Once Isabella changed into her new armor, she met Davrin and Lucanis in Lavendel. The two went on ahead to get the information they needed to find out more about where Remi and Lancet had last been seen. They were also hoping that maybe the two griffon caretakers had left a clue to where they had left the rest of Assan's family.
Isabella jogged through the Warden camp towards the town, seeing her two companions waiting in the town square. When she joined them, Davrin took the lead, catching her up on what they had learned.
As previously mentioned, Evka knew that Remi and Lancet had last been seen near an old Warden redoubt called the Cauldron, but they didn't say why. As for the location of the griffons, Evka didn't know either. However, Evka gave better times and locations for the last known whereabouts as well as what the scouts had seen around the area. A flying darkspawn had been spotted a few days prior, which could have led Remi and Lancet to investigate the Cauldron.
None of the Wardens, including Davrin, had any idea what the flying darkspawn was. It had been nicknamed the Gloom Howler for quite literal reasons. Isabella decided not to comment on the lack of creativity. Davrin thought that whatever the darkspawn was probably related to the griffon trainers' disappearance though.
"Alright, what should we expect at the Cauldron?" Isabella wondered, keeping pace with Davrin as they walked in the wetlands.
"No idea, I'd never heard of it before Evka mentioned it. Remi must have found something in it to warrant looking into it," Davrin shrugged as Isabella pursed her lips.
"Maybe something to do with the griffons?" she guessed as he shrugged.
"Possibly. I would keep an eye out for anything strange, though. Who knows what else is lurking about in the wetlands," the Warden warned. Isabella nodded, glancing back at Lucanis, who was already watching their backs carefully.
Even after their talk in Treviso about not blaming him, Lucanis still seemed too focused on protecting her than anything else. She sighed, running a hand through her hair, wondering if they both needed a break, him especially. She hadn't even had time to see if there had been an update from Neve about Aelia.
After an hour or two, they reached the redoubt, which Isabella would've classified as ruins rather than a fortress. With the crumbling walls and broken bridges, she wasn't surprised the place had been abandoned. Davrin had made it sound like it had been recently deserted, but she would've been shocked if anyone had used the place in decades.
After clearing the place of the resident darkspawn, Davrin found the entrance and cleared a path into the deeper part of the ruins. Isabella took a few steps in as Davrin lent Lucanis a hand into the redoubt. She nearly tripped on something, and she inhaled sharply when she saw what she had kicked.
"Davrin," she called out, her voice barely over a whisper. Isabella swallowed, staring at the body of Remi the Warden. She looked like she had been dead for a few days, not long after she had been reported missing. Davrin cursed under his breath, turning away from the body.
Isabella knelt down, seeing something in Remi's hand as she pulled it out. It was a note hastily written. It seemed that Remi was trying to get the word to the Wardens.
Evka,
We've hidden the rest of the griffons in the Cauldron. We've heard her coming for a few days as she searches for them. Lancet has them hidden, and I hope that I can get back to him after this letter has been sent.
Call for Davrin. The Cauldron isn't the place for griffons.
We don't have much time.
She's coming.
Remi
Isabella handed the note to Davrin before brushing off her hands, sending a silent prayer to whoever was listening. She turned to Lucanis, concerned about their time table. The Cauldron was a large place, and judging by the doors, a possible maze. If the Gloom Howler could get lost, then they might have time. If Lancet was able to hide the griffons well, then they had a chance.
"Where would Lancet hide the griffons?" Isabella asked as Davrin shook his head.
"I don't know," Davrin sighed, looking at the doors. Each had the date of a blight in chronological order. Isabella followed his line of sight, also seeing the dates. "Let's see the most recent one."
"It would be at the end," Isabella guessed as she stood, following the Warden with Lucanis close behind.
Davrin found the door and threw it open, revealing a long stone corridor. In the middle of the corridor, there was a pillar with a memorial plaque with animal bones sitting in front of it. Isabella swallowed, recognizing them as griffon bones, only they were much older than they could be to be any of Assan's siblings.
The Warden continued in, refusing the comment on the bones, while Lucanis and Isabella shared a worried look. At the end of the corridor, it emptied into a large area filled with urns and more griffon bones. Only, the bones looked diseased and wrong.
"Davrin," Isabella whispered, careful not to touch the tainted remains.
"Those bones are blighted," Davrin confirmed before shaking his head, putting his hands on his hips as he stared around the room. "What is this? None of this makes sense."
"Why would there be blighted griffon bones?" Isabella asked, starting to count the urns. By her estimation, there were hundreds of them, and she felt tears gather in her eyes.
"I don't like this," Davrin muttered. "We need to keep moving and find Lancet. He should be further in."
Davrin pushed open the door on the left to a far larger room as the two Crows followed. Isabella gasped as she saw the massive skeleton before her. She covered her mouth, realizing what the Cauldron was. It was a tomb, and not just for Wardens and their griffons. It was for archdemons as well.
"This one must be Zazikel," Davrin informed as they walked in further.
"So, all those rooms with the dates of the blights," Lucanis began as Davrin nodded.
"Archdemons from each blight. It seems that this is where the Wardens have been keeping the bodies," the Warden answered bitterly. Isabella stared at the ginormous archdemon skeleton, feeling her blood run cold.
"Any sign of the griffons?" she asked before turning to see a floating creature covered in ripped muslin and yellow eyes. She drew her bow as Lucanis and Davrin ran up beside Isabella.
"You're quite too late for that," the darkspawn drawled as she moved forward. It was enough to see behind her, revealing the mangled corpse of Lancet. Davrin cursed loudly, raising his sword at the creature.
"I'll put your head on a pike!" Davrin shouted as the Gloom Howler cackled.
"Rise, my minions! Secrets in the long past will soon be revealed," the creature rasped floating above.
Isabella turned to see darkspawn crawl out of the pools of blight. Lucanis stepped in front of her as she raised her bow, taking out the ghouls rushing them as Davrin met the hurlocks and ogres in battle. Lucanis kept the monsters at bay and away from her, but Isabella could see more darkspawn file through the pools. They were going to be overrun if they didn't think of something fast. Luckily, Davrin cleared them a path, leading them to the archdemon above.
Lucanis and Isabella ran after Davrin, making sure that the darkspawn didn't have any opportunity to attack them while they retreated. Isabella wasn't sure that going up towards the archdemon was the best option, but it was possible that the skeleton could offer some protection if it was strong enough. If it could withstand the strength of multiple ogres pounding on it, then they could be safe for a while.
Davrin guided them inside the ribcage, and they huddled close, their backs together as they watched the darkspawn try to reach them. However, after a moment, the Gloom Howler shrieked, and the darkspawn seemed to fall into a trance. They turned to the creature, who hovered above them with a shortsword in hand.
"Who are you?" Davrin demanded as the creature laughed.
"A ward against the darkness," the Gloom Howler answered, coming a little closer.
"You are the darkness," the Warden spat with a glower.
"Only against those who created me," the creature explained calmly as Isabella frowned. She never was one for riddles.
"Where are the griffons?" she demanded, catching the darkspawn's attention.
"They are safe from the likes of the Wardens. I have liberated them," the Gloom Howler replied as if they were supposed to be impressed.
"Those griffons don't belong to you!" Isabella shouted irritably. The Gloom Howler chuckled as she tilted her head.
"They don't belong to the Grey Wardens. They left their griffons here in thisCauldron. Once proud warriors, left to rot and be forgotten," the creature sneered, her voice dripping with malice. Davrin glared at her.
"Whoareyou?" the Warden repeated.
"Their salvation!" The Gloom Howler announced, driving the shortsword into the archdemon, covering the sword in blighted blood. Isabella took a step back, shocked by the escalation. "I shall make the griffons stronger than they ever were, and you should understand, dear Warden. The same blood runs through your veins."
"Same bloo- You're blighting them?" Davrin called out, anger covering his words. The Gloom Howler cackled.
"I'm saving them! They'll never need to be protected every again, and they'll never need the Wardens either," the creature answered, pulling out the sword. "Join us, Warden, and you will know the truth."
"I'd rather die!" Davrin roared, drawing his sword to attack.
"Then this will be your tomb," the Gloom Howler growled before shrieking and howling. Isabella drew her bow as the darkspawn attacked.
A separate screech sounded as Isabella looked up briefly. Assan descended from the skylight and attacked the Gloom Howler, expertly dodging the blighted blade while swiping at her. Isabella gestured for Davrin to pay attention to that while she and Lucanis took care of the darkspawn. Luckily, it seemed that while the Gloom Howler was distracted, the pools of blight had dried, leaving them with a finite number of darkspawn.
Davrin shouted at the Gloom Howler and at Assan while the two Crows worked together. Isabella cursed a few times as the darkspawn started getting closer and closer. At least with the Antaam and Venatori, if they hit her, there wasn't a chance she would receive a fatal disease. She drew more arrows, shooting the faster and closest ones before worrying about the others. Lucanis used his rapier to keep the monsters at arm's length, keeping them both safe as they could from the blight.
After what seemed like forever, the last ogre fell over dead, leaving the three of them panting and heaving. Assan landed next to Davrin, purring against his leg. Isabella returned her bow to her back before looking over at Lancet, recalling why they had returned in the first place. The Gloom Howler had been after the griffons to blight them. Why was anyone's guess.
"Where did the Howler go?" Lucanis asked before Davrin shook his head.
"I don't know," he answered.
"Shouldn't we go after it?" Isabella wondered breathlessly.
"No, we need to figure out what the hell she is first. First rule of monster hunting: Never hunt what you don't understand," Davrin instructed before rubbing the back of his neck. "That wasn't just a monster, and we need to learn more about her. In the meantime, we'll need to send word to Antione and Evka about Remi and Lancet."
"What about Assan's brothers and sisters?" Isabella asked as Assan tilted his head.
"The Gloom Howler mentioned that she wanted them to have the same blood that flowed like mine. That takes more than just archdemon blood, so we have some time," Davrin sighed before turning to Assan. "Besides, it seems that Assan was able to swipe a strip of her clothing. It's something to go off of at least. Even though I told you stay at the lighthouse."
"He saved our lives," Isabella reminded with a smirk as Davrin fought a smile.
"He could've been killed," he countered. She rolled her eyes playfully at him.
"Assan cares about you, Davrin. He's not going to sit idly by while you're in danger. And he was even able to help out," she added. Davrin looked down at the pleased griffon.
"You did leave a pretty deep scratch. That'll teach the Gloom Howler," Davrin praised, ruffling Assan's feathers gently as the griffon purred.
"And are we just going to leave the archdemons here?" Lucanis wondered, still unsettled by the skeleton as well as the several unopened doors down the hallway.
"We'll inform Antione and Evka so they can have some Wardens stationed here again. We don't need another Gloom Howler incident," Davrin answered, glancing back at the archdemon. "We'll also need to find out what happened to the griffons during the fourth blight. All the records say that they went extinct, but we had assumed that it was through battle with the darkspawn. That urn room doesn't seem like a warrior's tomb."
"I'm sure we'll figure it out," Isabella reassured, following Davrin out of the archdemon room through the Cauldron.
After encountering a few more darkspawn on their way back, Isabella was glad to be back in Lavendel with Wardens at each entrance to the town. She felt like she could relax a little more knowing that darkspawn weren't going to rise up out of the mud and try to bite her.
Davrin took Assan straight to Antione and Evka as Isabella sat down on the short wall close to the eluvian for a well-earned break. Lucanis stood next to her with his arms crossed, watching for anything out of the ordinary.
"I'm not leaving the lighthouse for a full day when we get back," Isabella warned as she stretched out her legs. Lucanis smirked, glancing over at her.
"Oh, and why not?" he wondered teasingly.
"I am exhausted beyond belief. I have half a mind to use my own sedative to make sure I sleep," Isabella chuckled, earning a concerned look from him. "I'm joking. I wouldn't use it on myself without supervision. Not until I can prove that it is consistent and safe."
"I think you've earned a day to relax," Lucanis agreed with a slight smile.
"What about you? I think you ought to relax as well."
"I'll think about it."
"I know you joined Bellara's book club," Isabella added with a lilt to her voice. "You should catch up on the book."
"Spite wants me to suggest you reading aloud to him again," Lucanis sighed, his cheeks reddening slightly. Isabella smiled.
"I'd be happy to help with that as well as a part of the relaxation routine. You haven't had much of a chance to sleep."
"I've been managing."
"Which means that it's time for you to get some proper rest," she clarified, crossing her ankles and leaning forward. "Especially after how hard we've been running around, and after Viago yelled at you. I know how draining that can be."
"He wasn't too terrible this last time."
"Doesn't mean it didn't happen. He'll get over himself eventually," Isabella sighed, shaking her head. "I feel like I threw a wrench in your friendship. I know you mentioned that it was a little rough before you disappeared, but I feel like I've made it worse."
"If anything, Viago jumping to conclusions has made it worse," Lucanis reassured with a half-smile. "You've been nothing by kind and caring, and sometimes infuriating, but I've never thought you've ruined my friendship with Viago. That's just how he is."
"That's fair, it can be hard to get a word in sometimes," Isabella chuckled as he smiled.
"Viago is Viago, like you say. I think he's just irritated that I get to spend so much time with you while he's stuck in Treviso," Lucanis added with a shrug. Isabella laughed.
"Maybe," Isabella replied, dropping the subject.
Soon, Davrin joined them, and they returned to the lighthouse. Evka sent more Wardens to the Cauldron to retrieve their fallen comrades as well as to guard the skeletal remains of the archdemons. Antione mentioned again that he was close to discovering something inside the blight, but he was just out of reach. Once he had something, he would send word.
Once at the lighthouse, Davrin and Assan went over to their workshop after talking about stopping in Arlathan for a much needed break. He invited Isabella to tag along, but she told them she would take a raincheck. She wanted to lounge around the lighthouse to relax, but wandering the forest with Assan exploring sounded like a great mind clearing activity as well.
Isabella stretched as she reached the top of the eluvian stairs, standing in the lighthouse library. Lucanis walked around her as he headed to the dining hall to make some coffee. She reached for the missives, which seemed to have piled up while they were gone. Lucanis mentioned something about being in the kitchen while she sifted through the letters, and she waved him off. She wished she hadn't as she grabbed one from Viago. It seemed that he had gotten a report just as they had left for Lavendel.
Isabella and Lucanis,
We have finally found the trace of Zara we were looking for. My Crows have found the Venatori hiding in Treviso, although there are no signs of the traitorous Crows you mentioned. I will keep a lookout still, but for now, we have the Venatori.
They are hiding up near the market, and I will have one of my Crows meet you there. She has been keeping an eye on the Venatori, so she will have the most current whereabouts for you. Once you lean on the Venatori, they can tell you exactly where Zara is.
Be wary, Zara took out the First Talon swiftly and mercilessly. Keep your guard up, and trust no one. My Crows will watch from a far to keep tabs in case something goes wrong.
Take care of my Crow, Lucanis.
Viago
Isabella dropped the rest of the missives and took off running towards the dining hall. The rest of the messages could wait as she rushed towards her fellow Crow. This was what he had been waiting for. Relaxation be damned.
They could rest when Zara Renata was dead.