Easing through the door Rathnal saw a shadow move across the floor from what looked like an open stock room, indicating to the others to fan out. He raised his sword towards the man who a moment later appeared, hesitating as Reece grabbed his arm shaking his head furiously.

"Owain! What by the Maker are you doing here?" Reece demanded.

"I was trying to tidy up, but there was little I could do."

Biting his lip Reece swallowed down his revulsion and if he was honest with himself fear and took a step closer to Owain. All Tranquil instilled an edge of distress in him that they were what he could become if he put a foot wrong. Indeed it was what was likely in his future if they didn't sort the Circle out, assuming he survived it. "Owain you shouldn't be here and cleaning doesn't matter right now, it is too dangerous for you to be alone."

"I tried to leave when it became quiet, but I encountered a barrier so I returned here."

Reece stared at him horrified. "I would have put the barrier down to let you pass, why didn't you approach, let me know you were there?"

"I was not sure anyone would listen." Owain gazed at Reece. "I know mages find it difficult to be around me, so I thought it best I stay here. The stockroom is familiar; here I do not disturb anyone."

Feeling his cheeks flush with shame Reece felt sick to his stomach.

"The mages have kept their distance as is usual and the demons have not come near me, but I would prefer the tower returned to normal. Perhaps Niall will succeed and save us all."

"Who's this Niall?" Rathnal demanded. "What was he doing?"

"He is a mage, but I do not know what he was doing; only that he came here with several others and took the Litany of Adralla."

"Makers smalls they are going to confront Uldred." Reece muttered turning to Rathnal. "The Litany protects from mind domination. I suggest we find Niall and the Litany. It is the only thing that will protect us from blood magic that is if they aren't dead."

"Maybe they will succeed." Alistair stated hopefully.

"Maybe, but I imagine they could use our help."

"We need to get moving then." Rathnal muttered. "Before there's no-one left to save."

"You should know there are others beyond the plant stock rooms." Owain stated. "They may hinder your progress."

"Thanks for the warning." Rathnal motioned to the others and they headed on.

xXx

Staring at the plant stockroom door Reece worried at his lip. "I know you want to push on, but I need to check in there. Enchanter Harin and Sam will likely be there. I didn't get a chance to check before."

"Of course." Rathnal nodded, praying they would find more living.

Carefully easing open the door, Reece froze as a metallic smell reached his nostrils. He shoved the door open seeing only chaos; plants were burnt or frozen, what little furniture overturned or smashed. Glancing down seeing blood on the floor he cautiously followed the trail to behind the overturned table at the far end of the room. Enchanter Harin lay in a pool of his own blood, the corpse of an abomination was to one side. "Sam!" Reece yelled in panic, turning sharply as he heard noise in the adjoining room, stumbling through finding Sam standing behind Karl who was holding a broken staff for a weapon, the beaten remains of a demon in front of them. "Damn Karl! I didn't think Tranquil had it in them for violence."

"The abomination and demon were trying to harm us." Karl stated as a matter of fact. "I did not want Sam or myself to die." He raised the staff. "This was the only logical response."

"He did great." Sam stated coming out from behind him, giving Karl a reassuring smile.

"You're hurt." Reece moved to the young mage seeing burns on his hands.

"I panicked and the fire spell backfired a little."

"Here let me heal you." Reece carefully healed the burns, taking his time realising the damage went deep.

Rathnal hunkered down next to Sam hoping to take his mind from the pain. "Are you the Sam that was helping Captain William?"

Sam's face lit up. "Yes, how do you know?"

"Captain William is a friend of mine and he asked me to look in on you while I had business here. He will be glad to know you are alright." He glanced to Karl and Reece. "That all three of you are alright."

"He asked about me, really?" Sam grinned as Rathnal nodded. "Tell him I'm doing really well with my healing studies." He smiled proudly. "I helped to heal a broken arm just last week."

"I'm sure he will be glad to hear that."

Sam worried at his lip. "Will you tell him I really did try to save the Wilds Flowers, but Sasha turned into an abomination and she was going to hurt us and I had to do something, but I missed with my first spell and hit the flowers." His lip trembled, his excitement replaced with anxiety. "He's going to be so angry with me."

Shaking his head Rathnal gave a reassuring smile. "I know Will very well and I don't think he will be angry at all; I think he will be very proud of you that you were helping to keep the people you were with safe."

"I didn't do very well at it." Sam shuddered painfully. "Enchanter Harin … we couldn't help him."

"But you tried." Rathnal stated gently. "And that's all anyone can ask."

"Still, will you tell him I'm really sorry."

"I will, I promise."

"Right that's your hands healed." Reece stated, knowing despite the young mages bravado, the emotional trauma he had experienced would take far longer to heal. Turning to Karl he was relieved to see he was relatively unscathed, physically at least. "Karl you and Sam go down to the hall at the main doors, there are others there and you will be safe. Owain is in the stockroom, take him with you."

"I can help." Sam stated with determination.

"Of that I have no doubt." Reece smiled warmly. "But the children need you to look out for them. Can you do that?"

Squaring his shoulders Sam nodded. "I can do that."

"Good lad." He glanced to Karl. "The way should be clear. Stay safe."

"Of course." Karl glanced to Sam who left the room with him.

"We have to stop this madness." Reece growled, knowing if he had his way there would be no mercy for the mages who had caused this.

At Rathnal's signal they continued on, hesitating as they heard whispering, before there was silence and then a fireball hurtled towards them.

xXx

Rathnal stared at the young woman lying bleeding on the floor, two of her fellows were dead by their hands, her pleas for her life had fallen to terrified sobs. His fists clenched, she had said they just wanted freedom, as though that justified the slaughter he had so far witnessed. He glanced to Reece, fury still burning in the young man's eyes. She had tried to reason with him, the pair arguing hotly until he had been forced to intervene.

"Nothing justifies this." Reece muttered angrily.

"How can you say that? The Templars …"

"I know exactly what some Templars are capable of." Reece snarled. "But what you have been part of has caused the death of so many mages and what do you think happens now? We will never be trusted! You think the army will still have us? You think the clinics that were to be set up will happen? All that Dylan and I were doing to prove mages could be trusted, give us a life out of here and you have destroyed it!" Tears gleamed in his eyes. "That was our chance, a real chance at changing things, not blood magic!"

"Two mages in the army was hardly …"

"Change takes time!" Reece hissed. "Real change, not this violence and death that will make things worse for all of us who are left!"

"So you intend to kill us all do you? Right our wrongs?"

"You're death won't right any wrongs, but you're a blood mage. You can never be trusted."

"Let me live and I could escape, seek penance at the Chantry."

Reece shook his head. "I won't kill you, but you aren't escaping. You will face judgement when this is over."

"They will send me to Aeonar!"

"Probably."

"How could you …"

"Because of all the dead we had to pass to get here!" Reece snarled. "For all the children who were killed and traumatised for your damn change!" He watched as she staggered to her feet clutching the wound at her side.

"Then kill me now, for I will not go there." Her eyes widened as an energy bolt shot through her chest, her body hitting the floor.

Reece turned to Morrigan startled.

"Twould not have ended any other way and we have work to do."

"Remind me not to get on your bad side." Alistair murmured.

Morrigan smirked slightly.

With nothing left to do they continued on; Reece glancing into the First Enchanters office hoping he would be there, but it was empty. "You know if the First Enchanter is dead the Knight Commander won't open the doors until he receives sanction to kill us all and he will." He shuddered. "We can't let them kill the children, they are innocents!"

Morrigan raised an eyebrow. "Then 'twould be wise to find another means to leave."

"Not all of us can change form and fly out a window." Alistair pointed out.

"You can really do that?" Reece asked turning to Morrigan.

"Tis a simple enough spell if one has the aptitude for such things."

Glancing around the office Rathnal nipped at his lower lip. "The longer we stand here the more chance the First Enchanter will be dead by the time we find him. Should he be dead we can come back and see if there is anything we can use to barter for our freedom, or blast down the doors." He shrugged at Reece's startled look. "We have a Blight to deal with and I will take whatever action is necessary to get us out of here."

xXx

Staring in horror as they forced open another door Reece realised the screaming was coming from Ser Simon who was being tortured by two fellow Templars, the pair enthralled by the Desire demon delighting in the show they were providing her. "Damn you!" He roared, lightning tearing into the demon and sending her slamming against the wall, inferno finishing her. Reece paled as the enthralled Templars, instead of coming back to themselves turned on them; Morrigan creating glyphs of paralysis, Alistair taking on one Templar, Rathnal and Rinna dealing with the other, death the only way to free them. He darted over to Simon who shrank away from him, flinching at his touch. "Let me help you." Reece pleaded, seeing wounds and bruising that would take weeks to heal without the aid of magic, fearing for the damage he couldn't see.

"The Knight Captain ... they tortured and killed him. So many dead." Simon suddenly gripped Reece's arm, his eyes wild. "Cullen, we have to find him, he might still be alive."

"We will, but first you need to let me heal you."

Simon glanced to the Wardens who were watching in concern. "Alright." He winced at the first ripple of magic, feeling a swell of grief he couldn't hope to stop. He tried to turn away from Reece to hide the tears, trembling as gentle hands stopped him.

"Don't be ashamed." Reece stated softly. "People often cry when being healed, it's part of the process."

"If you hadn't come when you did …" Simon shuddered painfully.

"But we did." Reece soothed. "Try to relax."

"I am so sorry I dragged you back here. I thought I was saving you."

Sighing softly Reece shook his head. "It doesn't matter about that now."

"Yes it does. I was so focused on my orders, on keeping you alive I didn't consider what was right. We should have stayed with Matthew and Dylan, to the end."

"They survived." Reece stated gently, seeing hope gleam in tortured eyes.

"Truly?"

"Yes, Will too. So we have to survive this too, so maybe one day we can work together again."

"Sooner than you think." Rathnal stated. "He wants you back with him." He almost smiled at the astonishment in Reece's eyes.

"I doubt the Knight Commander will allow it, especially after all of this, but damn it's nice to know."

"Oh I don't know." Alistair stated. "Once Will puts his mind to something he finds a way to get what he wants more often than not."

"Tis a moot point if we do not end this." Morrigan muttered.

Nodding Reece turned to Simon; he could use more healing and a week in bed, but they could afford neither. "Do you think you can stand?"

Nodding Simon gave a grunt of pain as he rose, glancing gratefully to both Alistair and Reece who steadied him. He stretched out his arms wincing in pain, but at least he could hold and wield his sword.

"Maybe you should join the others where it's safe." Reece nipped at his lip anxiously.

"No! I'm going after Uldred, he will pay for every death the Circle has endured for his madness."

xXx

Glancing around uneasily Rathnal wondered where in the Void he was; they had crossed the corridor entering another room and there had been yet another demon. Sighing softly his memories hazy he shook his head; wherever he was now it was not the Circle. It appeared to be a fortress of some kind, though one he was unfamiliar with. He stopped short as he found himself facing a man who could not possibly be there.

"Ah, there you are, I'm not disturbing you am I?"

Rathnal simply stood and stared at him.

"Rathnal?"

"Um … no I …" He shook his head. "Duncan I saw you die!"

Sighing softly Duncan gently gripped his shoulder. "Still having those nightmares? Rathnal we were victorious against the Archdemon. Do you not remember?"

"I … it must have slipped my mind." Rathnal murmured uneasily, glancing around him.

"You have been at Weisshaupt for some time now. Do you like it here?"

"This is Weisshaupt?"

"Yes. It is peaceful here don't you think? A welcome rest from all that fighting."

"Where is everyone else?"

"Resting, studying, training."

"Why aren't we in Ferelden?"

"We were called here to debrief. Rathnal you really must try to calm down. It is over. It is time to rest."

Shaking his head Rathnal moved away from his former Commander. "No I … it isn't over. I saw you die. I had to take over as Commander and there is still an Archdemon out there somewhere." He turned as he heard a low chuckle seeing Salac walking towards them.

"You wanting the boss's job? You're hardly a seasoned Warden."

"I didn't want to be Commander, but you all died."

"Even me?" Percy stated with an endearing smile. "Oh Rathnal what are we going to do with you?"

Backing away Rathnal swallowed at the lump building in his throat. "You died, all of you. So whoever … whatever you are, you are not my brother Wardens."

Duncan tilted his head slightly tutting softly. "You would take the peace I offer and throw it back in my face."

"This isn't peace! Whatever you are how could you possibly think being forced to see the people I failed would be peace?" He sucked in a sharp breath as the ruins became his home; his grandfather sitting by the Vhenadahl telling stories to several excited children.

"Perhaps this then."

Rathnal felt tears slip down his cheeks. "That won't exist if I don't leave here. I have to kill the Archdemon." He stepped back startled as his surroundings became Weisshaupt once more and the thing that looked like Duncan unsheathed his sword. "Please don't do this! Please!" The next moments were horrifying as he fought off Duncan, Percy and Salac. Had they been real he knew he wouldn't have stood a chance, but the demons were pale imitations of those they were pretending to be; only changing into their demonic forms as he delivered the killing blow. When it was over he knelt on the ground head bowed as his stomach churned before he vomited. Crawling away he curled on the ground tears burning his eyes. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." He lay where he was unsure of how much time was passing, unable to move, weighed down by grief and responsibility. He shuddered as a glowing pedestal appeared not three feet away from him. Heart pounding he wiped his cheeks, took a deep breath and forced himself to his feet, cautiously approaching it. "Maker let this be a way out of whatever nightmare this is."

xXx

Sinking to the ground resting his forehead on his knees Rathnal took a shuddering breath. If nothing else he certainly had a newfound appreciation of how bizarre and dangerous mages lives could be. He had initially been relieved to come across Niall hoping to elicit his help, the mage however seemed devoid of hope; so he had spent what seemed an eternity following the whims of the raw fade. His body, or at least his body in this place changing into mouse, spirit, burning man and golem. While he had to admit he had enjoyed being a golem, that much raw strength was intoxicating; he imagined he would be keeping a distance from campfires for a while, having flames surrounding him had left a fear that he wondered if he would ever recover from and being a mouse left him feeling far too vulnerable and the spirit, well the least said about that the better. He had vanquished the five guardians protecting the sloth demon that had presumably trapped them in this place and now perhaps he could finally find his companions, wondering if there were still trapped in an illusion as he had been, but just for a moment he needed to rest. He shook his head, he knew he had no body so he shouldn't need to rest or breathe, but he felt physically exhausted, his arms too tired to lift his sword, his legs refusing to carry his weight. "More demon tricks." He muttered with a snarl, forcing himself to his feet; approaching the pedestal and thinking of those trapped with him as he activated it.

xXx

Alistair sighed happily as Bethany snuggled against him.

"Are you happy Alistair?"

"I've never been happier." He kissed her gently, his hand resting lightly on her bump.

Bethany softly nuzzled his throat. "I never want us to leave here." She purred.

"We won't need to." Alistair reassured, glancing up and smiling broadly. "Rathnal!"

"Ali what in the Void?" Rathnal shook his head leaning against the wall. "That is not a pleasant sensation."

"Are you alright?"

Rathnal glanced at his friend and scowled. "Do I look alright? I've just spent Maker knows how long searching the damn fade, fighting demons and you're sitting there all cosy and content! Come on Ali we need to get going."

"Go where? Everything I need, or want is right here."

"Ali enough already I feel tired and sick and I just want to get out of here."

"Rathnal join us."

"Makers sake!" He muttered. "You know you're snuggled up to a demon right?"

"Your friend is a little rude." Bethany muttered.

"Come on Rathnal, sit with us."

"No I won't bloody sit with you! Ali we are in the Fade and that is a demon!"

"Rathnal I think maybe you need some rest, you are saying the strangest things."

"Alistair I get it; this is your happy place, but so help me if you don't get off your arse I will hit you on the head with your own shield!"

Alistair looked at him quizzically. "Hunger usually makes you grumpy."

"Arrgghh! I am not hungry!"

"Rathnal sit down and relax." Alistair pleaded.

"Alistair I hate to be the one to burst your bubble; but that is an evil, manipulative, soul sucking demon!"

"Shut your mouth!" Alistair snarled leaping to his feet.

"Just look at her!" Rathnal yelled.

Alistair looked at him startled and then turned to Bethany, seeing a reddish gleam in her eyes. He shot backwards looking horrified.

"Finally!" Knowing Alistair would be unlikely to drive his blade through something with the appearance of his beloved Rathnal did it for him; plenty of practice at least making the kill quick. Both men looked at each other uneasily.

"So … um … the Fade then."

"Yup."

"How about we don't mention this to anyone else, especially Bethany."

Rathnal chuckled before looking to Alistair in alarm as he seemed to shimmer.

"Rathnal what in the …"

Rathnal tried to grab him, but there was nothing to grip as his fingers drifted through air. "Damn it Alistair where in the Void have you gone now?"

xXx

Putting his head between his knees Rathnal tried to deal with the rush of nausea. When he found the demon responsible for this he was going to rip it apart; glancing around him staring horrified.

Rinna swallowed painfully; her body stretched almost beyond endurance on the rack and throbbing from the beating, but she refused to give in. She would be a Crow; if not that, then there was only death and she had not gone through all of this just to die so near the end. She threw out a cocky comment, relishing one of her tormentors say she had spirit before the ropes tightened again making her bite her lip to stop the cry of pain. She heard movement and blinked in surprise. "What are you doing here?"

Moving to her side Rathnal glared at the demon torturers who seemed content for the moment to remain at a distance. "Rinna this isn't real, it's the Fade. You need to snap out of it."

Rinna glared. "You are part of this, here to offer me a way out. Well I refuse. This is my test and I will stay strong."

"What kind of test is this, Maker they are torturing you?"

"A Crow is of little use if she cannot tolerate pain!"

"Alright, proudest moment I get it. Disturbing, but I get it. Thing is Rinna you were already a Crow, but now you're a Warden. So get up and show these guys who they are messing with."

Rinna shook her head. "More tricks, I will not fail my final test!."

Rathnal leaned over the rack, his lips almost touching Rinna's ear, feeling her shiver of anticipation. "If you get up now I will do that thing you like in bed as often as you want."

Rinna's eyes twinkled and the ropes seemed to dissolve; the fight that followed was brief but brutal, the demons standing little chance. "Well that was bracing." Rinna chuckled.

"That's one word for it." Rathnal leaned against the rack and sighed as Rinna vanished, allowing himself a moment to sit and close his eyes feeling utterly exhausted.

xXx

Arms folded Morrigan raised an eyebrow as she saw Rathnal appear. "Tis a wonder that you have found a way to traverse the Fade where I, a mage seem confined here. 'Tis most infuriating!"

"Well at least you know it's the bloody Fade." Rathnal grumbled, glancing to the older woman behind her.

"You know that's a …"

"Demon? Indeed. 'Tis pretending to be Mother; as if I could not tell the difference."

"Kill it and this ends, or at least this part of it does."

Morrigan gave a wicked grin and turned to the demon. "Tis time to end this charade."

Rathnal shielded his eyes as Morrigan unleashed a stream of wildly flickering purple energy at the demon, almost enjoying its screams as it was vanquished.

"Tis done."

With a sigh Rathnal watched her disappear as the others had before her. "Bloody demons." He muttered stomping over to the pedestal.

xXx

Glancing around cautiously, Reece frowned slightly. He had been in the Circle, but had no recollection of coming back out. He walked slowly through the barracks in Denerim unnerved by the silence. "This isn't right. I can't be in Denerim."

"More like you shouldn't be! You don't belong here mage!"

Reece turned sharply staring at the huge soldier glaring at him, realising in horror it was his father. "I … I'm part of the army."

"You're a mage; you should be locked up with others of your kind. You're too dangerous to be let loose. The only good mage is a dead mage."

Reece backed away whimpering slightly as he felt the wall at his back and two Templars appeared behind his father, their swords drawn. "No, this isn't real."

"You will see how real we are." The Templars chuckled.

"Reece." Rathnal hissed racing down the corridor to his side. "We are in the Fade and those are demons." He flushed slightly. "Though I suppose you already know that being a mage; we kill them and then we are out of here."

"I'll kill the Templars if you take the soldier. It's a demon I know, but no matter how angry I am with my father I … I can't kill him, even if it's not him."

Rathnal nodded. "Let's get this done." The demon posing as the soldier was defeated surprisingly easily and a few fire balls had destroyed the others. "Maybe the more we kill the weaker they all get."

"How many have you killed?"

"I …" Rathnal sighed as he turned and found himself alone. "Too many." He moved to the pedestal. "Alright Simon, let's find out what dream or nightmare this bloody thing has concocted for you." He shuddered as the Fade shifted around him finding himself in what appeared to be Gwaren. He paled as he saw Simon leaning against a wall with Jayden, or at least a representation of him, easily recognisable from the boy he had been. The pair were laughing together, with no hint of the pain that had touched either of their lives. He noticed they were watching two young women, Simon encouraging Jayden to speak to them.

"Simon!"

Turning Simon stared at him startled. "Rathnal? Maker what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be off being a Warden?"

"I am." Rathnal snapped. "And you're a Templar! Don't you see what this is?"

"I never went into the Order." He glanced to Jayden who shrugged. "Look Rath I'm not sure what's wrong with you, but since you are here let's just enjoy the day."

Clenching his fists Rathnal felt his jaw clench painfully. "Simon you are a Templar so on some level you must know this is the Fade. That isn't Jay, it's a damn demon."

"Well that's not a very nice thing to say about someone." Jayden muttered.

Rathnal shivered as he saw a hint of red gleam in the demon Jayden's eyes.

"Hey Rathnal come on, look you are probably just over worked with all this Warden business."

"Simon that is a demon, you need to kill it!"

"I'm not killing my friend!" Simon snapped horrified. "What in the Void is wrong with you?"

Rathnal stared at them feeling hope that Simon would deal with this one fade. "It's just a demon, it's just a demon." He muttered, darting forward and driving his sword deep into its chest, trembling as he saw Jayden's face contorted with pain before the demon screamed as it transformed, his sword gleaming as he finished it.

Simon stared in horror. "I … I …"

Rathnal shuddered as Simon vanished, taking deep breaths to calm his stomach before everything swirled around him and he found himself with the others, a demon ahead of them saying something. He didn't listen, horrified by all he had seen and done he lunged forward, a furious roar leaving his lips.

The others were just as enraged, Simon hitting it with Wrath of Heaven, the pillar of light driving the demon to the floor as it shrieked in pain and fury, horrified that he had been so easily deceived.

The demon twisted as swords drove into it from all sides, a fireball sending it flying backwards. No matter what shape it took on its attackers drove it back until too injured to defend itself further it succumbed to a freezing spell, unable to free itself.

With a roar of fury Rathnal drove his foot into its chest, the ice and demon shattering. Panting and trying to catch his breath he felt the Fade shift one last time. They woke on the stone floor in the Circle, the Sloth demon dead beside them. Rathnal managed to get to his feet and returned to the corridor clutching the wall as he vomited. He waved away the concerns of the others snapping at them to get the Litany, staggering to the opposite side of the corridor. Pressing his forehead to the cold stone of the wall he took several deep breaths before turning and sliding down to the floor, pressing his fist to his mouth to stifle the scream.

xXx

Allowing a brief rest Rathnal had kept to himself, or at least had tried to, but Rinna and Alistair were both persistent in their concern of him. Not wanting to retell so soon his own experience he had instead told them it was time to move on, though all he wanted to do was crawl into a bed and stay there for at least the next week. Taking the lead Rathnal opened what he hoped would be the last door finding himself confronted by a Templar trapped within some kind of barrier. He was on his knees, fists clenched against his face rocking slightly.

"I will stay strong, you will not break me." Cullen muttered, forcing back the terror, aching for a death that would not come to him.

Simon stepped closer to the barrier sinking to his knees. "Cullen! Maker's breath what have they done to you?" He paled as Cullen looked at him, horror, pain and despair screamed at his soul.

"More tricks!" Cullen spat. "This will change nothing just as showing me Dominic did not break me!" He shuddered painfully. "I am the only one left."

"No!" Simon gasped desperately, his hands pressing against the barrier. "I went with Reece to protect the children, but the doors were barred so I came back to help. I … Cullen please it's me."

Haunted eyes fixed on Simon. "If you are real you know what the mages have done." Cullen rasped. "What they are capable of. Uldred is the cause of this; he is up there in the Harrowing Chamber. Maker the sounds coming from there … you have to stop this, he has the First Enchanter and others. He will have turned them; he's too powerful; they all have to be stopped. Kill everyone up there!"

"We have to get you free first. Maybe we can destroy the barrier." Simon suggested trying to calm the flaring panic.

Hissing in frustration Cullen watched as Simon stood and attempted to dispel the barrier, followed by Reece throwing every spell he could think of at it. "It won't work and you are wasting time!" Cullen snapped, forcing himself to his feet. "Simon you know what you have to do."

Reece moved to the barrier. "He does, we have to save everyone we can."

Cullen scoffed and turned to Simon. "Do your duty."

"Maybe they can be saved." Simon whispered.

"There is no room for mercy. Strike hard and swift and end this." Cullen demanded.

"We will end this." Rathnal stated firmly. "But we will also save any we can." Not waiting to hear if the trapped Templar would reply he headed for the stairs, the others hurrying after him.

Downing a lyrium potion he had taken from the stockroom, Reece glanced back to Cullen shuddering at the hate in his eyes.

xXx

Author Note: Thank you for reading.