Taash wasn't anything like what Isabella had expected, which wasn't a bad thing. The Qunari dragon expert was brash, loud, and brutally honest, but they were exactly what the team needed. There would be some clashes of personalities, as there had been already, but Isabella was confident that they could at least work together.

Lucanis was less enthusiastic about Isabella's optimism, but he approved of the dragon expert all the same. According to Harding, Taash could hold their own in battle, which was more than enough to convince him. He just wasn't sure if everyone would get along.

"So, Rook," Taash called out as the meet and greet ended in the lighthouse library. Isabella had turned to go back to work on her alchemy, but she stopped when the Qunari mentioned her name. "Harding said you're the leader?"

"Of sorts, I suppose," Isabella shrugged, facing them fully. "Everyone seems to ask me what I think or what we should do next, and they do what I answer."

"Sounds like a leader to me."

"Fair enough. Is there something I can help you with?"

"Harding also mentioned that you're a Crow."

"Harding seems to say a lot of things," Isabella chuckled before she bowed with her fist on her chest. "Crow Isabella de Riva at your service. Rook's a nickname I picked up along the way."

"I heard that Crows could dislocate all their joints and hide in pots," Taash remarked as they folded their arms. Isabella pursed her lips, confused by the sudden topic change.

"Ah, I suppose some could. It's not something that we're known for. I don't know any Crows that are able to do that," she answered. Taash nodded before sighing.

"Just curious," they reassured before producing a note. "The spirit boat guy gave me this on the way in, and I thought you might be interested in it as well."

"Oh? Let's see," Isabella replied, reading over the letter.

Hey, Taash

We've been trying to get supplies to the Crows in Treviso, but the Crows who were supposed to pick up the supplies here in Rivain never reported in. If you and your fancy new Antivan friends have the time, could you check it out? The drop point was over on the coast.

For gold and glory!

"Harding must have mentioned Lucanis and I to your Lords of Fortune, then," Isabella mentioned, handing the note back. Taash grunted noncommittally as Isabella took a deep breath. "Alright, sounds like we're headed back to Rivain for a quick jaunt."

"Sounds good to me. When are we leaving?" Taash asked as Isabella stared at the lighthouse doors leading to the courtyard. Since this involved Crow business, she wanted to include Lucanis, but she also didn't want him to box her out again.

"Give me five minutes to get suitable armor on, and I'll meet you by the eluvian," she answered as they nodded.

"Alright."

Isabella walked into the courtyard, staring at the dining hall. She guessed that Spite was somewhere nearby watching. Lucanis had a terrible poker face when it came to the demon, and she could tell that Spite had a wider range than Lucanis admitted. She tried not to think about it too much, but now she wondered if Spite would run back to Lucanis to tell him about the Crows in trouble.

Stalling for time, Isabella changed her leathers into something lighter for the warmer weather before she walked back to the courtyard. With her head held high, she walked past the dining hall, prepared to leave Lucanis in the dark. However, she found that she couldn't follow through. He would be upset if he found out that there were Crows in need, and she had kept him in the dark. Not to mention sneaking away into Antaam territory.

She swung the doors of the hall open before stepping inside, taking a strong stance with her arms crossed. As she had hoped, Lucanis was at the coffee maker. He turned at the sound of her dramatic entrance with a concerned look on his face.

"Hello again," he greeted before she walked to the table, keeping it between them. She needed a barrier as she faced him.

"Taash just told me that there are missing Crows in Rivain that were on a supply run. They were supposed to pick up from the Lords of Fortune, but they never made it. Taash is waiting for me at the eluvian right now, so either get your shit on or wait here," Isabella informed firmly, staring him down. Lucanis blinked at her a few times before putting the coffee cup down.

"I thought we were going to Lavendel next," he reminded before she shook her head.

"I think thismightbe a little more time sensitive. We need to help those Crows now. Are you coming or not?"

"Alright, alright, I'll meet you at the eluvian," Lucanis answered as he walked towards the pantry. "Make sure you have Viago's face covering. I don't want the Antaam to target you."

"Agreed, I'll wear the mask," Isabella answered before walking back out of the dining hall. She hadn't expected Lucanis not to argue, but he knew that lives were at stake.

Once Lucanis caught up, Isabella followed Taash through the eluvian to Rivain. It led to a small, abandoned outpost along the beach as Taash got their bearings. The note gave a general area of where the Crows had last been seen, so she followed, so she followed the dragon expert as they searched for the missing Crows.

As they walked around the ridge, Isabella saw the Antaam patrol just beyond. She pulled the face covering up with a sigh before placing the hood over her head. It obscured her peripheral vision, but she trusted Lucanis enough to watch her flank to keep her safe. Taash leaped into battle as soon as they saw the Antaam, letting the two Crows follow up behind.

Isabella kept her distance as she drew her bow. If the other two could keep the enemy off her back, then she could at least offer support from behind them. She flew arrows both to distract and to maim, weakening their defense as her allies closed in. With a last swing of Taash's axe, the last of the Antaam patrol fell to the sand. As Isabella lowered her bow, she could see something on the ground in the corner of the ruins. Placing her bow on her back, she jogged over to the spot, confirming her fears.

"Damnit," she hissed, finding Crow corpses discarded to the wayside. She knelt next to the bodies, seeing a message tucked in one of their pockets. Isabella grabbed the note as Lucanis came up behind her with Taash checking the area for scouts. The paper was stained with blood, still wet and fragile.

Viago,

Since you said you already had weaponry covered, we've sent mostly alchemical supplies. This should give you what you need for those lovely little traps you've been springing on your new friends in Treviso. You can send your team to our agreed-upon drop spot at the waterfall in the cliff tops.

Here's to causing trouble for the Antaam, wherever they are!

Captain Bela

Isabella handed the note to Lucanis before she regarded the bodies. There were five corpses, all wearing Crow leathers. A part of her was relieved that she didn't recognize any of them, but she knew that at least some, if not all, were from House de Riva. However, there wasn't much she could do at the moment as she stood.

"Those damn Antaam," Lucanis hissed, trying not to crumble the note in his hands.

"We'll make them pay," Isabella growled as she followed after Taash. Lucanis tucked the note in his pocket, keeping his eye out for waterfalls.

Once Taash read over the note, they had a good idea of where the drop off was mean to be. It was located up on the cliffs above the beach where the water fell almost impossibly downwards. Isabella wondered where the water came from as they climbed a ledge.

"I can't believe how beautiful this place is," Isabella mentioned, glancing back at Lucanis. He hummed in agreement, keeping his eye out for more Antaam. She wanted to ask him to relax, but she understood that would be counterproductive. They were on a mission in enemy territory after all.

"Rivain has some pretty spots," Taash added as they offered a hand. Isabella accepted the help as they hoisted her up to the pool above. "I think this is the area the note was talking about."

"Hopefully we're able to find something," Isabella sighed. Lucanis stood beside her, watching the ridges above them for any sign of danger. Taash turned to search the area as Isabella read over the note from the Lords to see if they could get a better location. However, the dragon expert alerted them before she finished going over the letter.

"The Antaam were here," Taash growled as they produced another note. Isabella read over the Antaam's memo as her blood boiled.

The bas here attempt to help the bas in Treviso. I will not have the Butcher complaining that I am hindering his efforts. Ghilan'nain does not reward those who fail. Find the Crows and these supplies and bring them to the Warden fort. We will deliver both to the Butcher to show that the great Antaam who serve Penshanek are worthy of greatness.

As much as she hated it, it seemed that Lucanis was correct that the Antaam was more connected than she expected. She passed the note to him as well to go over as she adjusted her mask, making sure that it was secure. She hadn't lowered it since she had covered her face, but she wanted to make sure it stayed that way. She didn't need someone recognizing her now.

"We need to get those supplies from Penshanek. It also sounds like they took prisoners," Isabella pointed out as she turned to Taash. "Can you get us to the Warden fort?"

"Easily," they replied as they cracked their knuckles.

The Warden fort was larger and older than Isabella had expected. She also thought it would be abandoned by the Wardens. Ruins would be a better description than fort. Regardless, it seemed that the bones of the fortress suited the Antaam fine for a base of operations as they terrorized the Rivain coast.

"How will we tell which one is Penshanek?" Isabella wondered as Taash shrugged.

"We'll kill them all and find the supplies afterwards. The Antaam don't belong here," they answered firmly as they wandered the stone corridors.

"Works for me. The fewer witnesses, the better," Isabella shrugged. Lucanis didn't seem thrilled, but he didn't argue either. Chasing an entire garrison out of a fortress with just the three of them sounded near impossible, but he didn't have a better plan.

A few patrols crossed their path, which they were able to dispatch easily enough. They had the element of surprise and an angry Qunari with twin axes on their side. When they were separated out, it was easier to take on the Antaam forces. Isabella kept her distance with her identity hidden, letting Taash and Lucanis take the lead.

Eventually, they reached the courtyard where a few prisoner cages and huge crates littered the area, which were heavily guarded with Antaam and gatlock cannons. It seemed they had found where the Antaam had stashed the supplies the Crows were meant to grab. Isabella drew her bow, doing her best to sooth her anger. Too much emotion led to mistakes, which could cost the lives of the caged Crows. She needed to keep her head on straight as the other two engaged the Antaam.

The enemy shouted and yelled, clearly furious that they had made it so far into the fortress. However, they hadn't counted on an equally furious assassin with a Spite demon and his warrior companion at his side. With the help of Isabella's arrows, Spite's wings, and Taash's axe assaults, Lucanis was able to cut down the bas and his platoon.

With a final death rattle, the last Antaam guard fell to the sand as blood seeped into the ground. Isabella checked her surroundings before she lowered her mask, walking towards the cages. As she had hoped, there were Crows who had been kept alive. They were probably going to be used as hostages and bargaining chips. Depending on the circumstances, it was most likely a lost cause, but Isabella pushed that thought from her head. The Crows were safe now.

"Thank the Maker, we didn't think anyone was coming," one of the Crows whispered as Isabella smiled.

"It's alright, we took are of the Antaam. You're safe now," Isabella reassured.

"You're Viago's protégé, aren't you?" another whispered as she unlocked the next cage. She perked up, surprised that she had been recognized.

"I didn't realize that I was so well known," Isabella chuckled as Lucanis turned towards the conversation.

"My name's Natale, from House Cantori. I've seen you around. I'm sorry if that was forward of me," she replied, stepping out of the cage as the first Crow went to free the rest of the prisoners.

"It's fine. Which Houses were these Crows all from? How many did we lose?" Isabella asked as Natale nodded once.

"This was supposed to be a quick retrieve mission, no longer than a week and a half roundtrip. Twelve came in total. Five died when we were initially captured, but those were the only casualties. Two from House de Riva, three from House Cantori," the Crow answered, placing her hands behind her back. Isabella clenched her jaw before sighing. "Of the seven of us remaining, four of us are Cantori, and three are de Riva. We can take the supplies back to Treviso. We need to plan our revenge against the Antaam for what they did here."

"I'm glad we were able to get here when we did."

"How did you know we were here, though? Did Viago send you?"

"Ah, no. The Lords of Fortune sent a message explaining that the mission had gone awry. When you didn't report in, they reached out to Taash and our team to see if we could lend a hand," Isabella replied with a relieved smile.

"I'm sure that everyone here who made it will agree. Especially those who will benefit from the supplies as well," Natale chuckled with a smirk.

"I read that these were alchemical supplies?"

"Yes, Viago is working on something big. At least, that's the rumor around the Diamond."

"I'm sure whatever he has cooking, it'll have the Antaam running in no time."

"I hope you're right," Natale exhaled as she glanced at the crates. "We better get those on the boat and head back to Treviso. We've been delayed long enough."

"Do you want me to send word to Viago of the delay? I'm sure he'll understand once he knows the circumstances."

"If you wouldn't mind, that would be appreciated. He can be… temperamental when things aren't going to plan."

"Something I know too well. I will send a message straight away, and he'll receive it before you arrive. Just focus on getting the supplies back to Treviso," Isabella reassured before Natale bowed in respect.

"Thank you. I'll grab the others and the supplies. Safe travels," Natale replied before walking towards the crates.

Isabella watched for a moment before replacing her mask on her face. She glanced at Lucanis, who was asking questions about what was in the crates. Most of the answers were shrugs and general answers. It seemed that the Lords didn't explain exactly what they were transporting other than just it was alchemical supplies. Most likely something for Viago to work on, and with the amount of supplies, it was something big.

Taash and Lucanis helped them carry the crates to the beach below as Isabella helped a few Crows bring their ship around to the beach. The faster they could get out of Rivain, the better. The Antaam likely wouldn't appreciate the Crows retaliating so swiftly and decisively, so they needed to act fast before the new patrols came in.

Once the supplies were loaded on, the ship disembarked, and the three walked back to the eluvian. Isabella walked next to Lucanis as she kept her head down, letting Taash lead them. While she was confident that they had taken care of all of the Antaam in the area, she didn't want to take any chances. With the knowledge that the Antaam with Treviso and Rivain were working closer together than she expected, she would need to keep her guard up all the time again,

She could feel Lucanis's agitation as well next to her, which continued as they returned to the Crossroads. Taash kept their distance, feeling the growing tension between the two Crows. Having written proof that Isabella was not safe to travel in Rivain wasn't what she had expected on this trip. She fully expected Lucanis to lecture about how he was right the whole time once they got back.

She also wasn't looking forward to writing the letter to Viago about the interception or that the Antaam were more interconnected than she had expected. Either way, it would mean that Viago would scold her either via letter or in person. At least he would get his components for his project. That would lessen his frustration at least.

However, the tension with Lucanis hadn't lessened as the passed through the Crossroads or on the boat. Isabella did her best to strike up small conversation to get to know the Qunari, but most of the answers were short and in grunts. As soon as they made it back to the lighthouse, Isabella thanked Taash for their help before they disappeared into their room. They gave a quick smile before they turned the corner.

She paused for a moment as Lucanis waited for her to say something. It was quiet in the library, and Isabella hoped that everyone would be out for a little while longer. She faced him, and she saw that he had been staring at her. She bit the inside of her cheek before exhaling.

"Go ahead," she whispered, mentally preparing herself. Lucanis blinked a few times before his gaze softened slightly.

"I'm glad you're alright," he informed sincerely. Isabella stared at him, seeing no deception in his features. He was telling the truth. "And I'm glad we were able to get to those Crows before it was too late."

"You're not going to gloat and tell me that you told me so?" Isabella wondered quietly. Lucanis raised an eyebrow.

"In this instance, you were right. We needed to help the Crows as soon as we did. Any delay could have ended very differently," he answered, folding his arms. "And I'm not about to gloat about the Antaam in Rivain working with their brethren in Treviso. I'd rather focus on the fact that you didn't get captured, and we have Viago's shipment secured for him."

"You're right," Isabella whispered with a sigh. Lucanis put a hand on her shoulder as she met his gaze.

"I truly am glad that you were safe and that you listened. I know it must have been hard acting as support instead of charging in with the rest of us," Lucanis added as she grimaced.

"I appreciate that. It was an adjustment."

"I think you're doing great. Did you want to debrief Viago in person, or were you just going to send a letter?"

"Can you imagine how it would go if I told Viago in person? Besides, he wanted me to keep my distance for a little while until the Antaam cooled off a little," Isabella reminded before shrugging, letting his hand shift to her upper arm. "I'll write him a letter and have the Caretaker send it over."

"Sounds good. Let me know when you want to leave for Lavendel. Although, I think some rest is in order before we head to the Anderfels."

"Agreed. I'll swing by the pantry in a few hours. Did you want to nap there, or go back to the meditation room?"

"I was thinking you should sleep, and I would have some coffee."

"That's too bad, Luca. I need you at your strongest, and you can't do that sleep deprived and jittery from the coffee. Just a few hours of sleep, and I'll watch over Spite," Isabella insisted as Lucanis frowned. "The darkspawn will be everywhere there. We can't afford any slipups."

"Fine," he relented as she nodded.

"I promise, just a few hours and then you can have your coffee."

"It sounds like you're taking the coffee hostage," he complained as she started to walk out of the library to the courtyard.

"Hey, don't give me any ideas," she laughed, glancing over her shoulder to make sure that he was following her outside.

Viago,

A new team member of mine received a message about missing Crows meaning to pick up a supply cache in Rivain. They had missed their check in, so the Lords of Fortune reached out.

Lucanis, Taash (new teammate), and I went to the Rivain coast to investigate, and we found Antaam that have decided to try to conquer the area. They have decided to infiltrate the nearby Warden fort, which is their main base in Rivain as far as we can tell.

We found five Crow corpses, but seven survivors, including a Natale Cantori. She was the only one I talked to, and she mentioned that the supplies were for you. My team and I were able to fix the Antaam problem for the time being, but it was only a temporary fix. Regardless, the Crows that survived are on their way to Treviso with the supplies a few days late.

I have also included a chilling memo we found about the Antaam factions. It seems that the Rivain and Treviso factions are working closely together. They are more connected than we originally thought. Something to consider.

Your Crow,

Isabella