Isabella climbed to the top of the lighthouse balcony's roof and stared out across the endless sky of the Fade. The last two missions that had led her away from the Fade had been exhausting, and she wasn't sure she was ready to go back out to check everything again. Neve was still in Minrathous to check on news about the Venatori while Bellara and Harding worked with the Veil Jumpers and the dwarf's magic. Harding also reached out to a few of her friends in the Wardens to see if they could get individual help rather than all of the Grey Wardens, but she hadn't heard anything back yet.

Lucanis had mentioned that he would need to go to Treviso soon, and she wanted to go with him. Viago would probably get the strange letter in the mail soon, and she wanted to prove that it was nothing more than a mistake. He had nothing to worry about since she was safe in the Fade and not rotting in a Warden dungeon.

However, she realized that soon was probably today when she saw Lucanis leave the dining hall and walk towards her. Lucanis very rarely left the dining hall unless it was to talk to her or the other women. Otherwise, he kept to himself with his coffee in the pantry, occasionally cooking meals for the group. He had also given her space over the last few days, only really speaking to her during meals and offering her coffee in the morning.

Isabella watched as he started climbing the steps up the balcony, and she decided that she wouldn't get down unless he asked her to. She was quite happy above and away from everything and everyone. He was probably the only one that could climb up to meet her anyway.

"Rook?" he called out, staring up at her. She turned to look down on him. "We should talk."

"Those are never good words," Isabella replied plainly. They weren't fighting or anything, even after the comment about her scars. They had moved past it, and they got along as they always did. She just needed some time to herself after being poisoned and captured within a week.

"Could you please come down?" he asked. She frowned before she climbed down, landing in front of him.

"What can I do for the illustrious Demon of Vyrantium?" she asked with a theatrical bow. Lucanis sighed, not in the mood for dramatics.

"Teia reached out. She wants us to go to Treviso," Lucanis informed.

"Oh, why didn't you say so? A day with Teia is a good day," Isabella replied with a smile. Lucanis winced before grimacing.

"She needs help planning Caterina's funeral," he informed as Isabella deflated immediately.

"Right, sorry," she replied, clearing her throat.

"I was hoping you would come with me. Spite acts better when you're around, and it would put me at ease if you're there," Lucanis asked as Isabella nodded.

"Of course, I can definitely come as emotional support," she smiled. "I'll go get changed, and I'll meet you in the eluvian room."

~C~

Isabella and Lucanis walked into the Cantori Diamond to find every Crow wearing black, as was customary. It seemed that Teia had started the funeral preparations already. Lucanis faltered a little at the realization that this was for his grandmother as Isabella placed a hand on his back. Both had put on their formal black for the occasion, letting them blend in with the people around them.

"Are you alright?" Isabella asked as Lucanis nodded.

"I'm fine. Let's find Teia," he replied with a forced smile.

Isabella followed him into the sitting area where Teia was directing different people with decorations and plans. Isabella wondered where Viago had wandered off to, but she would track him down later. For now, Teia had asked for their help planning the funeral.

"Soré!" Isabella called out, catching the Talon's attention. Teia grinned, waving off the planners and decorators.

"Hermanita," Teia answered, bringing Isabella into a tight embrace. "Oh, it is so good to see you outside of regular business. How are you? Are you eating well? Is Viago still tormenting you?"

"I've been alright, the last week or two have been eventful, but our lives tend to be. And I haven't seen Viago since the qamek contract, so not yet," Isabella smiled, letting Teia squeeze her cheeks a little bit. Lucanis stood next to Isabella, hoping to remind the Talon that he was there as well. "We came as quick as we could, soré."

"You're just in time. I called Illario here, too, but he's fashionably late. As always," Teia complained as she rolled her eyes.

"I keep telling you, you need to tell Illario to arrive at least a half an hour before everyone else if you want him to be even sort of on time," Isabella sighed, shaking her head. "It was the only way I was able to get him to do anything to help with my contracts."

"I forget that you knew my cousin before you knew me," Lucanis remarked with a slight chuckle. "He has always been late to everything."

"It's a miracle that I was able to accomplish my contract. He was supposed to distract my contract's accomplice, and if he had been just a minute later, I would have had to replan the whole assassination," Isabella lamented, rubbing her temple.

"Mi corva bella,you aren't talking about me, now, are you?" Illario teased, appearing in the doorway. Isabella turned and sighed, shaking her head at him. He walked into the room, immediately kissing her knuckles as his signature greeting.

"If you were on time, I wouldn't have to bring up how you're always late," Isabella reminded as he shrugged.

"And then you would have no reason to talk about me," he replied before turning to Lucanis. "Good to see you, cousin. How's the Fade treating you?"

"Better than the Ossuary," Lucanis shrugged, shaking his cousin's hand. Teia hummed, crossing her arms.

"And did you bring the ashes like I told you to?" Teia wondered as Illario froze, realizing that she was talking to him. "Maker above, the ashes, Illario!"

"Right, the ashes. For the funeral," Illario replied, suddenly acting strange. Isabella raised an eyebrow at him. "Sorry, everything has been a lot lately."

"Do you need company then? Sounds like you might need help remembering?" Isabella teased as Illario grinned.

"Are you offering your company, Bella?" he nearly purred before she shook her head.

"I was thinking Lucanis could join you, actually," Isabella replied as Illario pouted.

"No, it's fine, I shall make the journey on my own," he replied dramatically before turning to Teia. "I'll be back, with the ashes, though."

"Maker help him," Teia groaned, putting her head in her hands. Isabella chuckled to herself as Illario disappeared through the doorway. Lucanis stared at where his cousin went before staring at Isabella. "He better get his head on straight."

"He's usually not this distracted," Lucanis remarked as Teia rolled her eyes.

"You can thank your illustrious leader for that, Luca. I swear, it's like Illario gets tunnel vision around you," Teia complained, gesturing to Isabella, who held her hands up.

"Hey, it's not my fault," Isabella argued. "Besides, he's usually not that distracted around me. I haven't known him to be that forgetful."

"You're going to have to let him down gently, hermanita, if you aren't interested," Teia reminded as Isabella scoffed.

"We don't have that kind of relationship. He thinks it's funny to embarrass me. Besides, he has the rest of Treviso to flirt with," Isabella reminded before waving her hand.

"Illario hasn't had very good luck with relationships anyway," Lucanis added with a casual shrug. Teia hummed as Lucanis sighed. "He does tend to flirt with everyone who has a pulse. Maker forbid he goes to Nevarra, he might flirt with a skeleton."

"Luca, is that a hint of jealousy I hear?" Teia teased as Lucanis closed his mouth with a click of his teeth. His cheeks went a touch pink before he started to argue. Isabella raised an eyebrow, tapping her chin.

"I don't want to see her heartbroken by Illario, surely," Lucanis finally said after some stuttering. Teia pursed her lips quizzically before smiling.

"You can stop your worrying there, Lucanis," Isabella reassured sweetly. "There is nothing going on between me and your cousin. I don't know where Teia is getting these ideas. Damn his nicknames."

"Do you have any nicknames of Illario, hermanita?" Teia asked, now in full teasing mode. Lucanis rolled his eyes. Isabella noted Teia's lock on Lucanis's irritation and joined in on the teasing as she tapped her chin.

"Maybe I should, if Illario should continue," Isabella replied as Lucanis shook his head. "I could call himcaro belloormio re."

"Do you really want to call Illario that?" Lucanis asked before Isabella chuckled.

"No, I don't," she answered before exhaling.

"Does he have a nickname?" he wondered, earning another knowing smirk from Teia.

"No, as much as he tried to give himself one. He really wanted me to call himmio mentore meravigliosoormaestro bello. You can imagine how those went over," Isabella shrugged. "I told him that I would start calling him Signore Dellamorte, which he hated more than anything. He said it made him sound like an old man."

"So you call him Illario?" Lucanis smiled as Isabella nodded.

"Just simply Illario. Unless he's a pain in the ass, then we push his buttons a little," she smiled before Teia laughed. "Anyway, we are here for a purpose that isn't me making fun of your cousin. What do you need from us?"

"Right now, your presence is enough. Viago is off somewhere, and I'm sure he's making someone miserable," Teia sighed as Isabella grimaced.

"Why? What happened?" she asked as Teia shrugged.

"Antaam in the city. Venatori in the streets. There's a human traitor selling out the city. His sorella is fighting gods. Illario also won't stop hounding him every time Viago's around about when you're coming back. Take your pick," Teia explained as Isabella folded her arms.

"Illario? He left us all alone for years after I became a Crow, why is he kicking up a fuss about me now?" she asked as Teia shrugged.

"Could be Lucanis being back, could be that you're fighting gods, could be that his grandmother is gone. Viago can handle a bothersome Illario," Teia replied before she motioned toward the seating. Isabella sat across from Teia as Lucanis sat next to Isabella. The Talon took a mental note as Isabella leaned against the back of her seat.

"So, the funeral," Lucanis reminded as Teia nodded, grabbing the sealed wine in front of them. She poured them each a glass before pulling out a stack of papers.

"Yes, we have most everything planned. We have a large shipment of wine coming from the Dellamorte vineyards that Viago is going to check once it arrives. House de Riva is taking care of the arrival as well, but he will make sure it isn't poisoned before it's served. House de Acutis is handling the food preparation as well, but Viago has promised to check for poison there as well," Teia sighed, glancing up at Isabella, who shrugged. "House Cantori will host at the Diamond tomorrow evening, and I've sent word to your friends in the Fade already along with a few bottles of sealed wine. I would prefer we don't have a repeat of last time. Also, House Nero said that they have a few musical professionals in their families that can provide music for the event."

"It sounds like you have everything covered," Isabella commented with a nod. Lucanis nodded along as well, finding it hard to speak.

"We also have a few sisters from the Chantry coming to lead the service as well," Teia added before she put down the papers. "I wanted to make sure that everything was done and ready before you got here Lucanis. We can change anything you want, but I thought it might make it easier for you."

"I think this will be wonderful," Lucanis replied before chuckling. "I think Caterina would almost be proud."

"Of you and me, maybe. She'd be yelling at and about Illario right now," Teia remarked, shaking her head. "Forgetting the ashes. Maker. The one thing I asked him to do."

"We all grieve differently," Isabella whispered as Teia smiled.

"A fine point. I should go easier on him, but he's such a pain sometimes," the Talon sighed.

"I can understand why Illario has taken to you, though, if you always explain away his faults," Lucanis added as Isabella raised an eyebrow.

"I suppose," she replied, a little surprised to hear him say that. It felt odd that she needed to defend Illario from his friend and cousin, even if it was just verbally.

"Anyway, are you two going to go back to the Fade? Or are you going to show her around the Dellamorte estate?" Teia wondered as Lucanis grimaced.

"I think the estate might bring back too many harsh memories right now," Lucanis admitted, shaking his head. "Viago permitting, I think I might stay at the de Riva estate. In one of the guest rooms, anyway."

"Of course," Teia laughed.

"I know you said that Viago is checking the food and drink as it arrives, but where is he?" Isabella wondered as Teia nodded in thought.

"Yes, I believe down on the main floor, near the north entrance," Teia answered as the three of them stood.

"Thank you, soré," Isabella promised, embracing Teia again before walking down the stairs.

Lucanis followed Isabella down to the main casino area as the general ambiance grew louder. It had been a minute since either of them had been in the bustle of the game floor, and they had forgotten how exciting it could get with the games going and people excitedly winning and losing. She picked up her pace as she made her way through the floor towards the northern entrance as Teia said.

As they passed through the employee access, the noise calmed slightly, and Isabella was able to relax slightly. She could see the workers bringing in food and wine, gathering the goods for the event tomorrow night. She walked past them, acknowledging them as she went, searching for her Talon.

Viago was near the large door way where the workers were unloading the barrels of wine that had arrived. He had a few papers and a quill in his hands as he went over the manifest, checking each barrel of wine before it was tucked away. Isabella stood just out of sight, not wanting to break his concentration until he had finished checking the entire cart. Once he handed back the paper work to the manager, Isabella stepped forward, silently announcing herself.

"Sorella," Viago greeted, his voice gentler than she had heard it before. She wondered if it was due to the funeral preparations or the fact that she hadn't snuck around him this time.

"Fratello," Isabella replied, standing at nearly full attention.

"It's good to see that you're well. It's been a few days since I last saw you," he commented, turning to see Lucanis behind her. His eyes narrowed slightly at him, but his overall demeanor barely changed as he faced her.

"It's good to see that you're well, too. It's been a trying couple of days, but business as usual," she remarked with a half-smile. Viago hummed at that, slightly concerned by her tone. "I will be in town for the next few days, so I'll be staying at the estate."

"That's good to hear, and it'll be nice to see you around more regularly," Viago mentioned, immediately staring at Lucanis.

"I would ask to impose on your hospitality for those few days as well by using one of your guest rooms during the funeral processions," he added as Isabella kept her gaze on Viago. The Talon seemed to consider the offer, his expression softening slightly.

"I can accommodate that, Dellamorte. I will have a guest room made for you, since I would imagine going home would be difficult right now," Viago agreed, his previous malice towards Lucanis gone from his tone. "And I won't have any contracts available for the next few days, so don't think about working in the meantime."

"It'll be nice to be in Treviso without work looming over us," Isabella smiled with a slight bow of the head. Viago nodded once.

"I have a feeling that I will be here well into the night, so you two will be on your own for dinner. I shall see you in the morning, and I will see to it that we will have fresh food available as well," Viago informed, grasping Isabella's forearm. She held his in return and nodded.

"We'll figure something out, thank you. We will see you tomorrow, then," Isabella replied before bowing slightly. Viago turned as the next cart of wine arrived, the driver handing him a stack of papers and a new quill.

Isabella turned on her heel and exhaled, all her nervous energy immediately leaving as she felt like herself again. Lucanis walked beside her as they took the employee exit out of the casino and onto the streets to walk towards the de Riva estate.

She stretched her arms above her head, suddenly feeling stiff. Lucanis glanced around, waiting for the other shoe to drop.

"Viago was very friendly back there," he remarked as Isabella nodded.

"He seemed a little less stressed than last time we saw him. Also less pissed off, which is good. I'm glad he was willing to let you stay in one of the guest rooms as well," she smiled before turning to him. "Do you think you'll actually try to sleep tonight?"

"I don't know. I still don't like that Spite immediately tries to take over my body the second I fall asleep. It's hard to let my guard down," Lucanis admitted as Isabella frowned, crossing her arms.

"Have you tried talking with him?"

"He's called 'spite', not 'learning'."

"Says the man who won't even try anything," Isabella sighed before shaking her head. "I'm just trying to help. Maybe try talking to him about why he wants to take over so immediately and see if you can reach a compromise."

"What he wants most of the time doesn't make sense."

"And the rest of the time?"

"Generally, it's something that I don't want. At least, not yet, I don't think," Lucanis answered, rubbing the back of his neck. Isabella tilted her head to the side before he sighed. "Spite isn't sure what he wants, so it makes it hard to talk to him."

"Alright, fine. I just think you both will feel better if you can convince him to let you sleep. I could lock you in the room if you'd like. That way Spite and you are stuck in the room, and you don't have to worry about sleep walking," Isabella offered before Lucanis shook his head.

"It's fine, I'll be fine. I'll just ask Viago for some poison-free coffee when he gets home," Lucanis informed as she sighed.

"I think the coffee is going to kill you before anything else does."

"I don't know, we lead pretty exciting lives."

"Just don't tell Viago that," Isabella laughed as she grinned, hiding her worry under the smile.