The Cousland Affair

Arle Howe is a snake. He is exactly the kind of human that makes you wonder if Moryo's rants on the subject hold some weight rather than just being furious that Ulfang betrayed him. That might be unfair. Ulfang at least had the decency to try and kill you personally, you get the impression Arl Howe would rather not get his hands dirty.

So, when Teyrn Loghaine sent you a message saying that you 'needed to talk about Howe' to quote the terse note, you were concerned. Naturally, you personally want to know where he is and what he is doing at all times, you would infinitely rather know where a snake is then blunder about ignorant of its movements.

Yet, despite this you find it strange that Loghaine has sent a message to you on this matter. First, legally it is no business of yours what Arl Howe does secondly, Arl Howe seems to be a supporter of Teyrn Loghaine's, and he seems most unwilling to part with him. Finally, why would he speak to you on the matter? The two of you are hardly close.

There is a voice in the back of your head, spurred partly by thoughts of Ulfang, which whispers that this is a trap. Indeed, either Teyrn Loghaine, or even Arl Howe may have decided that you are an inconvenience they would rather dispense with. You deem it unlikely, but if it should come to pass you are confident you will emerge victorious.

A voice that that sounds sounds suspiciously like Turko says that you were wrong last time and that this time your pride will get you killed. You are slowly becoming accustomed to the grief these phantom voices cause.

Nobody ambushes you when you arrive at Denerim, proving you right again. You find your way into the castle without too much trouble, apparently they are expecting you. Teyrn Loghaine is in his study in what is, in your expert opinion, a moderately intense rage.

"Lord Russandol." He growls when you are shown in.

"Teyrn Loghaine." You reply with a tilt of your head. "You wished to speak to me."

A silence stretches out far longer than necessary. Loghaine's scowl twists and twitches in a manner you believe conveys irritation. He draws in a deep breath and then walks over to the door.

Poking his head out he clearly looks left and right before turning back to facing you and closing it firmly behind you. Then he speaks in a quiet voice.

"You said Arl Howe was a snake. Explain." He commands.

Loghaine does not respond to your questioning look, so with reluctance you explain.

"I am not quite so young as I appear, Teyrn Loghaine. While I doubt you would believe me if I gave you even a rough guess at the count of years I have experienced, I have seen many men in my life." Loghaine frowns as you speak. "I have seen men like Arl Howe before, I have seen the way they say only that which they believe will advance their position. I know that he means nothing he says."

"So a gut feeling, based on nothing but past experience?" He asks sceptically.

"No. My cousin Artanis was said to be able to read the heart of whomever she spoke to instantly. I cannot claim her talent, but what I lack in nature I make up for in practice." You reply. "I have looked many liars in the eye, I know how they look. Arl Howe has never once spoken anything true in my presence."

"Or it could be that you simply dislike him." The Teyrn says with a glare. "He did speak against you at the summit."

"It could." You agree reasonably. "However, you have called me here to speak of him without his presence, and you are clearly agitated. Given your opening question, you have clearly received reason to suspect the Arl, or we would not be having this conversation."

"And by giving that little explanation, you prove that you've a talent at reading people." Loghaine says with a bitter smile.

He stomps over to his desk and flicks a sheet of paper your way. "A report from the Arl himself."

Your eyes quickly scan through the purposefully vague language. Something about 'the Cousland problem' being 'dealt with' and 'securing a larger powerbase for our faction'.

You look up at the Teyrn. "I was unaware Teyrn Cousland was a 'problem'. In my one interaction with him I found him a pleasant and dutiful nobleman. I am unsure why he would need to be 'taken care of' nor what manner that might have taken."

"Cousland fought with us in the revolution." Loghaine says, only half responding to you. "Howe's father didn't. Cousland didn't show any sign of cooperating with Orlais, but would he? He's not here yet."

The Teyrn shakes his head and meets your gaze. "What I need to know is if I can trust Howe. You are one of the few people who have anything negative to say against him I can trust, so what do you say?"

"I must admit that I have no way of judging this matter to my own satisfaction." You admit reluctantly. "While I do not trust Arl Howe, at the same time that does not automatically make him a liar. Then again, we have heard nothing from the Couslands or their allies. I would hear both sides before I made a judgement, assuming I was in your position."

Teyrn Loghaine raises an eyebrow. "That sounds suspiciously like you're avoiding the question."

You give the old soldier a considering look, and reply, "Imagine a scenario for me. You receive a scouting report, claiming an enemy army you didn't know existed has arrived on the field but it has been taken care of. What would your first reaction be?"

"I am not a child." Teyrn Loghaine growls. "Do not condescend to me."

"I meant no offence." You reply with an apologetic head tilt. "I merely wished to use an illustrative comparison."

The Teyrn glares at you but nods in satisfaction. "I take your point."

The human turns his gaze on his desk and a short pause in the conversation leaves you curious.

"Is that all you wished to discuss?" You ask. "Should I remain here until such a time as Arl Howe returns."

Teyrn Loghaine shakes his head and looks back at you.

"Imagine a scenario for me." He says gruffly. "Say someone, an ally, took over a force of dubious loyalty, but in doing so proved themselves untrustworthy. How would you deal with them?"

"Well, that depends on who overtook what force." You reply slowly. "Obviously if Celegorm was overthrown I would kill whoever did so, assuming his warriors did not do so first. Thingol or Dior would have changed little, unless replaced by a Noldo. Túrin and Orodreth's actions brought Glaurung upon them, so that proved to be less advantageous than initially thought."

The Teyrn pinches the bridge of his nose. "Perhaps you could be less specific."

"The point I am making is that I cannot." You reply. "Context is everything. Who replaces whom, what their agenda is, how much can they be trusted, and whether they are cursed, these are the things that must be understood before a decision is made."

"You know what I am asking about." Loghaine growls.

"If we speak about the situation at hand rather than a hypothetical, then I have already given my advice." You reply, unsure where the conversation is leading.

The Teyrn breathes through his nose and looks at you. "I'll come right out and say it then. If Arl Howe is in the wrong, the fact remains that he is useful. If he controls Highever, he will be needed for the Blight and the war with Orlais."

"Leaving aside the fact that there is not yet any evidence that Orlais will go to war with you." You reply, to an irritated eye roll. "Then, assuming that the Cousland's warriors are not loyal enough to assassinate the Arl for slaying their beloved commander, I would note that his usefulness is overplayed."

"How so?" The Teyrn asks.

You shrug. "Well, given that he has betrayed his direct lord, and done so without any orders and on his own initiative, then he is likely in a more precarious position than you believe. He could easily be made an example of to gain allies with people who are not currently on your side."

"While alienating those already there by showing that I don't reward loyalty." Teyrn Loghaine says flatly.

"Is this loyalty?" You ask, genuinely curious. "Let us give him the uttermost benefit of the doubt, and the Couslands were actively plotting with the Blight itself. Why hide it? Why not proclaim to all that Teyrn Cousland was a traitor and he is held in custody for a trial?"

The Teyrn frowns. "Taking him alive may not have been practical."

"True, but what of his children? And why the secrecy? Surely he would be far more eager to show to the world that he was justified." You reply sceptically. "I do not know Highever well enough to be certain, but it seems less like one who had to save his people from a traitor, and more like someone who opportunistically wished to increase his power and seized a chance to."

"Then why tell me at all?" The Teyrn asks bluntly. "By your argument, he may very well know that there are more traitors."

"It is true, there are many possibilities." You reply. "That is why I wish to know more before I make a judgement. However, if he is lying, if there was no betrayal, I would estimate he has less support than he pretends. He may very well be counting on your support to ensure he keeps the prize he has taken."

The Teyrn drums his fingers on his desk. "Let's assume you're right. What then?"

"I imagine it will be quite the affair." You muse. "The matter would likely fall under the king's jurisdiction, perhaps the new Teyrn of Highever, should no Couslands survive."

"Playing the fool ill suits you." Teyrn Loghaine growls.

"I am not 'playing the fool'." You reply. "I am stating my preference for the matter to be handled in as lawful a manner as possible. The highest, and grimmest, duty of the prince is dispensing justice, and it should always be treated as separate from politics."

"Then you are being naive." Teyrn Loghaine replies. "Let's say we do it your way, we drag him in front of the king, his warriors rise up in our own camp, try to free him. Then we lost soldiers, and we can't fight the Blight as effectively. In what world is that just?"

Pride and anger war against your control. However reasonable the point may be, especially when dealing with humans, you hate admitting that you are wrong. Still, you cannot afford to make an enemy of the Teyrn, and you will have to concede the point.

"Naive or not, I tire of the endless compromise of war." You sigh. "However, I acknowledge that we may not be able to take my preferred course of action."

The Teyrn grunts and shifts. "Regardless of our personal feelings, we have to do what is necessary. It is, what did you call it, the highest duty of those who are not princes."

The almost subtle emphasis he puts on the title is amusing enough you nearly smile. Still, you take his point, even if it is made without grace. Fortunately, you have a precedent to follow in this matter, you do not even need to think about it very long.

"If all mechanisms of regular justice are not applicable, then let him earn his freedom in battle." You state. "Place him in the vanguard, let him be the first to meet the enemy."

The Teyrn leans forward, carefully concealing a smile. "Sell me."

"There is a great deal of philosophical justification for such a practice." You begin. "Being a matter of proving that a previous mistake was atypical by demonstrating exemplary service elsewhere."

"Not interested." Teyrn Loghaine growls. "Give me practicalities not, whatever that is."

You shrug. "I never thought it your particular branch of argument, but it is present, and I suspect even you will find it useful should, say, a surviving Cousland ask why you are not helping them."

The Teyrn's frown turns contemplative, and he taps his fingers against the desk. "True, but insufficient."

"On a more practical level it serves two primary purposes." You continue. "The first is simple, if we cannot carry out justice due to the Blight, then the least he can do is prove useful in combating it."

It is apparent the Teyrn does not much care for that particular argument either, so you move on.

"The second, more pressing concern, is that a traitor once may be a traitor again. By placing him in the front line you essentially trap him into either admitting his treason or being placed into a position where he is unlikely to harm anyone." You continue.

"Routes can start from the front line. I wouldn't say it makes him harmless." The Teyrn counters.

"I did not say it would, but potentially starting a route is the least you can hope for. Stripping him of his titles and exiling him would ensure he was no danger, but as has been established, that is not an option." You reply evenly.

The Teyrn looks away from you. He stands from his desk and walks to the window. What thoughts occupy him, you can guess but there is no certainty. He stares out over the castle grounds, lit by the afternoon sun. What little you can see of his reflection is an ill match for the cheery scenery outside.

"What was it you said, that you were 'tired of the endless compromise of war'?" He asks rhetorically. "Maker, I'm tired. So tired."

"Arator iloia fúmë [1], Teyrn Loghaine." You say. "Apologies, that would be, nobility never sleeps in this tongue."

The Teyrn looks at you and nods. "I will make the proposal to the king. You are… You may go about your day."

Buying and Selling

"Stories? I thought they were history?" Delora asks pointedly, because she just can't help herself.

Merrill fidgets even more somehow. "Well, I'm not trying to start a fight, I was just wondering what you thought of them."

Delora gives her a searching look. "You're not going to get all 'Dalish' about this are you? This isn't a prelude to you asking me to run out into the woods and do, whatever it is you do all day."

Merrill's lips tug downwards, and she snorts a breath out of her nose. "No. I'm not trying to convince you of anything, I just want to know what you think of the stories that elves used to be immortal! If you don't want to talk about it then just say so, there's no need to be so rude."

Delora flinches at the tone, perhaps she'd pushed a little too far. "Look. I guess, I just think they're that. Stories. Like the elven gods. Never seen any evidence and besides, it's all a little too perfect don't you think? Like, everything in elfland…"

"Elvhenan." Merrill corrects.

"Elf land." Delora stresses. "Was all pretty and perfect until humans ruined it. Like, come one, I get they're important stories of our history and all that, and don't get me wrong I don't want them to die out, but they're like, metaphors or something."

Merrill fidgets with the hat some more. "What if I told you it was true?"

"I'd ask you to prove it." Delora replies with a raised eyebrow. "I mean, it's pretty wild to think about."

"Proof, proof." Merrill mutters. "I mean, I haven't gotten sick in nearly half a year, does that work?"

Delora raises an eyebrow. "First, you're a mage, second I don't see you often enough and third even if you're telling the truth, what exactly does that prove?"

"Right, right." Merrill worries at her lip. "This is harder to prove than I thought."

"How about I stab you? If you die then you're not immortal." Delora jokes.

"No that wouldn't work." Merrill replies seriously. "It's not that kind of unconditional immortality, it's more infusing your body with fade energy to the point where normal biological processes matter less than your 'self image'. It means you don't age or get sick, but if that energy is dispersed, you still die. It might make you slightly more durable though we're not going to test that."

Delora blinks in utter confusion. "I understood, maybe a third of that. I get that you can die if you're stabbed, but like, how on earth do you know that you don't age anymore? It's only been like six months."

Merrill pauses visibly and tilts her head. "I'm not sure how to describe it actually."

"Because the boss told you and you've got such a crush on him you'd believe it if he told you the sky was green?" Delora teases.

"What?" Merrill cries. "I don't, he didn't. That's not true at all."

It was absolutely hilarious the way her entire neck, face and ears turn bright red. The way she stammers and protests just seems like something out of a comedy skit. Delora considers it an excellent use of her time.

However, the young mage suddenly takes several long breaths and the blush recedes. "I'm trying to be serious here."

The temptation to tell the dad joke is almost overwhelming, but Delora doesn't really want to push the mage in case she gets angry. So instead, she listens.

"It's going to sound crazy, but I need you to hear me out." Merrill says, after a deep breath. "I, feel different. Not like I'm sick, but like I'm more."

That did sound crazy, but Delora's still trying to avoid angering the mage, so she says nothing.

"I can, I don't know, kind of, sort of sense energy, mana really, but it's not simple." Merrill continues distractedly. "And, it's really hard to describe, I'm… more? If that makes sense? I get angry more easily, but I also feel more happy, emotions swing to the extreme and so does my magic."

"Isn't it more likely that it's because you're a mage?" Delora interrupts, no longer able to avoid speaking. "I mean, it sounds like magic stuff."

Merrill scratches the back of her neck. "Well, I understand that it kind of sounds like that, but it's happening to all of us, not just those who are mages. Oh, oh I just remembered! We don't sleep, or we do, kind of, instead of falling asleep it's like we dream while awake? It's hard to explain."

Delora raises her hand. "Listen, Merrill, I appreciate… whatever this is, but you keep saying things are hard to explain, so I just don't get it. What's this about anyway?"

Merrill sighs. "It's just, we're going to war soon, and I don't think anyone else in the clan would be willing to share with city elves. I've, I hadn't even thought of it until you got me this gift, and, well, it's your heritage too."

Which, ok, that was actually kind of sweet. In a weird, Merrill way. Also, just a lot of Dalish weirdness. Still, Delora clearly saw that the Dalish was trying to return what she perceived as sincere kindness. Which made her gut burn with guilt.

"Look, I think it's clear you can't really explain this to me. So how about this, after you get back from the Blight,you can show me this thing and maybe explain it better." Delora offers.

"What if I don't come back?" Merrill asks awkwardly.

"Guess you'll just have to make sure you do." Delora says with a shaky smile. "I'll be waiting for you."

Merrill blushes right up to her ears again and retreats back into her room slamming the door.

'What did I just agree to?' Delora thinks, blinking in confusion. 'Wait… did she think I was flirting with her!?'

Her scream of anguished embarrassment probably did nothing to make this less awkward in hindsight.