. "That looks like it could have been a war table. Can't imagine people eating at it. You can't put your knees under it. There's marks in the wood where map markers dug in."

"Could have been dinner knives," Samahl said with a smile as he ran his hand over the wood of the table. Bull watched Samahl for a moment in silence. Samahl looked up with an open expression on his face. "What is it?" he asked.

"Inquisitor, huh?" Bull asked with a smile. Samahl face stiffened a little, and Bull decided not to poke at what Samahl felt about that title. At least, not yet. "Well, you've got the fortress for it," Bull continued. "What do you think of this place?"

Samahl turned around and sat his slender ass on the table, and Bull was momentarily distracted by the realization that it would be so easy to stand between Samahl's knees and press him down against the wood that he almost didn't hear the beginning of what Samahl said next. "It is . . . a beacon, almost like an axis that everything else is turning around, here and in the Fade. I have the sense that this place was very important, long ago."

Bull grumbled wordlessly. "And that means what for the rest of us?"

Samahl laughed. For all people's misgivings about this place, something about it was making the strain on Samahl's face lessen and his energy replenish. That haunted look in his eyes he had worn since Redcliffe was gone. "It means once all our forces are here, and once Thedas knows we weren't wiped out, we will get a lot of visitors. There are so many people here already. Our numbers keep growing."

"Speaking of which," Bull said, "when you've got a second, there's something I want to show you."

Samahl looked at him curiously. "How long of a second?" he asked.

Bull laughed. "Yeah, it's probably more than a second."

"I've got a meeting around midday, then I am going to speak to our new quartermaster, and then I am going to be visiting our new arcanist. I could meet you at nightfall?"

"Sure. I'll meet you back out in the Hall. Oh, and dress like you're trying to hide in a crowd."

"What?" Samahl asked in confusion.

"No fancy blue robe. Look like a hired merc."

"Bull. Are we sneaking out of Skyhold?"

Bull smirked. "You wanna sneak out, Boss?"

Samahl laughed and looked around him at the war room. "I've been stuck in strategy meetings and cleanup for a week. I'm getting a little stir-crazy." His eyes widened. "Actually, no I—"

"Hey," Bull said sternly. "I see what you're doing. From one leader to a new one, don't. Just because you are a leader doesn't mean you need to hide everything that's going on here," Bull said, and gently tapped Samah's forehead with his finger.

Samahl took in a deep breath. "Easier said than done," he said quietly.

Bull laughed. "No kidding," he replied. "See you tonight, Boss. And like I said. Don't dress to impress."

Bull and his Chargers busily prepped one of the buildings to be turned into the Tavern by clearing out debris from a hole in the roof. Rocky and Grim climbed up a ladder and, while Chargers passed them supplies, they patched up the large hole in the roof. By nightfall, they had made a lot of progress, and cheered loudly when they finished patching up the roof.

When the Chargers celebrated with a cask of ale, Bull excused himself with exuberant claps on the backs of his boys and he walked to the great hall and looked around it curiously. There was a man in a green jacket, dusty beeches, and worn boots leaning against the wall casually while people talked around him. They paid him no mind. Bull walked over to him. "I thought I said not to dress to impress," Bull said to Samahl with a grin. "That rough mercenary look is good on you."

"Why am I dressed like this?" Samahl asked curiously.

"You'll see," Bull said. "Come on, it'll be worth your time. I promise."

"Chief!" Krem walked over to Bull. "Excuse me," Krem said to Samahl, and did a double-take when he realized it was Samahl. "Your Worship," Krem greeted quietly. "I was just looking for both of you. Therinfal Redoubt seems quiet now, and there's a chance something there could give us a clue about how the red templars were made."

Samahl frowned. "Therinfal got quiet after I came back from Redcliffe."

"Yes, right before you closed the Breach, people seemed to disappear. Merchants sought entrance at the gates and no one from inside answered. Even the fortress staff were gone. I'd be happy to take the Chargers out to investigate the area."

Samahl contemplated quietly. "I want Leliana's scouts to go with you. Maybe they can help. This sounds like something that should be kept quiet. If we go charging into Therinfal, it might alert . . . someone. No doubt there might be someone keeping an eye on it."

"Aye, Your Worship."

"Bull?" Samahl said. "What do you think? Want to go with your Chargers? I'm going to be tied up here. And Josephine has made contact with some interesting mages."

"What's that mean?" Bull asked.

Samahl laughed. "It means that I might have a new mentor. I'll need to stay here for their arrival."

"I thought you wanted to escape," Bull said with a smirk.

Samahl sighed sadly. "No time for it, I'm afraid."

Bull looked over at Krem. He didn't say it out loud, but he was relieved that Samahl had recommended he go with the Chargers. Whatever had happened at Therinfall was bad, and Bull wanted to be there in case things went south with his boys. "We head out tomorrow," Bull said. "Make your rounds to the Chargers to tell them."

"Aye, Chief," Krem said with a nod, and walked away to the camp in the courtyard. Bull headed over to the courtyard as well with Samahl.

Bull looked around at the soldiers standing and sitting in the courtyard and spotted a pair of soldiers sitting at a table made from a crate and a board of wood. They were using barrels for chairs. "Evening," Bull said. "Iron Bull. My merc band just joined up."

The soldiers looked up from their game of cards. "Tanner," said one of them. His blue eyes were open and friendly, and his accent was Orlesian. "I'm from Jader. Well, near Jader."

"Mira," said the other soldier. She also sounded Orlesian. There was a deep scar in her cheek and a wary but curious look in her eyes was she watched Bull and Samahl. "I was Guard-Captain for Lady Pandell. Signed on after shit blew up at the Conclave. Share a drink?"

"Sure!" Bull said.

Mira and Tanner rolled over two more barrels for Bull and Samahl to sit at their rickety table. Then they poured them drinks. "Who's your friend?" Mira asked with a curious look at Samahl as she passed Bull a drink. Samahl's eyes widened a little.

"This is Grim," Bull said with a nod to Samahl. "He doesn't talk much," he added with a smile.

To Samahl's credit, Samahl played along and made a small grunt in confirmation before he took a sip of ale. The four of them played a round of Shepard's Six. Bull was very familiar with the game. It was one of Stitches's favorite card games from his childhood. Samahl, at least to Bull's knowledge, had never played the game before. Mira, Tanner, and Bull patiently taught Samahl the game while Samahl nodded quietly and proceeded to win the game.

"You sure you're new at this, Grim?" Bull grumbled, leaning towards Samahl to eye him suspiciously.

Samahl shrugged silently with a smile.

"That was good for your first game," Tanner said. "You are a natural."

Bull nudged Samahl's shoulder with his arm and Samahl laughed silently. "Gonna have to take you out gambling," Bull grumbled. Then he looked at Mira and Tanner curiously. "So you ready to kill some demons or Venatori? Or whatever that Corypheus asshole is?"

Mira frowned. "This isn't just about killing," she said sternly. "We're helping the Inquisitor save the world and build the next empire."

Bull saw Samahl frown beside him at the word "empire." But he kept true to the persona he was playing and simply mumbled a wordless sound of interest in what Mira was saying.

"Well, long as I get paid, I'm happy," Bull said with a hand wave. "That's why I signed up."

"I just couldn't spend my whole life on a farm," Tanner said. "Needed to live a little, you know?"

"What about you, Mira?" Bull asked. "Why did you join up? I thought you were serving some noble."

Mira looked down at the cards. "I saw what happened at Haven. The Inquisitor staring down that monster and his archdemon . . . I don't sing the Chant of Light as often as a should, but you don't see that and not believe."

After another game of Shepard's Six—Samahl won again—Bull stood up. Samahl finished off the rest of his ale and followed Bull. "Well, Grim and I should find our tents. Thanks for the drink."

Bull found a secluded spot just outside of the light from the fires and turned to look down at Samahl. "I know every soldier under my command," Bull said quietly. "You don't have that option . . . but a few faces might help."

"You made it sound like you didn't like the Inquisition," Samahl said curiously.

"People don't always tell the truth when you're polite," Bull replied. "You've gotta poke them a bit."

"Those two soldiers might think you're an asshole."

"So?" Bull said, a little defensively. "Maybe they will, but it got the truth out of them, didn't it?"

"At the expense of them not knowing who you really are," Samahl pointed out.

"Again, so?" Bull said.

Samahl looked over at Mira and Tanner, his face contemplative. "I knew some of the soldiers felt like that, but to actually hear it."

"It's hard to be just an idea sometimes. That's all you are to most of them. It's why you could stand right in front of them and not be recognized."

"Still, it was good to get their perspective," Samahl admitted.

"Yeah. Sounds like we could use an easy win for boys like Tanner. And vets like Mira have seen enough to be wary. You've got a good army coming along. Remember that, no matter what comes next." Bull looked out at the courtyard and caught sight of two of his Chargers, Dex and Fox, bickering over the setup of their tent. Skinner was staring murderously out of her and Dalish's tent, her eyes glittering with malevolent promise. Bull laughed. "I'm gonna go clear that up before Skinner murders someone in their sleep."

"Bull. Thanks for tonight," Samahl said quietly.

Bull laughed. "Sure thing, Boss." He clapped a hand on Samahl's shoulder. Samahl clapped him on the back, nodding to Bull without saying anything, without telling him to "be safe" for his journey to Therinfal Redoubt. Bull didn't think either of them appreciated those kinds of well-wishes. You were either safe or you weren't, and well-wishes made no difference.

"Dex! Fox!" Bull bellowed, walking away from Samahl. "You're gonna sleep in the snow if you don't pipe down!" Bull stopped in front of them and their tent. "Dex. You're on this side." Bull smacked the tent with his giant hand. The tent shook. "Fox. You're on this side." Bull smacked the other side of the tent. "Why sleep in the same tent if you hate each other so oooooooh, I see," Bull said with a shit-eating grin.

"Chief, no!" Dex said in horror "We're not like that! It's superstition! We always sleep in the same tent so the mission goes well!"

"Dex," Skinner whispered ominously from her tent. "I will slice off all your fingers right now if you don't. Shut. Up."

"Yes, be quiet and come inside, lover," Fox purred as he climbed into the tent.

"Don't encourage the Chief!" Dex groaned, but he climbed in after Fox.

Eventually, Dex and Fox calmed down and Skinner slunk back into her tent and tied a bright pink stocking onto the tent ties so it waved in the breeze. Skinner's hands disappeared behind the tent flap and Bull heard Dalish giggle softly.

Bull surveyed the Chargers' tents once more with his arms crossed over his chest. He could locate each one of them in the dark. His boys were loud. They were motley. They were crass. And they were his.