Ambassador Andoriel was still at Vigil's Keep, along with the representative from the Circle, but now a new face had joined the game.
Irren Talvi, the ambassador who had been Orzammar's representative during the Blight, had come to visit Vigil's Keep, and Kitranna arranged a meeting with her so they could speak.
“Ambassador Talvi, nice to see you again,” Kitranna said with a smile, reaching out and shaking Talvi's hand.
Talvi inclined her head. “A pleasure, Warden-Commander.”
“Something you need me for?”
“Not you specifically, but Queen Aeducan wished you to remain in the loop.”
Kitranna crossed her arm. “So what's happening?”
“Word of these new darkspawn hasn't reached beyond the Queen and the deshyrs yet,” Talvi said. “And the casualties amongst the Legion haven't been fully tallied up.”
“There was a pretty sizeable number of casualties,” Kitranna said, her mouth set in a grim line.
“I'm aware, and Orzammar is growing nervous,” Talvi said. “We've never even heard of darkspawn like this, no one has, and this combined with the Archdemon, and the stories from the Deep Roads—it's unsettling everyone.”
“So, you haven't heard of this either,” Kitranna sat back with a sigh. “Damn—I was hoping someone might've heard about the talking darkspawn before now...”
Talvi shook her head. “No, I'm sorry, Commander,” she said.
“Alright,” Kitranna nodded. “I'm working on it—do you want me to send you a report on Kal'hirol?”
Talvi nodded. “That would be excellent, Commander, thank you. No one wants to go there since they lost the Legion contingent.”
“Smart,” Kitranna said. “Place was full of broodmothers until we cleared them out, and fighting darkspawn besides. Also ghosts.”
“Ghosts?”
Kitranna waved a hand. “I'll put it in the report,” she said. “Now—any other problems I should know about?”
Talvi sighed and looked out the window. “Many of our people, especially the nobility, do not appreciate how Queen Aeducan is welcoming so many foreigners,” she said.
“No?”
“No. Our alliance with the Dalish collective has been going rather well, all things considered, but Orzammar is becoming a haven for Circle mages.”
“That a problem for you?”
“It is when it draws attention from Templars,” Talvi said darkly, and leaned forward. “The Chantry has also become...worrisome,” she said.
Kitranna scowled. “For us, too,” she said. “There've been Seekers poking around Denerim—what's been happening with you?”
“Nothing too drastic at the moment,” Talvi said with a frown. “But there've been some disputes over where our laws end, and theirs begin. And there've been Templars sniffing around the Dalish, which is a problem in all kinds of ways.”
“I told them to leave their hands off the Dalish,” Kitranna growled, getting to her feet. “Ambassador Panalenvinte is here representing them, maybe you want to speak to her?”
“Ambassaor Panalenvinte and I have spoken,” Talvi said. “But only briefly—I do want to see if it's possible to arrange a meeting with you, her and myself.”
Kitranna waved a hand. “I can manage that,” she said. “It has to be soon, though—I need to head off and see what else I can find out about the darkspawn.”
Talvi ran a hand over her face. “As I understand it, the Chantry is attempting to influence your Order as well,” she said.
Kitranna nodded. “That's right—they strongarmed Alistair—King Theirin—into giving the title of Arl of Amaranthine to someone else besides me. He hasn't picked anyone else yet, he's stalling, but they're already leaning on him pretty hard.”
“I heard about that,” Talvi said. “You should be wary, Commander.”
Kitranna snorted. “I know that,” she said. “Believe me, I know that.”
“Commander, this bodes ill,” Talvi said. “The Chantry has not had much interaction with Orzammar, except in trade, for hundreds of years. That they're trying to interfere now...” she shook her head.
“No, no, you're right,” Kitranna said. “What does Culwydd—I mean, what does Queen Aeducan have to say about this?”
“There is a missive she sent, here,” Talvi pulled a letter out of her pocket and handed it to Kitranna. It was marked with the royal seal of the Aeducan family. Kitranna accepted the letter.
“I see you have a member of the Legion among your Wardens,” Ambassador Talvi said.
Kitranna nodded. “Sigrun. She was the last one to survive the attack on Kal'hirol.”
Talvi gave an approving nod. “She must be a very good warrior, then,” she said.
“Do...you want her to go back to the Legion?” Kitranna frowned. “Because she's already done the Joining--”
Talvi waved her off. “Her business is her own—doubtless she'll be an asset to your Wardens.”
Kitranna nodded and sat back. “Good to hear.”
They talked for a little while longer about trade agreements and the goings on in Orzammar, but Kitranna soon had other appointments to get to. Talvi would meet with Ambassador Andoriel and Enchanter Cera, and Kitranna would try and meet with all three of them later.
Culwydd's letter was brusque and to the point, showing her frustration with the situation. The Templars had come nosing about in Orzammar several times, looking for apostates who'd slipped their leash during the Blight. Worse were the nobles of Orzammar, many of whom had resisted Culwydd's changes to the city.
Bhelen was still in the dungeons, as although some nobles had suggesting exiling him as he had her, she didn't want to do that to him. He had lost most of his supporters, but someof the younger nobles still supported him over her and she worried that he may try and pull a coup at some point.
Jowan was doing fine, fortunately. Most people simply didn't know what to make of him, and the confusion stopped anyone from bothering him. Templars had been after him once or twice, but they had always been turned away at the gates because they never had the right paperwork. Oddly, escaped mages tended to be more likely to have passports and appropriate documents than Templars, although that was changing as the Templars learned they couldn't simply force their way into the city.
Culwydd worried about what would happen if she let more Templars into the city—the dwarves had no native mages, but she knew the story of the Dales, even better now that she had Dalish allies. At the moment, since Orzammar supplied lyrium to the Chantry, she was reasonably sure of Orzammar's security, but she knew it wasn't impossible someone else could figure out the trick to mining lyrium. The minute the Chantry got another source, she worried that they would try something.
Lastly, she mentioned that Zevran had been in Orzammar for a short time before going back to Antiva, which Kitranna hadn't known but was good to hear.
She did meet with Andoriel, Cera and Talvi to discuss the current problems with the Chantry and Orlais, as well as the fact that Alistair still hadn't appointed a new Arl to Amaranthine.
Kitranna ran a hand over her head. “He's mentioned making Shianni or one of the Tabris family an Arl,” she said. “But I'm not sure...”
“Tabris?” Talvi asked.
“Some of the elves from the Denerim Alienage,” Kitranna explained. “He was thinking that if someone there became a Bann or another title, they could avoid the whole 'Tevinter slavers kidnapping Ferelden citizens' thing.”
Talvi nodded.
“I don't know that that would help,” Andoriel said. “You could make one of them a Bann, I'm sure, but Arl? Especially if they don't live in Amaranthine...”
“I don't live in Amaranthine.”
“And look where that got you.”
Kitranna grunted. “Good point—he's stalling, hoping they'll drop it, I think. Personally I don't care what he decides, I just need to get rid of the darkspawn problem.”
Andoriel frowned. “Do you really want to risk not thinking about this?” she asked. “You know if the Chantry is willing to interfere with the Wardens, they will interfere with the Dalish as well.”
Kitranna shrugged. “They haven't yet,” she said. “You haven't done anything to piss them off—not any more than you already were, anyway.”
“We are allied with you,” Andoriel insisted. “And we don't have to do anything. They've proven time and time again they will attack us with no provocation.”
“But these darkspawn are the main concern, really, aren't they?” Cera asked. “If more of these intelligent darkspawn were to spread...”
“We'd be hip-deep in Broodmothers and darkspawn faster than we could blink,” Kitranna said. “That's why I need to figure this out now, before they get smart enough that they don't need an Archdemon to lead them.”
“I agree,” Talvi said. “Ambassador Andoriel, Queen Culwydd has pledged her allegiance to the Dalish—we will assist if you have need of it.”
“Will you?” Andoriel said. “I don't doubt our alliance,” she said, raising a hand to Talvi when the dwarrowdam opened her mouth to protest. “I simply know that the Chantry needs one thing from you—lyrium. If they feel they no longer need that, I am certain they will turn on you, as they are doing to the Wardens. If you have the Chantry on your back, how will you be able to spare a thought for us?”
“You understand, of course, our alliance goes both ways,” Talvi said. “If we need aid, you will give it.”
“And you know that the Dalish are an example of what happens when the Chantry becomes angry,” Andoriel said. “If the Chantry decided to cut off lyrium trade or, Creators forbid, perform an Exalted March, there is, frankly, little we could do to help.” she sighed and rubbed her forehead.
“The Chantry is by no means invincible,” Talvi said. “Nor are they as violent as they were when they performed the majority of their Exalted Marches.” she looked at the others. “I do not feel the Chantry will be so extreme as to attack Orzammar—that would prove very foolish. I believe their strength lies more in manipulation.”
“And attacking those who have little recourse to defend themselves,” Andoriel sniffed. “But this returns to my main point—Commander, the Wardens are militarily strong, but you are few, disparate. Your strongest ally is King Alistair, and he is heavily influenced by them.”
“Not out of choice,” Kitranna said.
“But you see my point.”
“Yeah,” Kitranna nodded. “Yeah, I do—but what can I do? I have enough on my plate trying to stop the darkspawn killing everything.”
“I feel you are all seeing the Chantry as more aggressive than they actually are,” Cera said. “Commander—I am thankful for your role against the Blight, as is everyone.”
“But...?”
“But surely you must see how this looks,” Cera spread her hands. “You—a mage Warden—have left the Circle, put two different monarchs on the thrones of two different nations, and brokered a sudden alliance between several groups that never even spoke to each other before. King Alistair even attempted to make you a noble—surely you see why they would be concerned.”
Kitranna leaned back in her seat. “Even so,” she said. “The Chantry imposing the way they are—especially now, since I still have darkspawn to deal with...” she shook her head.
“My people are well-prepared for the worst,” Andoriel told Cera. “Is it not true that there were tensions between the Circle of Magi and the Chantry before the Blight? This is nothing but the continuation of a troubling pattern.”
“That is true, there have been tensions,” Cera agreed. “But the Blight and the changing of the Ferelden throne—you must surely see why the Chantry is acting the way that it is. There has been no alliance between the Dalish and anyone else for hundreds of years—and no mage has held a position of power such as you, Commander, except in the Imperium,” Cera nodded at Kitranna.
“What do you suggest, Enchanter?” Talvi asked. “Do you believe there is a way to resolve these tensions?”
“Do you not?” Cera asked.
“I am sure there is, but every possibility is troubling to me. What do you think?”
“What I told you earlier, Commander,” Cera said. “The only way the Chantry—the Templars and the Seekers as well as the Grand Cathedral—will believe you and your people are not a threat is if you return to the Circle.”
Kitranna snorted. “Absolutely not.”
“When the darkspawn threat is eliminated, of course,” Cera added.
“Still no.”
“Would it be such a bad thing?” Cera asked, exasperated.
“Yes.” Andoriel said.
Cera glared at her. “I am sure, of course, that a Dalish woman knows more about the Circles than a Circle Enchanter does.”
Andoriel scowled. “Oh, I beg your pardon, Enchanter, I must have been hallucinating the children stolen from our Clans, the mages murdered or made Tranquil, the many mages who slipped the leash because the Circle is simply too intolerable--”
Cera narrowed her eyes. “Ah, my mistake, I thought it would be better to be safe and sheltered from harm rather than constantly on the run in the forest, in danger from villagers, animals and who knows what else--”
Andoriel got to her feet and opened her mouth, but Talvi put a hand on her arm.
“Ladies, please,” Talvi said. “This won't get us anywhere.”
Cera sighed and leaned back. “My point is, if you wish the Chantry to be less threatening to you, it would behoove you to be less threatening to them,” she said.
“We'll always be a threat to them,” Andoriel said, sitting down. “You know the Chant—they won't stop until they spread their myths to all the corners of the world.” she shook her head. “Commander, returning to the Circle would be a temporary measure, at best.”
“'s a good thing I wasn't considering it, then, isn't it?” Kitranna said. She stretched, cracking her back. “Look, the fact is that the Chantry's been jumpy for years,” she said, kneading her forehead. She looked at Cera. “You know what happened with Uldred at Calenhad wasn't a surprise.”
Cera sighed and looked down. “No, it wasn't,” she admitted. “The ferocity of the attack, perhaps, but...he had been agitating for years.” she leaned forward. “But this simply proves my point—the Chantry is already worried about the Circles, and the Blight and the change in Ferelden leadership just compounded things. The best thing would be to show them that you are not trying to do anything but eliminate the darkspawn.”
“That's what I've been doing for the past year!” Kitranna exclaimed. “All this happened because of the Blight! Alistair wouldn't even be king because of it--”
“Exactly my point!” Cera said. “There were already tensions, and the Blight just made it worse.”
“Queen Aeducan would be happy to give you sanctuary, should you need it, Commander,” Talvi said. “Perhaps that would placate the Chantry—if you were in Orzammar, you would not be directly in their attention.”
“That might make it worse,” Cera said, shaking her head.
“Yeah—it'd look like I was running,” Kitranna said. “And you have enough problems with Templars coming after apostates hiding out there. I wouldn't want to give you more problems.” she shook her head. “I don't think we'll find a solution right this instant,” she said. “Cera, you have a point—everything we do looks kind of threatening to the Chantry. But I don't want to make any decisions yet,” she grimaced. “Not until I deal with the darkspawn.”
“Wise,” Andoriel said. “But you can't ignore the Chantry forever.”
“I'm not going to,” Kitranna assured her.
They talked for a little while longer, mostly discussing trade between the three disparate groups. Dagna, Orzammar's first official Arcanist, had been in and out of both the Calenhad Circle and several Dalish Clans, and was a fairly reliable contact between the three.
The Dalish were an advantageous trading partner as it turned out, as they could provide Orzammar with both practical and magical items that Orzammar may not have been able to get anywhere else (dragonhide and various furs and unusual magical runes or artifacts being just some of the things they traded).
The relationship between the Circles and the Dalish was shaky, as it had been during the Blight, and was now even worse. There were still accusations of child theft thrown about, although since the Blight had ended, no Clan claimed to have lost a child to the Templars, though Andoriel said it was only a matter of time.
Calenhad and Orzammar continued their regular lyrium trade, although in addition to Dagna, two other interested dwarves had come to study in the Circle. Apparently traffic between Orzammar and the surface had grown since Culwydd discarded the law that stated that no dwarf could go to the surface and retain their place in Orzammar.
Kitranna had received word that Wynne was visiting Amaranthine, and wished to meet with her to discuss a matter of some importance. Kitranna figured that on the way to Amaranthine, she could go to the Pilgrim's Path and see what was causing all the ruckus. She gathered her companions, and they left for the Path.
Less than a week after they left, Lambert came to Vigil's Keep at last, after many days of hard travel. He went to see Varel immediately.
“The Warden-Commander?” Varel said when questioned about Kitranna's whereabouts. “She left, almost a week ago now.”
Lambert tilted his head back. “I see,” he said. “I must speak with her. Will you object to my staying here until she returns?”
Varel opened his mouth, then reconsidered his words. “If you truly wish to see her so urgently, you can wait,” he said. "Her errand might take some time.”
“And what is her errand?”
Varel saw no reason to lie. “She is looking for the darkspawn which are plaguing Amaranthine,” he explained. “And she's also dealing with a problem on the Pilgrim's Path.”
Lambert nodded. “I see. Is there anyone else I might speak to? I'm informed there are some representatives of the Wardens' alliances here--”
“Yes...” Varel peered at him. “Why do you want to speak with them?”
Lambert drew himself up. “The Chantry is concerned about any major alliances that occur without our being informed of them,” he said. “Especially since the Wardens are maintaining them now that the Blight is over.”
“Even with Orzammar, and the Dalish?” Varel said, confused.
“It is wise to know what other nations are doing, yes,” Lambert said. “But the Chantry is more concerned with the actions of the Circle of Magi.”
“Oh—in that case, you can speak with Enchanter Cera.”
Lambert inclined his head. “Thank you.”
Cera looked worried, twisting her hands into knots and avoiding Lambert's gaze. “Seeker,” she said.
“Enchanter,” Lambert said.
“What do you need?”
“I was hoping you could tell me the state of things here—and why the Circle has chosen to maintain such close contact with the Knight-Commander.” he caught her eyes, and she went a few degrees paler.
“Oh—well, Surana was an Enchanter from Calenhad,” Cera reminded him. “And she helped us with the demon...problem...” she grimaced and trailed off.
“I recall. She prevented the need for the Right of Annulment, didn't she?”
Cera nodded, a small smile touching her lips. “She did.”
“And you consider her a valuable ally, even now that the Blight is over.”
Cera considered her words carefully. “The darkspawn are still a threat,” she said.
Lambert raised one eyebrow. “Indeed?”
Cera nodded.
Lambert considered this. “I understand Vigil's Keep has suffered at least one darkspawn attack.”
“That's right—that's why the Warden-Commander has to recruit new Wardens, all the Orlesian ones were killed. You can ask Seneschal Varel about it—she saved him from the darkspawn.”
Lambert leaned back in his seat. “Did she now?”
“Yes.”
“So you consider the Warden-Commander trustworthy.”
“Yes, of course.”
“How interesting, Enchanter, because the last mage I knew of to have as much political power as she does was a Tevinter magister,” Lambert's tone did not change, the same idle curiosity he'd held the entire time.
Cera swallowed. “She isn't a noble anymore, ser. King Alistair made a mistake, didn't he?”
“That he did. But that does not change the dangerousness of her position.”
“What do you mean?”
Lambert looked at her. “You know the history of the Imperium as well as I do—perhaps better, being a mage.” there was something biting in his tone. “You know that when mages are given power over kings and queens, nothing good comes of it.”
Cera looked away. “'Magic is meant to serve man...'” she muttered.
Lambert nodded. “'And never to rule over him.'”
“She's doing good work,” Cera said. “Without her, Vigil's Keep would have fallen to the darkspawn. She killed several Broodmothers in Kal'hirol, also, and exorcised the demons infesting the Blackmarsh.”
“I cannot fault that her results so far have been good,” Lambert said. “Enchanter Cera, I would advise that the Circle remain close to her.”
Cera looked at him. “And why is that?”
“A reminder of her roots will remind her of how easy it is to succumb to temptation,” Lambert said. “And mages are in more danger than most.”
Cera nodded. “I'll see what I can do, Seeker.”
It took some doing, but Lambert managed to get a meeting with Talvi and Andoriel as well. Neither of them wanted to see him, always claiming work, but finally he was face to face with both of them.
“Why are you here, instead of Denerim?” Lambert asked.
“Our alliance is with the Wardens, not King Alistair,” Andoriel said.
Talvi inclined her head. “Queen Aeducan honors the ancient treaties set down by the Wardens,” she said. “Those predate the Theirin family and Ferelden in its modern form.”
“Why are you here?” Andoriel asked. “Surely the Wardens are not under Chantry purview.”
“Traditionally, no,” Lambert explained. “But recent actions have caused us to take a deeper interest.”
“Ah,” Talvi nodded. “The passing on of the Ferelden crown?”
“Among other things, yes.”
“Well, Seeker, is there anything in particular you need from us?” Talvi said, eyeing Andoriel, who was looking increasingly suspicious. “Orzammar and the Dalish have no treaties or even much contact with the Chantry.”
“You are aware that your people could change that at any time, of course.” Lambert said.
Andoriel raised one eyebrow. “I believe it would take some doing for the Dalish and the Chantry to come to an accord,” she said. “You understand our history, do you not?”
Lambert inclined his head. “That history has been..regrettable,” he admitted. “I simply suggest that the Chantry is a more reliable ally than the Wardens.”
“Forgive me, Seeker, but I hope you will understand that my people would not believe that to be the case,” Andoriel said, her voice frosty.
“Nor mine,” Talvi said. “Queen Aeducan is a faithful follower of the Ancestors' wisdom, besides.” in some ways, anyway.
“I see,” Lambert's tone was neutral. “Then I hope you see, as the Chantry does, that the Wardens themselves are...unstable.”
“I do not believe we see it that way,” Talvi said. “So far, the Wardens have proven to be an excellent ally.”
“If you insist.”
The meeting ended shortly after that.