Chapter 6

The Next Step

Riella is meant to be heavily neurodivergent. Like Cole and Sera but in her own unique way.

Are we bashing Solas bald egg? Yes, we are.

Thedas. The Free Marches. 9:41 Dragon. A few months ago.

"You wish to speak to me, Keeper?" Quen asked aloud as he entered the head araval, the hide flap falling behind him, sealing the two off from the rest of the clan encampment. The elderly elven woman looked up at him, strands of gray hair falling over her face. Keeper Deshanna had lived for quite some time, the wrinkles etched across her face and crossing her scars and Vallaslin markings of Ghilan'nain. Compared to other elves whose pointed ears were often angled up, hers were angled down, with small chain cuffs linked to metal earrings shaped like Halla horns. Her Keeper robes were dark green, each panel shaped like leaves.

She remembered when the clan took in Quen and Riella ten years ago, the scars on the boy's face still fresh at the time. Both children had been utterly traumatized over the loss of their parents, Riella even more worried over the fact that she had recently realized she could wield magic.

Quen, though, had a dark air of animosity when Deshanna first met him. He refused to leave his younger sister's side for many weeks, and it took some time before she was able to gain his trust.

By now he had grown into a fine young man, one that Deshanna was sure his parents would be proud of if they had lived.

"Quen, you know about the Conclave, correct?" Quen nodded. His younger sister would talk to him about her opinions about everything the Keeper had told her.

The war between the Mages and Templars had been increasingly getting worse over the years, the Shem's Chantry religion falling apart as it tried to calm both sides. While many of the Dalish clans avoided such affairs, it made travel and trade harder for them all anyway. Quen and the rest of the clan's scouts sometimes had to take out entire Templar encampments in the midst of the night to assure safe travel for their people.

Keeper Deshanna continued. "The Chantry Divine has called for a truce between the Mages and Templars. The Shemlan Noble that you and the rest brought back is headed to Fereldan to attend this Conclave. He also was looking for more bodyguards as added security. This would be a perfect opportunity for us Dalish to spy on such events without being questioned." She then eyed Quen. "Since I cannot leave the clan for such a long period, such affairs should be passed onto the First-"

"Absolutely NOT. You know she's still inexperienced." Quen cut his Keeper off, shooting a glare at the elderly woman.

Deshanna held up her hand in peace. "I understand your concern. While this Conclave affects us all, Shem, Dalish, and all alike, I also agree with you about Riella. This is why I called for you here."

A young female voice chimed in. "Don't I get a say in this?" Deshanna and Quen turned around, Riella's face in an angry pout as she tossed the tent flap close. She stormed up to her elder brother, her arms folded.

Her hair was white as snow like her brother's, but her hair was more neat and had well-kempt straight bangs held with a leather headband from their mother compared to Quen's messy locks. She wore her mother's leather arm sleeves, though she needed to fully grow into them. Her First to the Keeper robes were simple compared to Deshanna's, the leather a brighter green. The fresh vallaslin markings of Mythal were etched on her forehead and on the sides of her face.

Riella was not like most children when she was growing up, something her parents caught on at an early age. Besides the usual obvious reasons the other children from their father's clan picked on her and Quen, she had difficulties in interacting with other clan members, even when clan Lavellan stepped in to raise her. She didn't know how to interact with the other children in the Lavellan clan. She barely made eye contact with Keeper Deshanna or anyone else who talked to her besides Quen, who had to get her attention (eventually she did learn to show she was paying attention to others, but it took time). Being First to the Keeper, she had to learn how to read, but it was difficult for her to understand that the writing on the pages meant words, hence why Quen learned to read too, to help teach her. Some people said she was 'slow' but not as bad as ones who were typically called that. Even though she finally reached the age to receive her Vallaslin, it was a difficult ritual for her, but she had insisted to the Keeper to continue despite all the tears. Despite having done the coming of age ceremony, she still had tantrums when things confused her or things didn't go the way she wanted, but it wasn't because she was spoiled, she was just frustrated.

"Riella, you're not going." Quen said sharply, to which Riella wrinkled her nose in disgust.

"You always say 'No' to things like this brother! Why can't I go?" She whined.

Quen grabbed his little sister by her shoulders. "Riella, you're too young! You don't know what it's like out there! Outside of the clan!"

Riella slapped Quen's hands away, snarling. "I finally just got my Vallaslin! Doesn't that prove I'm an adult? I'm the First to the Keeper! That means I should be the one doing things! Just because I'm 'slow' sometimes in learning, doesn't mean I'm not competent! I want to do what you do! "

Clenching his fists, Quen straightened his back. "Riella-"

"No!" she snapped, her body shaking with frustration. "You've always been like this! Ever since Mom and Dad died! "

"Riella…" Quen growled a warning, but his sister ignored him.

"Dad would have gone to this Conclave! Mom would have-"

"They're BOTH DEAD, Riella!" Quen shouted, shocking both his sister and their Keeper in the tent. "There's no point in talking about what they'd do when they aren't here anymore!" As he stepped forward, Riella stepped back. "You're always so OBLIVIOUS to danger until it's too late! Just like when Mom and Dad were killed! There will be too many Templars there! What if something goes wrong?" Eventually, he cornered her. "I'm not losing you like Mom and Dad! "

Deshanna quickly rose and stood between the two siblings. "Enough!" She pushed Quen back, but the damage had already been done.

Riella lowered her head, her lips quivering. "It's not fair…" she murmured. Small sparks of lightning flickered up and down her arms. "I... I just want to be helpful…" Hot globs of tears rolled down her face, staining her cheeks with salt. "I hate it... I hate how you don't think I'm ready…" Snapping her head back at her brother, the sparks grew larger. "I HATE YOU QUEN!"

Keeper Deshanna moved fast, flicking her wrist out to summon a barrier around Riella, containing the lightning spell. "Riella!" She said sternly, startling her First from her tantrum. "You cannot control your composure and your magic! Because of this, I'm NOT allowing you to go on this mission." She ended her last sentence with a hiss.

Fresh tears fell as Riella's face crumpled. Choking out a sob, she ran out of the tent, darting into the forest. Quen moved to go after her, but the Keeper put her hand on his arm, shaking her head. "Let her cry it out. She needs time to calm down." Deshanna said. "In fact, both of you need to cool your heads." The grip on his arm tightened as she spoke. "You need to control your anger more too, Quen. You were in the wrong for yelling at her like that."

Quen looked down, anger still coursing through him, but also a sense of guilt from his behavior. "Ever since our parents died, I've had to be the one to raise her. I had to be the one to protect her. She's the only family I have left. I just... I just want her to be safe. Who knows how the world outside this clan will treat her? I've seen enough of the real world. There are too many people who act just like elves from father's clan. I worry how she will break under such cruelty the world is filled with. Especially since her magic is always so erratic."

Keeper Deshanna's eyes softened as her grip loosened. "I know. They treated the both of you poorly."

"If this clan didn't come by, my father's would have thrown her out into the wilderness since she can't control it easily. If the Templars got ahold of her, they would either kill her, or force her to be Tranquil." He shuddered at that thought. He remembered encountering the mages who were stripped more than just their magic; they were stripped of their emotions and free will. Some Templars took advantage of the Tranquil, since they couldn't fight back. Quen worried that the mage circles would do just that to Riella if they caught her outside the clan.

"I understand. She still needs more time to practice. Her learning is slower compared to most, though she is very bright. Even so, she is too inexperienced to go out on her own yet. That is why I wanted to talk to you." Deshanna then gestured for Quen to sit down to discuss the matter, this time without any more interruptions.

Present

Zyllian rubbed the blood splatter from her mask. Around her was a circle of bodies of dead rogue rebel Mages and Templars. Their corpses were almost unrecognizable by the gashes carved into their flesh from her scythes.

When Quen and the others had reached the Crossroads, the fighting from the Mage-Templar war was already in full swing. The Lady Seeker had warned them of the deserters from both the Rebel Mages and the Templars. While the Inquisition may have wanted to talk to either party for assistance with the Breach, those who had defected into their own small groups were very much a threat. The conflict between the rogue factions was dragging in innocents and causing chaos for the common folk.

When Cassandra's earlier failed attempts at shouting at the two groups to stand down, the Elin Reaper went ahead and unleashed her sickle blades, ripping many of the rebels apart. While the Reaper mercilessly took down the brunt of the crowd, Quen and the others dispatched the rest. For Eirai, it had been some time since she used physical arrows, but her aim was just as accurate, according to Varric's calls of praise during the fight.

Once the skirmish cleared out of the Crossroads, Inquisition soldiers quickly moved in, establishing protection around the small village where refugees were.

xoxoxo

Eruno leaned against her axe as she took in the village. Besides the many villagers staring and whispering amongst themselves about her siblings, there were those more focused on helping the injured refugees. Outside one house was a set of makeshift cots for patients. A woman dressed in a fancier version of robes from the Chantry was seen kneeling by one of these beds. The Elin watched Cassandra question one of the villagers, who directed them to the Chantry woman.

While Cassandra, Quen, and Eirai went up to the woman to talk to her, Eruno noticed her twin sister looking around nervously. "Lighten up sis." She joked. As her large bushy tail flicked around, she heard a few gasps of surprise from the gawkers.

Erune fidgeted, her hands gripped tightly around her staff. "Everyone's staring at us…" she murmured in a quiet voice.

"Not surprising. Your animal ears and tails stand out." Varric came up behind the young Elin, patting her on the back. "You'll just have to get used to it."

"Heh, once they see how awesome we are, then they'll have more to be talking about!" Eruno grinned.

"Just because you're used to the praise for being a Chosen One back at home, does NOT mean you'll get it here." Zyllian shot a glare while crossing her arms.

Eruno stuck out her tongue at her older sister before relaxing again. It had been some time since she and her twin had been the center of attention, not that she didn't mind, of course. Once the fanfare died down at home after she and her sisters had helped defeat the Argon army, work still had to be done with the new enemy in their lands.

So far, things had been quiet after the Fae Sisters dealt with part of the Archdeva problem. The Archdeva's leader had fled when the Federation cornered his stronghold. There had been no activity from that enemy since.

'If they decided to make a move though while we're away…' Eruno's shoulder tensed slightly before slumping again. 'Naw… Mystel wouldn't have sent us along to this world then. She did say: "The Chosen Ones were the best option". Of course we are…' She started to lazily smile to herself, thinking to herself about how great it was being a Chosen One as usual.

"Copper for your thoughts, Apples?" Varric's voice broke the squirrel Elin out of her daze.

"Eh? Oh, just thinking about how Solas's bald head is super shiny." Eruno said while dragging out the word 'super' as she often did. "Like, how does he get it that way? Does he use wax it in the morning or something?" The dwarf looked at Eruno before bursting into laughter, drawing attention to the two of them. Solas glared at the Elin before rolling his eyes. Erune tried to act small and distance herself from her sister, while Zyllian ignored the others.

xoxoxo

Mother Giselle was aiding an injured soldier who was wriggling away when a mage healer approached. Quen watched the Chantry Mother shush and reassure the man, who eventually relented and allowed the healer to use their magic.

"Mother Giselle?" Cassandra called out to the woman.

"I am." She rose. "Greetings, Lady Seeker. I'm glad you and the Inquisition have come." Mother Giselle then looked at Quen. "And you must be the one they are calling the Herald of Andraste." She drew her attention to Eirai next. "And you are one of the Fae Sisters."

Eirai nodded. "You wanted to speak to us?"

"Yes. It concerns the Chantry." Beckoning them, she led them away to a quieter place to converse. "I am aware of its denouncement of the Inquisition and familiar with those behind it. I will not lie to you. Some do it in the hopes of becoming the new Divine. Others are simply terrified by the events that have occurred. And then the arrival of the Elins themselves from another world."

Quen frowned. "I can see why people would react that way."

Mother Giselle nodded back. "What happened at the Conclave was a tragedy... and a complete surprise to all. Some have become fearful of not just you, but of the Elins. Fear makes us desperate, but hopefully not beyond reason. This is why I have called you both here. Much of the fear of you both is from the frightful tales they have heard. Give them something else to believe."

"You want us to appeal to them?" Quen questioned. "How? Will that even work? I'm an elf, and she and her sisters... well, you already know…"

"Go to where many of them are right now, in Val Royeaux. Have them see that neither of you is as terrifying as they think." The Revered Mother then smiled. "Let me put it this way: you do not need to convince them all. You just need some of them to doubt."

"That is true." Eirai thought aloud. "Their power is their unified voice. If we can break apart the union, they cannot influence the people as strongly."

"A sensible idea. Thank you, Mother Giselle." Quen began to bow to the woman, who immediately lifted her hand to stop him.

"Please Herald. You do not need to be so humble."

Quen then sighed. "I am not the Herald of Andraste though." He said, exasperated. Eirai eyed him with her arms crossed.

Mother Giselle looked him over. "Even if you do not claim to be, you helped steady the tide of our world's destruction. I honestly don't know if you have been touched by fate or sent to help us like the Fae Sisters... but I hope…" She lifted her head and assessed the two of them. "Hope is what we need right now. The people will listen to your rallying calls, as they will listen to no other. You could build the Inquisition into a force that will deliver us... or destroy us."

Quen shifted nervously. Why did so much have to be put on him?

It was always him. He had to be the one to make the decisions, the one everyone looked to for advice. While he could handle leading the patrol scouts for his clan, he had never been tasked to help so many people before.

Eirai put her hand on Quen's arm reassuringly when she noticed the elf was tense. It calmed the elf down as he thought things over.

Right now, he wasn't alone. He had Cassandra, the other advisors, Varric, even Solas to give him each of their own opinions for him to make decisions. And then there were the Fae Sisters. They were here to help guide him. Although the people may have been putting their hopes on him, he did not do the work all by himself

Quen then relaxed, mentally shooing away the thoughts of doubt. He thought back to what he had said to Erune before.

"I'll do my best to support you. So neither of us is alone in handling this mess."

He paused in his musings when he heard Mother Giselle speaking again. "I will go to Haven and provide Sister Leliana the names of those in the Chantry who would be amenable to a gathering. It is not much, but I will do whatever I can." She then turned and left, escorted by Inquisition soldiers.

"I will say, compared to the Chantry Grand Chancellor's reaction to the both of us, Mother Giselle's view is more sensible at the moment." Eirai whispered to Quen.

Quen agreed. "Neither of us is of that religion, but she is right. Many of the people of Thedas are Andrastrian or follow the Chantry itself."

"When chaos erupts, people turn to faith. To help calm the masses, one should focus on what they have in common, which in this case, is the Chantry." The Elin cocked her head at him with a gentle smile. "Think of it this way; even though some people see you as the Herald of Andraste, others will see you as a chance for improvement for elves."

"It's a start." Quen shrugged as the two of them walked back to the others, who were exploring the village. "Let's see what we can do here in the vicinity before we head back to Haven. Cullen did want us to talk to Horse master Dennet about joining the Inquisition."

xoxoxo

Wolves. Just what they needed.

The famous ex-Redcliffe Horse master would have offered his services to the Inquisition immediately, but he had other concerns on the land that needed to be addressed. The wolves of the Hinterlands had begun acting more savage than usual, causing strife for the farmers. In order to start a partnership with Dennet, Quen and the others would have to deal with the issue themselves.

Wolves had always been a complicated subject for Quen. They were associated with the elven trickster god Fen'Harel, The Dread Wolf, who was said to have betrayed the rest of the Creators and caused the downfall of the great elven empire. Even so, he and his father had admired such creatures, feeling as if there was more to the tragic tale about their Gods.

But as much as Quen respected and loved wolves, he also had bitterness towards them. He knew it wasn't directly the beautiful creatures' fault for the death of his parents, but seeing them would bring back the bad memories.

It surprised Quen somewhat when he heard Solas join in with his quiet prayer of apology to the bodies of the slain animals before they set off to find the den. He then brushed it off, as the other elf had also questioned some of the views the Dalish commonly had (which almost led to an argument, but Quen decided to back off and respect Solas's opinions instead).

What surprised Quen though, was Zyllian's reaction. Unlike the other times where she would run ahead to take out monsters, people, and other dangerous wildlife alike, this time she held back.

"Something's wrong." The Elin murmured under her mask. "These wolves are acting different." Her grip on her weapons began to quiver.

"You're right. There is something afoot here." Solas agreed with the Reaper. "Perhaps if we find the root of the cause, we will not have to kill the rest of these creatures."

Both Solas and Zyllian were right, Quen noted. These predators were much more aggressive. Their eyes looked bloodshot, as if the beasts were possessed. Even though the farmers reported that much of their livestock had been attacked, Varric pointed out that the wolves' bodies were starved, the packs acting desperate for food.

When they reached the den of these beasts, their questions were answered. Standing amongst a pile of animal bones stood a Sloth demon. The atmosphere was thick and musky around it. Bones of both prey and wolf littered the alcove.

Zyllian's hair on the back of her neck stood up as she saw the injured bodies of wolves by the demon. She let out a cry; the demon turning its sunken eyes in the direction of the group.

Quen reacted immediately, body twisting out of the way as the Sloth demon lunged towards him. Spinning on the balls of his feet, his daggers sliced the demon's oily hide.

Staggering back, the demon opened its stitched mouth and let out a blood-curdling screech, forcing everyone to covering their ears. Circles of inky black puddles erupted in a circle around the group, deformed arms dripping with filth crawling forth. More demons joined in the fray, surrounding the party, each one stinking vehemently of a foulness that stung one's nostrils.

Eirai, Varric, Solas, and Erune drew to the middle of the circle, Eirai's shots following Varric's soon after to provide support for Quen, Cassandra, and Eruno.

With each slash from his daggers, inky black blood splattered onto Quen's clothes, darkening the dark blue leather with even darker splotches. Every demon he and the others brought down, they let out a hellish cry before their bodies crumbled like ash.

Zyllian ignored the lesser creatures and targeted the Sloth demon itself, her own attacks swift, aggressive, and relentless, scythes ripping the filthy robes of the demon to shreds. Each time the Sloth demon tried to retaliate, she forced it back on the defensive with a fierce anger in her eyes. The demon eventually lost its footing and fell back, Zyllian taking her chance to leap on it and with one clean sweep, hacked its head off its bony neck, blood spewing from the severed parts before the head rolled away and finally crumbling to ash; a black pool of blood remained under the Elin's feet. As soon as the monsters were taken down, the air around the den seemed to feel lighter and fresh.

"Erune!" Zyllian barked out. The young Elin snapped to attention. "Come here." The Reaper moved toward the injured wolves.

"Are you sure?" Cassandra furrowed her brow.

"The demon possessed these creatures." Solas said, looking around the alcove of the massive lair. "Now that the corrupted spirit is gone, they are no threat to the farmers." Quen followed the two Elins past the corpses of wolves whose injuries were too grave to be saved. "Not all of them seemed to have fallen under the corruption...so the demon found little use for them."

Quen's elf ears picked up the sound of whimpering to the side, attracting the attention of the party in one direction in the cavern.

Zyllian sprinted over broken bones to a black figure that was trembling in the small corner of the den. As Solas summoned a fireball to provide more light in the darker space of that area, Zyllian kneeled down beside the creature. The light from the fireball revealed the dusted alcove. Lying on a pile of moldy, stale mulch was a wolf with fur so black the tips of its hairs seemed to shine with a purplish hue in the firelight. A deep gash stretched across the animal's chest, caked with blood and dirt.

Quen watched as Zyllian's eyes softened before she tugged off her steel mask. The wolf whined at the presence of the Elin. "Do not worry. We are here to help." She lifted her hand, letting the creature sniff her fingertips before allowing her to rest her hand on its head. Zyllian then called out to Erune, who nodded and hurried over to tend to the injured wolf.

The others watched silently as the Elin Priestess carefully closed the wound up. As soon as she was satisfied with her work, she slumped backwards, Quen rushing to grab her. "T-too much mana." Erune gasped.

"... thank you…" Zyllian murmured. She turned back to the wolf, which slowly stood on its feet. The wolf tried to move its body. Once it realized the injury had been healed, it rose and quickly darted past Zyllian, its tail brushing her cheek before it ran out of the den and into the forest.

"... What was that…?" Varric looked at Zyllian suspiciously.

Zyllian didn't answer and instead put her mask back on her face. Quen and the others watched her move past them to the cave entrance. "We've dealt with the wolves for the horse master. We should head back." As soon as she finished speaking, she quickly left. Quen and Cassandra looked questioningly at the other Elins; Eruno merely shrugged while Eirai ignored them and followed after her twin sister. Erune shook her head as the attention was finally turned to her. Seeing that they weren't going to get any answer from the sisters any time soon, Quen gestured to the others to leave.

xoxoxo

Erune rested against Quen's chest as he urged the horse into a gentle trot. After informing Dennet about dealing with the savage wolves, and promises for the Inquisition to set up watchtowers against bandits and more rogue mage and templar groups, the horse master agreed to offer his services. The man gave Quen and the others five horses for the journey back to Haven, with promises to arrive later with more for the Inquisition.

Solas and Cassandra each had a horse of their own, while Eruno paired up with Varric, chatting excitedly to the Dwarf about stories from her world; Eirai and Zyllian both shared a saddle, the twin sisters silently conversing with one another. As Cassandra's horse led the group, Quen's hung in the back, the elf and Elin together on their own mount.

As Erune leaned back and closed her eyes, Quen looked down at her sleepy face. "I was wondering," he began, rousing the Elin, who tilted her head up to blink at him. "You and your sisters each seem to have a feather. Why is that?" In response, Erune reached up to the blue object from her hair and handed it to him so he could have a closer look.

It was a small feather that felt soft to the touch. The clasp of the quill was made of gold. Each of the other Fae sisters had a different colored feather of their own. Zyllian had a black quill, Eirai with the white, and Eruno wore a golden one in her green hair. "My older sisters got them when they were younger. They were souvenirs at the time. But now they've become sentimental to us." Her lips curled down. "They are the reminder that we are not alone. Even if we are apart, the feathers remind each of us other the time we've had together."

Quen nodded and handed back the feather charm to Erune. "It sounds like you and your sisters have a strong family bond."

Erune smiled back before yawning, leaning back again. "Even though Eruno and I are much younger than Zyllian and Eirai, it feels as though we've always known... each other forever..." Her eyelids closed and she fell asleep.

xoxoxo

"Zyllian…." Eirai whispered to her sister as they rode.

"What?" The Reaper snapped back in a quiet tone. Eruno was distracted by talking to the dwarf and Erune was too sleepy to overhear.

"You need to control yourself."

"... I'm fine…"

"We're far away from the Dream. But the shadows are being drawn more strongly from you…Erune hasn't noticed because she's too busy with the elf..."

"Why do you care?" Zyllian scoffed. So what if the shadows were stronger here? They gave her the strength to fight.

"Because I am your sister! Don't push yourself so hard! You KNOW what you risk when you use the shadows recklessly!" Eirai hissed.

"... whatever..." The Reaper snarled before falling silent for the rest of the trip. Eirai huffed, annoyed by her sibling's stubbornness.

xoxoxo

The Orlesian noble merchant smiled cheekily as Dorian snatched the money held out to him. The mage scowled to himself while pocketing the money. By the time he had reached Val Royeaux, he was penniless. He didn't want to sell that necklace, but he needed money to get to Redcliffe.

After restocking on supplies, the mage left the grand city to head to the Hinterlands on foot. As he walked alongside the road, he took out the last letter he had received from his friend Felix, reading it over again.

Dorian,

The Venatori have been acting strange since The Elder One has sent his subordinate to aid in their efforts. His right-hand man is strange. He dares not show his face to any of us, always shrouded in a dark veil which is curious.

The man has taken an extreme interest in the amulet you and my father were working on. The tests have been showing signs of success, but it worries me greatly as to what he and the Elder One have planned with the amulet.

Dorian, there is something going on. Something far greater and darker than father realizes. He may think the amulet will save me, but I fear it is too late.

We are heading to Redcliffe to undertake the rebel mages in their ranks as indentured servants. Meet me there. I'll wait for you in the Chantry.

-Felix

Dorian folded up the parchment and adjusted his robes to block the wind chill on his face. Damn the cold. He was not going to be happy once he crossed the borders into Fereldan. His lips twitched as he reached up to smooth out his mustache.

Kaffas! Why was the south so cold?

xoxoxo

The Iron Bull sat with the Chargers at the large wooden table in the tavern, each of them with a large pint of ale in front of them. The Qunari laughed as he and his men knocked their wooden mugs in the air for a toast, sloshing beer over the rims, onto the plates stacked with food.

"To a job well done today Chargers!" A chorus of agreement rose from the rest of the mercenaries at his table before each of them began to dig into the feast in front of them.

Amidst ripping a good shred of meat off of a ram leg, Iron Bull's ears overheard patrons from the next table over, conversing loudly enough for the whole tavern to hear.

"You heard about the Inquisition?"

"Aye. Nothing but heretics who want to bring down the Chantry."

"Heard they got some children from a foreign land to be their mascots."

"As if having an elf wasn't bad enough. Who ever heard of an elf leading a religion that is on par with the Chantry?"

"No good will come of this."

"I'd say otherwise. Considering the shite that has been raking over these lands for the past few years, maybe we need a third-party intervention."

"True, true."

"They've been sending out representatives everywhere. Their scouts are actually dealing with problems that the Chantry and city guards refused to do."

"Maybe we do need this kind of change. Ey barkeep! Another one!"

The gossipers talked about the recently established Inquisition in Haven and how, despite the lack of much Chantry support so far, their numbers and influence were beginning to grow. Other tavern-goers joined in on the conversation, chatting away about what the Inquisition was also dealing with the rifts from the Breach.

Krem noticed that Bull paused in his meal to listen intently, deep in thought. "What's up Chief?" Krem piped up.

Iron Bull looked back at his second-in-command. "Ben-Hassrath mentioned about that new organization that popped up a few weeks ago." He jerked his head over to the table of busybodies. "They were interested in how things were going. Whatever this Inquisition is doing, they've been successful so far. Looks like lots of people are really taking notice."

"They're the ones who have a 'famed' Herald of Andraste who can close those Fade rifts right? There are also rumors about some four girls, but the Herald is the main talk of the town." Krem said, taking a swig of his beer. Suddenly, he slammed his pint down on the table, catching the Chargers' attention. "Hey Chief! Let's join the Inquisition! Good fights for a good cause!"

The Iron Bull choked on his drink, coughing for the next few minutes while thumping his chest. "I don't know, Krem. I hear there are demons." He then grumbled.

"Ah, don't worry about the demons, chief! I'm sure we won't see many!" Krem slapped his boss hard on the back, causing the Qunari to inhale his drink a second time.

"Andraste's Tits, Krem!" Bull smacked Krem lightly upside the head.

He then paused to think it over while Krem rubbed his temple. "You know... the Ben-Hass might like that idea actually…" Grinning, he slapped his hand on the table. "Alright Chargers! You all up for a new job?" A chorus of cheers was their reply. "It's settled then!" Bull then pointed at his second-in-command. "Krem, you go pitch our services to the Inquisition. We'll be headed to the Storm Coast ourselves."

"Chief, why don't we just go to Haven all-together?" Krem balked.

"We already have business to deal with the Venatori on the coast. And, since this was YOUR idea," He jabbed his finger into Krem's chest plate. "You can go be the salesperson."

Letting out a deep sigh, Krem went back to his drink, shaking his head.