As everyone filed out of the main hall, Alistair discreetly tapped Fae on the shoulder. "I suppose I shouldn't be surprised to see you caught up in this," he whispered conspirationally. "You have a habit of making friends in high places."

Fae smiled wryly. "Including yourself, your Majesty."

Alistair made a face at her. "Walk with me?"

"Of course."

Alistair took a deep breath in as soon as they stepped outside. "I'm glad that's over," he sighed. "I was not looking forward to casting out the mages, or dealing with Tevinter magisters, but your Herald managed to take care of both in one fell swoop. Perhaps she was sent by Andraste after all."

"Maybe," Fae agreed. They walked together in silence for a little while.

"I'm glad you're alright," Alistair said suddenly.

"What?"

"Well, with what happened in Kirkwall, and all the mage-templar fighting since then, and then the explosion at the conclave…" Alistair trailed off. "I didn't know what had happened to you. And I was worried that if I wrote to the Champion of Kirkwall, or even Neria, to ask, then it was possible that they would give me…terrible news. I even had copies of Varric Tethras' books sent to me, but there was no mention of you. That had me almost convinced."

"Ah. Yeah, sorry about that," Fae patted his arm. "I was in hiding like everyone else after Kirkwall, and I wasn't even at the conclave; I only came to Haven later because Leliana asked me to. And, I made Varric promise not to include me by name in his books. For all the good that does now, anyway; Leliana and Josephine are working together to make me famous, apparently. So that I can stand next to the Herald of Andraste with the least amount of suspicion. It's… weird, and complicated. Probably not as much as being the king of Ferelden, though," she added thoughtfully.

"Being a little famous might be better than having to spend your life in hiding as an apostate, though, wouldn't it?" Alistair pointed out.

Fae laughed. "I'll let you know when it happens."

"Your Majesty?" one of the soldiers approached.

Alistair smiled guiltily. "Excuse me. Keep in touch from now on, alright? By order of the king."

Fae rolled her eyes. "Duly noted, your majesty."

Alistair was escorted away by the soldier, leaving Fae to take in the sight of Redcliffe village alone. There was a persistent prickling on the back of her neck, or perhaps it was her back. She stretched and closed her eyes, trying to work out where the feeling was coming from. She felt a dull thud in her head, like the beginning of a headache. She took a few steps forward, and then a few steps back. It definitely felt more something when she walked forward. Fae opened her eyes and walked forward again, looking around.

"If you're looking for the Herald, she is still in the castle," Cassandra greeted as she approached with Solas by her side.

"Hm? Oh…" Fae responded distractedly.

"Is something wrong?"

"I don't know. Something feels off."

Solas nodded sagely. "The Veil in this area was already weak. I imagine it has only grown weaker due to the recent rifts, as well as the time magic Alexius was using. Mages are more likely to notice the difference due to their connection with the Fade, myself included."

Fae bit her lip. "I think there's a weak point. If I can find it…" she started walking in one direction, and then another.

"What does that mean, a weak point?" Cassandra asked. "Are we talking about another rift forming? Could a demon come through?"

Fae shook her head as she walked. "I don't know." She stopped in front of a small house near the docks. "But I think it's in there, whatever it is." She knocked on the door, but there was no answer. She rattled the door-handle, but it was locked.

"I'll go and look for Sera," Cassandra volunteered.

"Or Varric; he knows how to pick locks too."

"Ugh. Of course he does."

Cassandra returned a few minutes later with both Sera and Varric in tow. It took three lockpicks and a great deal of swearing, but Sera managed to get the door open. Inside, there was a large desk filled with papers, a number of stone pillars either leaning up against the wall or lying on the dirt floor, and several rows of wall shelves, all lined with…human skulls.

"Creepy skull house is creepyyy," Sera whined, hopping from foot to foot.

Varric echoed the same sentiment. "What the hell is this place?"

Solas picked up one of the papers, reading intently. "This is the work of the Venatori," he said. "It seems they're behind the Oculara we've seen around the hinterlands. They're using them to look for something."

"These were all people once," Fae said sadly, looking down the rows of skulls. "Who were they? And how did the Venatori find these?"

Cassandra drew in a sharp breath. "They didn't," she said darkly, passing Fae one of the papers.

'You have done well, Magister Alexius. Our production of the Oculara has increased ten-fold since you acquired the Redcliffe mages. The absence of the Tranquil mages we have taken so far has not been—'

Fae rushed out of the house, fell to her knees by a row of bushes and threw up. Distantly, she heard a gasp, followed by frantic footsteps and a soothing hand on her back. "Faellathi? Are you alright? What happened?" Ellethir asked in a panic.

Fae shook her head fervently, wiping her mouth with her hand. "I'm fine, Herald." The others had left the house as well, and she refused to look any of them in the eye.

"We can discuss it back in Haven," Cassandra offered, and Ellethir agreed.

"We have much to discuss. Fiona says the mages should be ready to leave by tomorrow morning, but we can go on ahead, if you like?" she directed the last part to Fae.

"If you don't mind, Herald. I don't want to spend any more time in this place."

"Neither do I, believe me."