Lord Seeker Lambert was not pleased. He had, as a matter of fact, moved past 'displeased,' beyond 'angry' and was fast approaching 'apoplectic with rage.'
This was a fairly regular state of affairs, to be quite honest. Since Kirkwall, there was little to be pleased about. Although Elthina still lived, the fact that a mage had openly attacked the Chantry made everything...tense. Warden-Commander Surana had eluded him all this time, and now, so did Lady Hawke as well as the majority of the Kirkwall Circle and First Enchanter Orsino.
Now Empress Celene was missing, and Orlais threatened to descend into total war, with Gaspard vying for the throne.
Of course, Gaspard could not take the throne, as he was missing too, and his forces appeared to be under orders that were too old to be accurate. It was concerning, as the lack of Gaspard's leadership meant it was possible someone else would take the reigns of his military.
The College of Enchanters had been disbanded at Lambert’s advice, and now, of course, the Circles were agitating. There were murmurs of dissent in Calenhad (first Surana, and now this Anders had become rebels—the younger mages idolized them), the haughty nobles in Montsimmard, everyone in bloody Kirkwall had fled entirely, and to top everything off, there were rumors of some sort of serial killer in the White Spire. And speaking of the White Spire, the Divine had almost been assassinated by a mage from that place.
All of this resulted in everything being in almost total chaos. The civil war in Orlais was disorganized and confused, Halam’shiral had been on fire at some point (Lambert hardly had any idea of what that was about, the Game eluded him in a number of ways), and of course, there were the Circles. There were always the Circles.
Several First Enchanters were going to come to the Grand Cathedral to try and talk the Divine into reversing her decisions about the College. The Grand Enchanter would likely come as well, a woman that Lambert thoroughly disliked, not simply due to her dangerous magic and attitudes, but she had a stunningly disagreeable personality.
It was almost too much to deal with.
The serial killings at the White Spire were something within Lambert's control. Enchanter Jeannot, the would-be assassin of Divine Justinia, had dabbled in blood magic. It was possible that the killings had to do with him, although blood mages within Circles were not in the habit of killing multiple people. Even so, if Jeannot had known blood magic, there was a very good chance others did as well. Investigating his compatriots might kill two birds with one stone, and allow him to both search for the killer and investigate the possibility of blood magic.
The strange killings had occurred in the cells that held initiate mages, and there were up to five deaths by stabbing at this point. Very unusual, considering that most demons didn't go for the stabbing option, none of the three mages had had knives on them (preventing them from taking their own lives), and the wounds were all from a long dagger or a very small sword, not from a broadsword of the like Templars usually used. No Templar had reported any killing in self-defense, either, which was a semi-rare occurrence that would have been easy enough to explain.
No, Lambert's main worry was blood magic, and as such, he went himself.
To accompany him Lambert needed to pick a contingent of Templars that wouldn't unsettle the mages. Loathe as he was to do so, he still needed to try and pander to them—Meredith and her red-gleaming eyes and vicious reputation would do no good, despite her loyalty both to Elthina and to him.
He was rather concerned about Meredith and her Templars, to be quite honest. When Queen Aeducan had put sanctions on the lyrium trade, Meredith had not been concerned, saying that the red lyrium in Kirkwall worked quite well enough.
Lambert did not feel the same way. It left Templars with red eyes and a bitter temper, and he knew the dwarven Queen considered it some kind of infection. However, so far, it seemed to be alright, and prevented the worst of the lyrium withdrawals. It was their only recourse until they could find someone willing to smuggle proper lyrium out of the mines. Aeducan had managed to put a chokehold even on illegally smuggled lyrium, gaining the favor of the Carta and having them deal with any black market sellers. It meant that there was only barely enough lyrium to go around, and there was none to spare for Kirkwall.
Lambert would hate to be a Templar right about now. The red lyrium or nothing? A sadistic choice if there ever was one.
In any case, he needed to take at least one of the Templars who still used ordinary lyrium to the White Spire. He decided on Evangeline de Brassard.
Evangeline was a Templar, of the small contingent normally tasked with guarding the Divine. However, when the Divine had been attacked by a mage, for some reason, Evangeline had been sent from her side.
Lambert had a suspicion that the Divine blamed her bodyguards in part for the attack, but was too nice to say anything.
Pity.
Evangeline was a decent enough Templar, even if she was soft in a way that made Lambert suspicious. She had never hunted apostates, only stood guard, first at the Circles, then at the side of the Divine. She was rather naive in her way, had never faced the dangers of magic head-on.
The White Spire was claustrophobic and anxious, mages staring openly at the Templars as they passed, whispering and murmuring to each other.
Lambert supposed that was only normal. The dissolution of the College would cause a stir, even if it had been well received, not to mention the strange murders and Enchanter Jeannot's betrayal. It still set his teeth on edge.
Evangeline and the Knight-Commander first interviewed the Templars of the Spire, which got nothing, as was expected. These Templars were reasonably loyal in their way, but showed none of the exceptionalism of Meredith and her own Templars.
To Lambert, Templars were useful, but most of them were not very intelligent. He didn't mind—intelligence was more useful a trait in a Seeker, anyway. No, Templars were cannon fodder, and Lambert could hardly blame them for not working out why the mage had attacked the Divine, or the reason for the strange killings.
Then they interviewed several mages about the killings and the attack on the Divine, most notably Enchanter Rhys and Enchanter Adrian, who, like Jeannot, were part of the Libertarian organization.
It was Rhys who drew Lambert's attention first, as Rhys was the one who knew something about the killings, on top of knowing Jeannot. He even asked about them.
Lambert had begun to discuss demons, and immediately Rhys' back had straightened, and he began to tap nervously on one thigh. The fact that he knew the rough number of deaths could not be discounted either.
He looked from Evangeline, to Lambert, to the Knight-Commander.
“Am I being accused of something?” he asked at last.
“I know that you, Adrian, and Jeannot were frequent associates, and you are all part of the Libertarian fraternity,” the Knight-commander said, her tone gentle. Lambert restrained himself from rolling his eyes. “You can see why that might be suspicious, surely.”
Rhys scowled, hands clenched in his robe. “So now you think we're all blood mages?” he demanded. “Just because Jeannot committed a crime that means we're all criminals?”
“Questioning his associates--”
“I'm not associated with him, and neither is Adrian!” Rhys snapped, pale with anger. “If I'd known he was a blood mage, I'd've gone to the First Enchanter! For the love of the Maker, do you even have any idea what my specialty is?”
“Spirit medium,” Lambert grunted. “I fail to see what one has to do with the other.”
Rhys glared at him. “It means, if I were to do blood magic, it would damage how well I could do my actual specialty,” he snapped. “Blood magic makes it harder to access the Fade. So, no, I wouldn't have associated with Jeannot even if I did know he was doing blood magic, which I didn't.”
Lambert took a deep breath. He'd heard the frequent argument that blood magic made access to the Fade and to spirits difficult. He did not see the point in the argument. Mages merely wanted for power—blood magic would give them power.
“If you would simply tell us who he was close with--” the Knight-Commander said.
“No,” Rhys said.
Lambert raised his eyebrows. “Are you refusing to answer?”
“I won't implicate other mages who might have done nothing wrong!” he said. “We're always the first fraternity you turn to when something goes wrong, and I won't have you doing it here!”
Lambert tilted his head to one side. “Then give us another answer.”
“You don't want another answer!” Rhys got to his feet. “You won't be happy until you can string together a conspiracy that will make you happy. I know about you, Lord Seeker, and I know about the Wardens,” he spat. “So whatever you're going to do, you already decided it. So do it quickly.”
Lambert sighed. “That was foolish.” he exchanged a look with the Knight-Commander, and then glared back at Rhys. This was exactly the sort of thing he were concerned about. “Fine. Leave,” he said.
Evangeline lead Rhys out. Rhys shot another glare at Lambert over his shoulder.
“Send the other one in,” Lambert said.
Adrian was just as bad if not worse than Rhys.
“You didn't give a damn about those murders until someone tried to kill the Divine—well, she's alive, and they're still dead, and all you care about is a scapegoat for a crime that already has a perpetrator! This is ridiculous, and I won't help continue it.” she told them when they explained what this was about.
“And I assume you don't care about blood mages in your midst?” he asked her, raising an eyebrow.
“Even if I knew about a blood mage, it wouldn't matter, because that's not even what you're here to find!” she snapped. “You just want to find the most troublesome mage and make an example out of them, like you always do!”
“Adrian, you are not making the best case for yourself,” the Knight-Commander said, rubbing her forehead.
“I don't care! Maybe if you bothered to do any kind of investigation when the first initiate was killed, I might be inclined to help!” she narrowed her eyes. “But oh no, one stray child or two dying? They're mages, who cares? But the Divine--”
“Initiates die,” Lambert growled.
“Not of stab wounds!” she stared at him, her eyes narrowed. “Unless it's a Templar doing it,” she said. “Then yes, a great many stab wounds.”
“It isn't the Templars,” Evangeline said.
“Oh, as if you'd admit it if it were.”
“We do not kill children, Enchanter.”
Adrian laughed for an uncomfortable amount of time, long enough that Evangeline began to glance at the Knight-Commander. “Where in the world did you pick her up?” she demanded of Lambert, pointing at Evangeline. “She's a bit naive, isn't she?”
“That's enough,” the Knight-Commander said. “Adrian...you can go.” she glanced at Lambert, who inclined his head.
Adrian huffed and left, slamming the door behind her. Evangeline winced.
“Well?” the Knight-Commander said. “What do you think?'
“Rhys is more suspicious. He's a terrible liar.” Lambert said. “And a medium would be more in contact with spirits.”
Evangeline shrugged. “Most likely,” she agreed. “What about Adrian?”
“No, probably not. But I would keep an eye on her all the same.”
“Of course.” Evangeline nodded. She hesitated. “What did she mean?”
“Mean about what?”
“About the deaths of children. You can't have let children and initiates simply die without investigating it?”
The Knight-Commander snorted. “You cannot be serious,” she said, peering at Evangeline.
Evangeline blinked once, deliberately.
“Ser Evangeline, Templars dispose of all threats,” the Knight-Commander sighed. “You are well aware of that.”
“Yes, but...” Evangeline trailed off. “Never mind.”
They interviewed several other mages, but none were as suspicious as Rhys. Jeannot was a loner, apparently, and even his fellow Libertarians didn't hold with him. They couldn't seem to find any of his close friends.
All proceeded fairly normally until Rhys went missing. It was the middle of the night, and the mage had apparently vanished. Evangeline went to search for him, and after some time, found him, deep in the dungeons.
She deposited him in a cell, claiming that his actions merited at least observation. Lambert could not disagree.
“What was he doing in the crypts?” Lambert wanted to know, as they watched the sleeping Rhys through the window into his cell.
“He wouldn't tell me.”
He and Evangeline shared a look.
“Were there any demons?”
Evangeline shook her head. “He was fighting something,” she explained. “But refused to tell me what it was. But there are many dangerous things in those crypts, Lord Seeker.”
“If not a demon, then it's possible it's something else,” Lambert agreed. He shook his head. “We can interrogate him later. We have something else to deal with now.”
Many mages were unhappy when they learned that Rhys was imprisoned, but Lambert had no time for their petty problems. Something much worse had come across.
Enchanter Wynne was here.
Enchanter Wynne, the veteran of the Blight. The spirit healer who appeared to have the Divine's ear, had more freedom than she had a right to have, and had the ability to sway the College if she put her mind to it.
Now she was here, and Lambert had no idea why.
Wynne was tall and had skin that was papery white. She was elderly, but clearly quite strong, and did not so much as lower her eyes when she looked at Lambert.
Lambert was never sure what to think of Wynne. She was loyal to the Circle, and had voted against independence any time it was brought up, cautioning patience and level-headedness, but she was not harmless, by any means. She was a friend to Commander Surana, and had fought in the Blight. She made the hair on the back of his neck stand up, and there was something unmistakably dangerous about her.
She smiled when he met her, her demeanor pleasant and grandmotherly. He tensed, regardless.
“Lord Seeker,” she said in a pleasant tone.
“Enchanter,” he said. “Why are you here?”
“I am as concerned about these strange killings as you are,” she said. “I also came to see the Divine. I feel it is necessary to show you this.”
She held up an envelope.
“This is a writ from the Divine, allowing me free reign,” Wynne said, handing him the appropriate piece of paper.
Lambert stared at it, confusion furrowing his brow. “Why did she give you this?”
“The Divine and I get on quite well,” Wynne said. “I am on a rather important errand.”
“What errand might this be?”
“A friend of mine was performing some research in the Western Approach,” Wynne explained.
Lambert raised his eyebrows. “The Approach? Why have I not heard of this?”
“It would be beneath your notice, Lord Seeker,” Wynne said, and though her tone was respectful, he couldn't shake the feeling she was mocking him. “In any case, I asked the Divine if I could find him, because he is a very dear friend, and she allowed me to do so.”
“Why you? Why not Templars?”
Wynne frowned and began to pace, worry lines creasing her forehead. Lambert did not take his eyes off of her as she walked back and forth. “She believes there might be demons,” she said. “She knows of my experience in handling them, she asked me to investigate.”
“You alone?”
She stopped and looked at him. “I can hardly go there without at least one Templar escorting me, can I?” she said with a little huff. “Really, Lord Seeker--”
Lambert sighed. “Why you? Mages are susceptible to demons--”
“As I said, I would hardly be going alone. And the Divine felt my experience at Calenhad would have sufficiently prepared me. And, if I might say so, Lord Seeker, Templars have a habit of being less than cautious with magical research.”
“Only the dangerous research,” Lambert growled. What was the Divine playing at?
“It was the Divine's feelings that a mage would have a more delicate hand,” Wynne said. “This research is very important to her.”
“Why? What is it?”
“A new way to prevent demon possession,” Wynne explained. “She felt that any method to prevent demons is important, and as such, the research must be preserved.”
Lambert snorted. “Why does this search bring you here?” he demanded. “Why did the Divine not give you a Templar escort, and have you be on your way?”
“I need another spirit medium to help,” Wynne informed him. “There are very few, and the majority of them spirit healers. I couldn't take any healers away from a Circle, especially not with things being the way they are.”
“So you need a medium.”
Wynne inclined her head.
Lambert had a nasty feeling he knew who was wanted, but asked anyway. “Who?”
“Enchanter Rhys.”
Lambert narrowed his eyes at her.
“That man is currently in a cell,” he said. “We suspect him of a crime against the other mages of the Spire.”
Wynne gave a tiny frown. “I would request you release him, Lord Seeker.” she said. Her tone brooked no argument. Her eyes slid down to the writ in his hand, then back up to his face.
Lambert clenched his teeth.
“Of course, Enchanter,” he said. “As the Divine wills it.”
“If he is a danger, I am more than capable of dealing with him myself.”
He was sure that she was.
“As you wish,” he said.
“And If I may I would convene the mages of the Spire,” Wynne added. “I am sure that recent events will have them in uproar. Perhaps my words could calm them.”
Lambert snorted. “I would not be certain of that,” he said. “But do as you wish.”
Lambert got Rhys out of his cell, and set about convening the mages of the Spire. He was fairly sure that Wynne would not inspire them to riot, she was more intelligent than that, so he left her to it. After the meeting (with which many of the mages were unsatisfied, if the general mood was anything to go by), Lambert met Wynne in the Knight-commander's office again, to await Rhys.
Rhys entered the office accompanied by Adrian and Evangeline. When he saw Wynne, his eyes widened in surprise.
“Mother,” Rhys said.
Ah—Mother. Of course. No wonder she had wanted him released.
The greeting was cold, to Lambert’s eyes. His mouth twisted. Typical mages—one couldn’t even greet his own mother with respect.
He ignored the tiny reminder at the back of his head that told him Rhys was lucky to even know who his mother was.
Adrian seemed startled, as did Evangeline. Adrian's startlement was particularly interesting, as Lambert would have thought she'd have known of their connection already.
Wynne smiled. “Rhys.”
“What's this about?” Rhys asked.
“I need your help,” Wynne said.
“My help?” Rhys raised his eyebrows. “What do you need my help for? Why would you even ask?”
“You could always return to the dungeons if you wish,” Lambert said.
Rhys and Adrian glared at him.
“Of course not,” Rhys snapped. “I simply want to know--”
“A friend of mine has become an abomination,” Wynne cut him off. Lambert narrowed his eyes. “He was performing an important experiment, and it ended poorly for him.”
Adrian and Rhys glanced at each other, their shoulders tense. Evangeline bit the inside of her mouth, her brows knitted in worry.
Wynne sighed and rubbed her forehead. “And the situation is...complex.”
“How so?” Rhys asked.
“My friend is Tranquil.”
Lambert was on his feet before his knew it. “That is impossible,” he snapped.
Wynne was calm as she looked up at him. “No,” she said. “It is not.” she looked back at Rhys. “You have researched demons, and you are a spirit medium. If this is either a failing of the Rite--”
“The Rite does not fail,” Lambert growled.
The corner of Wynne's mouth twitched. “Even so,” she said. “It has happened.”
Rhys' eyes were very wide. “And if it has failed, we all need to know why,” he said.
Adrian was smirking, and Lambert kept one eye on her as the discussion went on. He knew she was a troublemaker, unhappy with the treatment of mages, and he was quite sure she had elvhen blood in her line. Elves tended to be more trouble than humans. He looked at Wynne again.
“This venture cannot be allowed,” Lambert said.
Wynne merely raised her eyebrows. “You would countermand the word of the Divine?” she asked, her voice carefully neutral.
“This is an ill-conceived idea that must be dealt with by Templars,” Lambert insisted.
Wynne's eyes flashed, but her composure remained calm. “As Calenhad and Kirkwall were handled by Templars, I assume.”
Lambert felt a flush creep up his neck, and Rhys and Adrian both stared at Wynne, openmouthed. Evangeline shifted from foot to foot, uncomfortable.
“In any case, Lord Seeker, this is not for you to decide.”
“I am responsible for the safety of all mages in the Circle.” Lambert stared her down, but she didn't so much as blink.
“If you wish to contact the Divine and confirm her orders, then you are free to do so.”
He narrowed his eyes at her.
Invoking Calenhad was a dangerous move. It was almost ten years ago now, but the incident still stung in the mind of every Templar. Knight-captain Gregoire's complete inability to contain the demons or even to properly Annul the Circle was counted as one of the greatest failures a Templar had yet committed. Even worse was how Warden-Commander Surana, currently a very wanted apostate, had succeeded where the Templars had not.
Lambert seethed. He turned to Evangeline.
“Ser Evangeline,” he told her. “You will accompany the Enchanters to the Western Approach.”
Evangeline looked surprised, but she inclined her head in silent agreement.
Wynne's eyes flicked to Evangeline, and for a moment Lambert thought she was going to protest, but she seemed to think better of it.
Lambert resisted the urge to sigh. Thoughts of Calenhad brought thoughts of Warden-Commander Surana, and he was somewhat concerned that Wynne would take a page out of her book and find a way to slip the escort. He made a note to mention that to Evangeline later.
Wynne turned to Rhys. “Will you help me?” she asked. “You do not need to if you truly do not wish it.”
Rhys gritted his teeth for a moment. Again, Lambert was struck with disgust for his attitude towards her.
“Very well,” Rhys said at last. “But...” his eyes turned to Adrian. “Considering the danger of this quest, you'll need more than two mages. All exorcism rituals I know of require at least three.”
Adrian's spine straightened. “Yes,” she said with a nod. “You should take me. And I know some battle magic, so--” she looked at Rhys.
Lambert scowled. He'd have to make a note of her, too.
“As you wish,” Wynne said. “Then we should leave as soon as is possible. You two, go and prepare.” she swept out of the room without so much as a backwards glance, and Rhys let out a long breath.
Later, the Lord Seeker sought out Evangeline as she was saddling her horse.
“Ser Evangeline.”
“Lord Seeker!” Evangeline turned, startled. “Do you need something?”
“Be on your guard with your charges,” he said.
“Of course,”
“No,” Lambert cut across her. “Be more on guard than ever before. Not only are you guarding Rhys--”
“A possible danger,” Evangeline agreed.
“--And Adrian, who has quite clear rebellious leanings, but Enchanter Wynne as well.”
“Lord Seeker, she is an old woman,” Evangeline protested. “The Blight was almost ten years ago, and she urges the mages to peace. Why--”
Lambert silenced her with a look. “You of all people should know that mages of any kind are dangerous,” he said, then sighed. “In any case, this is still a woman who has been friends with Enchanter Surana.”
Evangeline nodded.
“Of course, Lord Seeker.” she said. “Is there anything else?”
Lambert paused, considering. “Not at this moment,” he said. “But watch for anything unusual.”
Evangeline inclined her head.
The journey to the Approach and back would take several months. Lambert would need to head off whatever Wynne was doing and needed to meet with the Divine. Not to mention, of course, that beside the mages, there was the business with the Empress and Gaspard's feud and the possibility of it spilling over into Val Royeaux.
Lambert left the Spire to go to the Grand Cathedral, to find Justinia.
The Divine was never not accompanied by her shadow, the left hand. The Nightingale. The redhead stared out at Lambert from under her hood, eyes cold and calculating.
Justinia was much friendlier than Leliana, as was usual, but Lambert decided to cut straight to the point.
“Enchanter Wynne told me you had given her leave to do as she wished,” Lambert said. “Why?”
“I felt that her need was warranted,” Justinia said. Leliana watched Lambert's every move, and he remembered with a jolt that she too had been there in the Blight. She had been one of Surana's staunchest supporters, and constantly maintained the innocence of the Wardens.
“To risk three mages for one abomination?”
Justinia nodded. “The work that man was doing was important,” she insisted. He opened his mouth to protest, but she raised a hand and he was silent again. “And the Enchanter will be able to handle it.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“She handled far more than one demon at Calenhad.” Justinia's eyes turned unusually flinty, and again, Lambert felt the keen failure of the Templars. Even the normally clement Justinia had no patience for a failure of such magnitude. “She will do what is appropriate. Besides, I am not so sure that is the most pressing issue.”
“No?”
“Her Majesty is still missing,” Leliana interjected.
Lambert's stomach churned, but for a very different reason than before. “You have heard no word?”
“None.” Leliana's tone was neutral, but her shoulders were tense. “We have no idea where she is.”
“And Gaspard?”
“We do not know where he is, either.”
“So his army has no commander.”
Leliana inclined her head.
Lambert began to pace. “So while the mages are rebelling, it is likely Gaspard's army will ride roughshod over all of Orlais.”
“That is quite possible, yes,” Leliana said with a nod. “Although the mages are by no means rebelling.”
Lambert rolled his eyes. “You need only give them a reason.”
“We may reach a solution yet, Lambert,” Justinia said. “Several First Enchanters wish to speak with me, and--”
Lambert spun to stare at her. “You would give them leave to come here?” he spat. “Even after--”
“Yes, even after the attempt on my life,” Justinia's words were cool. “The Grand Enchanter, as well as First Enchanter Irving and First Enchanter de Fer all wish to convene here.”
Lambert snorted. “And what do they want?”
“Madame de Fer, I believe you know,” Justinia said. “She wants nothing more than cooperation with the Chantry.”
Lambert hesitated, then nodded. He knew of Madame de Fer, the mage of the Orlesian Court. She had somehow worked her way into the favor of the Empress. A thought struck him. “Is it possible she knows where the Empress is?”
Leliana shook her head. “We have already asked her.”
It was possible Leliana was lying. It was entirely likely that she was lying. He had no doubts that the Nightingale knew at least some of his plans. It was possible she was colluding with the College, the Wardens, and the dwarven Queen, all at once. He had no way of knowing.
“In that case, what are your plans, your Holiness?” he asked the Divine.
The Divine pinched the bridge of her nose. “We are still searching for the Empress. Maker willing, she'll return and be able to help balance everything out before Gaspard's forces make this worse than it already is.”
“And if you cannot find her?”
“Then we defend Val Royeaux,” Justinia said. “Until someone is in charge of Orlais, officially, then we cannot allow any band of mercenaries to overrun it.”
“Of course not.”