I walked with as much pride and influence as I could muster. Posturing was necessary, isn't that what Solas said?
I tried desperately to keep my face neutral, but I couldn't keep the wonder from my expression as we walked the bridge into Val Royeaux. Cassandra and Solas walked to either side and slightly behind me. I didn't doubt it was intentional–they wanted everyone who spotted us to know that the Herald was backed by the Inquisition.
"Do you think they know we are here?" I asked Cassandra quietly.
As if in response, there was a gasp to my right as a masked couple skittered away.
"They know," Cassandra replied evenly.
As we approached the town's center, I noticed that a large group of citizens had gathered. The Orelisians were extremely fancy in their floor length gowns and vests of every color. I felt a tad underdressed in my simple armor. People were taking notice of our presence and I heard several people utter my cursed nickname. I huffed out a breath. This Herald of Andraste moniker was growing more and more irritating by the minute.
"And there she is! This Herald!" a woman–obviously someone from the Chantry–called from a raised platform in the middle of the crowd.
I ground my teeth together to keep myself from telling the Chantry sister to fuck off. I was already immensely irritated by this entire situation. I agreed with Josephine and Lady Giselle that the Chantry needed to see me for the person I was to abate their fear, but that didn't mean I was having a good time doing so.
"And she's brought her troubled followers. A disgraced Seeker and an apostate! What friends!" the Chantry sister mocked.
"We come in peace," I tried, sounding silly even to my own ears. "We don't want to argue."
"No, you want the Chantry to bow to you! Well you're too late. The Templars are here to save us from this Breach you claim to control."
She was getting so much wrong I wasn't even sure where to begin. When words failed me, Cassandra spoke up, "We need not fight amongst ourselves. Templars, the Chantry, and the Inquisition can all bond together and fight this Breach."
"Enough," barked a voice. "That is enough out of you."
A man in heavy armor strode up to the dais. Before anyone could react, he flicked his wrist and a Templar beside him struck the Chantry sister. She dropped to the ground easily and a collective gasp rose among the crowd. My fists clenched reflexively.
"Lord Seeker Lucius." Cassandra balked. "Lord Seeker, what are you doing here?"
"Do not question me," Lucius ordered. "Breaking off and forming an Inquisition. Raising up an elf as the Herald of Andraste. Letting the Divine perish. What in the Maker's name are you doing?"
Cassandra pursed her lips.
"She's trying to help," I interjected. "Unlike the Templars who are wasting their time fighting mages."
"You do not get to speak to me," Lucius hissed with a pointed finger at me.
I opened my mouth to argue, but Cassandra put out a hand to stop me. "Lord Seeker, we need your help."
"You will not get it," the detestable man spat. "The Templars will stop this Breach and the rebel mages you deem insignificant. As a matter of fact, Val Royeaux can handle things themselves. Templars, we move now."
I wanted to stop them. I wanted to come up with something clever and witty to say. Instead, I said nothing as every Templar in the area stomped away and toward the bridge leading out of the city.
Beside me, Solas appeared silently.
"You didn't say anything," I noted.
"Do you think the opinion of an apostate would have helped or hurt your argument?"
"You're right. They weren't going to help no matter what we said," I sighed.
Fine, so this was a failure. Then we needed to get back to Haven and reconvene with the others.
Suddenly, Solas reached out with alarming speed and a barrier of magic erected itself over us. An arrow, half piercing the barrier, wobbled mid-air. I snatched up the arrow and untangled the note attached to the shaft.
"The friends of Red Jenny? Who is that?" I asked no one in particular. "It could be someone willing to help."
"Or it could be a trap," Solas noted.
"Do we really have the ability to reject help right now," I countered.
Solas pursed his lips in response.
"Alright, Red Jenny," I sighed. "Where are you leading us?"
Several notes later, I was standing in a dusky courtyard with crickets chirping all around me.
"Still think this is worth it?" Solas whispered.
"Ask when this is over," I whispered back.
As I turned a corner, a bolt of fire whizzed past my head and I lifted my daggers in response.
A man with an obsidian mask cocked his head to the side and called, "Herald of Andraste! How many resources did you waste to reach me?"
"Am I…Am I supposed to know who you are?" I asked in response.
The arrogant man scoffed before erupting into laughter, "It must have been a fortune for you to find me so quickly!"
"I truly do not know you," I deadpanned.
"My plans are going to be a thorn in your side for ages to come! You will–"
The sounds of death from a corridor behind us halted this meaningless conversation. A woman emerged from the dusky shadows, an arrow already knocked and aimed at the masked man's head.
"Just say 'what'."
"What is the–"
The arrow flew straight through the man's throat. Blood sprayed frantically from the wound and I rushed toward him as he fell.
"Squishy one. But you heard me, right?" The mysterious woman bent over and yanked her arrow free from the dead man's neck, "Rich tits always try for more than they deserve. You followed my notes well enough. And…you're an elf."
I was disappointing everyone today apparently.
"Two elves," the woman huffed, clearly put off.
Beside me, Solas stiffened. Before he could launch into a tirade, I asked, "What is going on?"
"No idea. My friends told me the Inquisition would want this guy. So I pointed you here."
"The friends of Red Jenny? Who are they?"
"People. Like you and me. Well not like you and me. You're way more important. Anyway, you should get behind some cover. But don't worry, I have a surprise for you!"
I groaned inwardly at the woman's ramblings and slid behind cover just in time to avoid getting skewered by an arrow. Three men charged down the stairs and…I snorted with uncontained laughter. The reinforcements weren't wearing any pants.
Perhaps, my day was looking up.