Firm
Cassandra stared at the ranger in shock as he finished his preliminary report on the dragon. For his part, Thornton just stood there, his face impassive. She had sent him to track the dragon. To try and find it. He had. But...
"Thoughts?" The Seeker said finally after a glance about. She had met the ranger in one of the disused Chantry cellars and no one else was about. Which was good for this kind of news. This would not go over well. With anyone.
"That dragon is a mage." Thornton said quietly. "Powerful and very controlled." Cassandra looked at him and he shrugged. "Could have killed all of the hunters easily enough. Didn't. I bet the ones who did die were accidents."
"You are aware how insane that sounds." It wasn't a question but the ranger nodded.
"Not saying I believe it myself." Thornton agreed. "But I saw what I saw. Either it was the greatest act of theatre ever done... with no audience but me." He made a face and Cassandra shared it. "Or... Someone taught a dragon how to do spells. And whoever it was must have been crazy. Dragons are dangerous enough as it is."
"This question will be odd, agent Thornton." Cassandra said delicately. "Other than the spells, did the dragon act... Like a dragon?"
"No." Thornton said without hesitation. "If it hadn't been for the size, the wings and the scales -and the elemental breath, mind you- I would have called it a fugitive mage. And not a hostile one either." Cassandra stared at the ranger and Thornton shrugged. "It didn't start that fight. It could have killed them all. In such a situation? So badly outnumbered? It probably should have killed them all. It didn't. And..." He paused and shook his head. "You won't believe the rest of what I saw."
"Ranger Thornton,..." Cassandra said with sigh. "I find it hard to believe anything that has happened recently." She stared down at the insignia he had handed her. "An elf with the name of Andraste's daughter who quotes the Chant freely, but acts like she is on the run. A dragon that does not act as a dragon, one that uses magic like a mage and the Imperial Chantry here of all places?" She shook her head. "We knew they would try to take advantage of what happened at the Conclave. Leliana has been thwarting their schemes right and left. But none of them made it this far. Until now." She shrugged. "Go ahead."
"After the battle, I searched the bodies." Thornton grimaced. "Found that." He nodded to the insignia. "There were probably other insignia, but I couldn't find any recognizable. Then I heard something odd. I scouted and found the dragon again. It was crouched in a small valley and it's posture was strange. It took me a minute to figure out it was kneeling."
"Kneeling." Cassandra's voice was flat and Thornton nodded.
"If I didn't know better, I would say it was praying." Thornton said softly. "And it was crying. Just like I would imagine a cloistered Chantry sister or Circle mage who had just been forced to kill for the first time would." Cassandra jerked and the ranger nodded. "If we do plan to take that dragon, we will need Templars to counter it's magic. And it will hurt. A lot." He warned.
Cassandra stared at the ranger. No one else she knew would be quite so calm in such a situation. She shook her head slowly.
"I need an honest opinion, ranger." Cassandra said slowly. "Is the dragon a threat?" The ranger shook his head. "Why not?"
"It is not acting like a dragon." Thornton chose his words with care. "It is acting like a fugitive. I have done bounty hunting, even tracked some mages for the Templars when they were understaffed. Before the war." Cassandra nodded. She knew that. "Whatever it is eating, it is finding food outside of human environs. No conflicts there. No animals have gone missing except the first herder's goat. It hasn't been seen at all by anyone in the village and it was well over five leagues out when I found it. Normal dragons don't care about such. For them? It is all eat, fight, kill, mate. Not necessarily in that order. This one is not like that. This one is more than an animal."
"And?" Cassandra drawled the word out when Thornton paused.
"This dragon thinks, plans and reacts as you or I would." The ranger actually shuddered as he reiterated. "The leader of the hunters spoke to it and it understood him. Responded. Someone made that dragon capable of conscious thought and trained it as a mage. I cannot imagine how. Or why." He looked at Cassandra who frowned but nodded as well. "So, we have a dragon acting like a person. A person with magic who does not apparently want to fight but will in self defense." He looked at the floor. "Ma'am, I know we were sent to kill it... but..." He trailed off. He didn't look upset, but Cassandra knew he was.
"We were sent to find out what is going on, agent Thornton." Cassandra reassured him. "Killing a dragon was preferable to another spate of attacks on a village that was just now starting to recover. But you are right. There have been no attacks." She shrugged. "We need more information. I will try to talk to Edris when she wakes. See if you can find it again, track it if you can. But be careful. If you even think you need help, send up a flare." Thorton nodded, he wasn't stupid, thank the Maker! "We need information, but do not be a hero. Dragons are dangerous enough. A thinking dragon who can wield magic being hunted by the Imperial Chantry?" Thornton shared the shudder the Cassandra gave.
"If it were easy..." Thornton grimaced. "Then they wouldn't need us. And if you can't take a joke...?" He bowed and was gone.
"Don't join up." Cassandra completed the not so funny joke about military service. Then she started for the stairs out of the cellar.
"Seeker." Templar Samm was on edge as she entered the main hall of the Chantry. "We have a problem." Cassandra groaned and he nodded. "We have guests just outside. They are asking to talk to you."
"To me?" Cassandra asked, then kicked herself. Samm likely didn't know any more than he had said, he was too new to be concealing stuff from superiors as second nature. "Who?"
"Templars from Tevinter." The male Templar did not even try to hide is distrust and Cassandra frowned.
Templars were supposed to be all the same Order. Anyone who thought so was foolish, however. A Templar from Ferelden was not the same as an Orlesian one, or an Antivan one. They all supposedly swore the same vows. But... Tevinter was a haven of magic users, many who practiced forms of magic that everyone else found barbaric. They had their own Chantry and their own Divine. A man elected from the Circle there. They did not recognize anyone else's authority. Exalted Marches had been called and the warfare between the two Chantries had been horrific. And now... This.
A mage who was sick. Who had been experimented on. A dragon that did not act like a dragon. One that acted like a fugitive mage. The Imperial Chantry involved in hunting said dragon. And now? Templars from Tevinter. It could not be a coincidence.
Cassandra strode out of the Chantry with her head high and scrutinized the two armored men who stood in the street before her. The Templars under her command, including Belinda for the moment, stood between them and the door of the Chantry. That in and of itself was not suspicious in any way. Tevinter Templars had acted against southern Chantries on occasion and vice versa. Usually when provoked or chasing fugitives, but still... The bloody history was there. One good thing, she could see no red anywhere on their persons. So, they likely were not Red Templars. She hoped so anyway. She had seen far too many of those.
"Seeker Cassandra Pentaghast?" The one on the right spoke and his voice held a measure of respect. "I am Knight Lieutenant Voss and this is Templar Garin." Cassandra inclined her head slightly. "I apologize if my words have been intemperate. We find ourselves at a bit of a loss and we are both shaken as a result."
"A loss?" Cassandra stiffened slightly. That wasn't what she had expected him to say. "You are far from home, Knight Lieutenant."
"We go where duty takes us." The Templar knight replied. "We were ordered to track and apprehend a fugitive mage. One responsible for the destruction of a Chantry facility and the deaths of several of the staff there." Cassandra looked at him and he sighed. "It was a mess, Seeker. We were called in to clean it up and it was bad. But... the one supposedly responsible fled." Cassandra fought to keep her face the same. There was nothing wrong with the knight's words or his tone, but there was something off about them. Her Seeker ears heard many undercurrents to his perfectly respectful tone. Before she could speak, the Knight Lieutenant continued. "We used a phylactery that was provided to track our quarry here to Ferelden, but here, the trail gets odd."
"Odd?" Cassandra asked and she could swear the other's eyes were sheepish under his visor. "Odd how?"
"We have used such things many times in the past." Knight Lieutenant Voss said with a frown that was visible even through his closed faceplate. "But here and now, it is telling us our quarry is in three places at once." Cassandra could not keep her face still and the knight nodded at whatever he saw there. "We know of the Seekers. You have access to information our Order does not. We came to ask your advice. This is unprecedented."
"Three?" Cassandra was not alone in speaking that. Almost all the Templars said the same. Voss and his companion nodded.
"The scrys are clear, but they show multiple directions." The Knight Lieutenant sounded worried now. For good reason! "If one of the Order's basic techniques is being thwarted, we have significant problems."
"We have problems of our own here, Knight Lieutenant." Cassandra fought hard to keep her voice level. "But if I can be of service, I will."
"That is appreciated, Seeker. We are aware of the problems that have been afflicting the South." Voss agreed. "Some with less foresight may call it 'good'. We of the Order do not. Such chaos benefits no one."
"Would that more showed such wisdom." Cassandra said with a sigh. Voss inclined his head. "We will speak inside. Come." She went back into the Chantry and Voss followed. The other Templar remained where he was. "Your companion?" She asked the Knight Lieutenant.
"Garin will keep watch." Voss said as he followed. "He uh... He is still doing penance. He had to slay a sister recently and still feels it." Cassandra glanced at the Knight Lieutenant and Voss sighed. "We all warned Sister Gina, but she was determined to see if the red crap worked better." Cassandra froze in mid-step and Voss bowed his head. "As a result of her...mishap, our standing orders are clear. Anyone caught using red lyrium dies."
"Brutal, but... after everything we have seen here… understandable." Cassandra said with a frown. "Was her death necessary?" She asked.
"Yes. She was too far gone. She lost her mind completely, attacked her fellows and only Garin managed to stop her. His oath is not to speak until or unless his penance is done." Voss said sadly. "Sister Gina thought she could control it. She was wrong. We are still seeking her supplier. If we find him or her, we will punish them. Ourselves."
"Good." Cassandra continued towards the cellar. "I have seen far too many of the Order corrupted. It is bad." She bowed her head. "Maker bless and keep those who fight for him."
"Maker bless." Voss intoned and followed Cassandra down the stairs. As they entered the cellar, Voss stopped and opened his visor. His face was sad. "I must confess, I have deceived you, Seeker. I apologize." Cassandra inclined her head to him and he nodded. "One of the scrys pointed straight to you."
"I had wondered. I recovered a phylactery from a dead Tevinter slaver." Cassandra said quietly. "I did not slay him myself."
"Part of me wishes you had." The other Templar was not faking his outrage. There was no way. Cassandra stared at him. "We, the Templars under my command that is, are in a difficult position here, Seeker Cassandra. We have been ordered to 'recover' that mage. Alive only." The Seeker nodded and the Templar sighed. "And we cannot."
"Cannot?" Cassandra asked, incredulous. His tone was familiar. The being who had talked through Edris, Julisa, had said the same word the same way.
"I know how other Templars feel about those of us who serve in Tevinter." Voss said quietly. "What is worse? We know we deserve their scorn. We are puppets." He shook his head. "I joined the Order to protect those who cannot protect themselves from the harmful use of magic. And what do I do there every day? Ignore it." He slumped a bit. "The facility that I spoke of was destroyed. But I and a team of my fellows were there guarding it when it happened."
"What happened?" Cassandra asked, concern rising. For a veteran Templar to act this way... Something bad had happened.
"Part of the facility were sealed off." Voss was looking at her, but his eyes were far away. "We didn't know why. They said that it was a seminary. A research facility for theologians. But we had questions. If so, why did they need a full squad of Templars?" Cassandra hissed and he nodded. "It was a research facility, but the truth was far worse. They were researching red lyrium and they had been given test subjects by a Magister who called himself Corypheus."
"Corypheus." Cassandra snapped. "Again. I..." She growled a vile epithet and gave herself a shake. "What did he do?"
"He gave them the research subjects. And yes, all races." Voss sounded just as angry. "They did the rest. I didn't see it all. I did see bodies being taken out. And the state of them... None of them had the red crap showing. But they were all put in a high power magic incinerator. Nothing left. Not even ash."
"Even the ash of red lyrium can be dangerous." Cassandra growled and Voss nodded, his face grave. "So... what?"
"We were suspicious." Voss said with a frown. "But we had our orders. We were all curious, but we knew better than to inquire. It never ended well. Then one night, all hell broke loose. One of the researchers came running into our quarters screaming for help. She said that a strange armored man had appeared and was killing her co-workers."
"'A strange armored man'?" Cassandra quoted, suspicion rising. Voss nodded.
'Your thoughts mirror mine, Seeker. Espionage of some kind. A Magister sending a covert attack. It happens a lot in Tevinter." The Knight Lieutenant said quietly. "We armed ourselves and investigated. What we found... was beyond horrific. Seeker..." His words were soft, almost broken. He was still shaken, she could see that. Even after all this time. "What few records we found said that they had been tasked to make a weapon for use against the Qunari. The red lyrium was deemed a powerful weapon, so they tested it. The Magisters were all busy plotting against each other. The few who were focused on defending Tevinter have been overworked to the point that their rivals have taken advantage. A prime target for espionage but..." He shook his head. "Would that it had been espionage."
"What was it then?" Cassandra demanded.
"A miracle."
One turn of a sand glass later
Cassandra escorted Voss back to the door and bid him and his companion farewell. She felt torn. Here were two good examples of Templars, devout and loyal to their Order. Both had been abused in a number of ways. But they remained loyal, both to their Order and to Tevinter. That humbled the Seeker. But what Voss had said bothered Cassandra. No, she had to be honest with herself. It frightened the Seeker. Cassandra had been shaken by discoveries that the Inquisition had made more than once recently. When she had gone looking for other Seekers, she had found horrific evidence of terrible crimes on the part of Seekers in the past. Some of what had been done was needed, but still…
This however... This could tear things apart just when it seemed the Inquisition was finally gaining the upper hand against Corypheus and his Red Templars. Once more, the ancient monster's reach was felt, even when he wasn't anywhere nearby. He had orchestrated most of this. She knew he had, even with no proof. Cassandra felt a massive weight pressing down on her as she stride to her duty. First to the coop of the messenger birds. She needed confirmation of something from Leliana and she knew asking such would hurt her friend. For a long moment, she just held the bird, petting it as Leliana had taught her. She didn't want to reopen the spymaster's old wounds. But now? Did she have a choice? She didn't think so. She threw the bird into the air and watched as it flapped for altitude, circled and then flew unerringly towards Skyhold. Then she walked towards Edris' room, her heart heavy as she took hold of her sword hilt. The Revered Mother was still out and Cassandra was glad of that. The healer however...
"Seeker?" The healer asked as Cassandra entered the room. Edris was awake, sipping the soup that they had provided. She looked at Cassandra and her smile froze on her lips.
"Out." Cassandra said firmly. The healer paused, looking at Edris. "Now." Cassandra commanded and the other all but ran from the room. Edris paled but nodded and laid the bowl down on the tray by her bed. "The time for duplicity has passed, Venatori." Cassandra said with a snarl as she drew her sword. "Who do you serve?"
"Andraste." Edris said in a quiet voice, her face serene. She knew she had no chance and she was resigned, not hostile."I serve Andraste."
"You came to us in the guise of a Chantry sister." Cassandra fought to keep her composure. "Who did you kill to take those robes?"
"No one." Edris replied. "I was given those robes by a strange woman who helped me. I woke in the night. I think I was dying. She came out of the night and showed no fear of me or Julisa. She helped me with magic and then vanished just as quickly as she had appeared." She paused. "I do not know how she got them. But they were clean. There were no marks of violence on the robes. No damage, no blood." She gave a sigh. "If I had appeared in my old robes, you would have killed me without hesitation."
"I have fought too many of your kind to act any other way." Cassandra said firmly. "What say you in your defense, Venatori?"
"I have not been Venatori since I woke in Julisa's arms. After we were both freed." Edris' eyes were glistening. "I believed in what my mistress told us. I was one of her apprentices. I went with Calpernia when she was summoned. They... They destroyed her. He destroyed her. She was kind to her people and a true patriot. She wanted to make things better and Corypheus waved a hand..." She swallowed hard. "She was hard woman, but a good leader and a good friend. She screamed and ceased to be. I threw fire at him... and he laughed at me." Edris slumped. "I woke chained to Julisa, tubes connecting us. I didn't know what they were doing. At first, it didn't hurt. Then it did. Parts of me were taken."
"Taken." Cassandra said flatly. Edris turned her head and then... she lifted up her hair. Cassandra hadn't suspected. No one had! The Seeker fought hard not to gag as she saw the woman's skull open! Underneath the flap of skin and bone, she could see glistening flesh. Brain matter. It looked wrong.
"They took parts of my brain and put them in Julisa. Not just mine but I am the only survivor of the test subjects. What they did changed me. Inside. Changed her too." Edris said softly. "So yes. I am a true monster even if I am not Venatori anymore. Not an elf now. I do not know what I am." Her face was serene as she lay back on the bed. "I accept your wrath, Seeker. Do what you must."