Sisters of Tevinter

Covert

   Jor leaned against her folded arms at the lip of the War Table, attention rapt despite the darkening hollows beneath her eyes. A day or two had passed quietly since her first judgement, until the next reports from the West came flooding in. Slave caravans in the desert, discovered remnants of failed sacrificial rituals. Entire patrols of Inquisition soldiers disappearing without a trace, never rendezvousing with their camps in the Western Approach. 

     "We lost two more just last week. None of the scouts returned from the abandoned Griffon Wing Keep," Leliana said, steepling her gloved fingers. 

      Jor shook her head firmly, only once. "Then it is no longer abandoned. We should cease advancement of our forces immediately. I'll go out there myself if I have to." Her voice was haggard, but strong. "I will not tolerate more loss of life." 

       "You're needed here, Inquisitor," Cullen said gently, bracing his palms against the tabletop. "Perhaps others would be willing--"

       "I agree," Leliana said swiftly, decisively cutting the commander short. "Which is why I'm sending the Crow." 

        "What?" Both the commander and the Inquisitor whirled on the Nightingale with varying shades of hostility and shock. Josephine bit her lip and looked down at the blood spattered reports in front of her. 

      "Not alone," the spymaster began reproachfully. "But she is my most experienced infiltrator. She will analyze the Keep, discover what she can of the Approach. She will be nearly impossible to detect, she is familiar with the deserts of southern Orlais. I thought perhaps the Denizens would accompany her." 

      "No," Jor spat, nearly leaping from her chair. She'd just gotten her siblings back, she wasn't about to send them careening into the unknowns of dusty wilds overrun by blood mages and Venatori. 

      "It is the most logical choice," Josephine offered, laying a soothing hand over Jor's. "They both know the terrain. They are cautious, well versed in espionage."

     Cullen made a strangled noise and began to pace the floor. "What's got your cloak in a twist?" Jor hissed at him. 

      "It's nothing, Inquisitor," he murmured, running a hand anxiously through his hair. 

      Jor, peeved, settled back in her chair, her heart thundering in her ears. "...They cannot be allowed to engage. Under any circumstances. If I know my sister, she'll try her luck. I know my brother too-- he's never been one to shy away from challenge. They're reckless." 

      "As are you, if I remember correctly." The Nightingale gave a patient smile. "I will see to it the proper precautions are taken. They will be supplied with all they need, this is a mission of intellect only. They will return as soon as they have news." 

      "...Let me know when they're ready." Jor rose. "As soon as we have more information, I'm going out there." 

      "As you wish, Inquisitor." Leliana gave a slight incline of her head. Josephine watched the Inquisitor sweep out of the War Room, looking stricken.

       "Inquisitor!" 

       "Not now," Jor growled, running rough hands through her tangled locks. Six patrols. At least. That was eighteen men and women, all dead somewhere in the godforsaken desert because Jor couldn't move fast enough. Every moment she wasted in Skyhold, Corypheus was tightening his deadly grasp on Orlais. For what? Domination? To become the god he thought himself to be? There were too many unkowns. Kaisen was good at making unknowns known, sure, but what if...