The Lost Halla

Chapter 50

With a loud creak and thud the large main doors opened. Dust flew in the air, sparkling in the sunlight as the silhouettes of the Spymaster, Ambassador, Commander and Inquisitor stretched across the stone floor. Rafters and wooden beams lay broken in piles alongside several chandeliers and various debris. The back wall was covered in green, mosaiced glass that illuminated what remained of an upraised broken throne.

Skyhold. It would take time to make it theirs but it was their new safe haven.

Cullen was the first to say anything as all four walked in, turning on his heels and looking around. "So this is where it begins."

"It began in the courtyard. This is where we turn that promise into action." Leliana said, correcting him.

"But what do we do? We know nothing about this Corypheus except that he wanted your mark." Josephine said, sounding concerned while looking at Leliana.

All of them stopped in the middle of the room. It was true, what was their next move? After the shakedown at Haven, everyone was still recovering. Corypheus was surrounded by mystery.

Kayla bit her lip, watching her achor flicker softly. "Do you think Corypheus w-wants to restore Tevinter? Is this a prelude to w-war with the Imperium?"

"I get the feeling we're dealing with extremists, not the vanguard of a true invasion." Cullen said. "Does not mean we shouldnt be cautious."

"Tevinter is not the Imperium of a thousand years ago. What Corypheus yearns to 'restore' no longer exists. Though they would shed no tears if the south fell to chaos, I'm certain." Josephine said, tapping the pen off her clipboard.

"C-Corypheus said he wanted to enter your religion's Black City, that this would make him what he believes to be a god." Kayla replied.

Leliana raised an eyebrow in slight annoyance. "He is willing to tear this world apart to reach the next. It won't matter if he's wrong."

"What if he's not wrong? If he finds some other way into the Fade..." Cullen's brow creased, arms raising up in question.

"Then he gains the power he seeks or unleashes catastrophe on us all." Leliana replied.

Kayla bit her lip again, thinking of the ghastly creature at Corypheus' command. "Could his dragon really be an Archdemon? What would that mean?"

"It would mean the beginning of another Blight, at worst."

The red haired elf shivered at the thought Leliana could be correct. What she heard happened with the fifth blight was monstrous. If the start of the sixth was so short after the previous, add onto the fact that broken veil could likely empower it, the world would see one of the worst events in centuries.

"We've seen no darkspawn other than Corypheus himself. Perhaps it's not an Archdemon at all, but something different?" The Ambassador asked quizzically.

"Whatever it is, it's dangerous. Commanding such a creature gives Corypheus an advantage we can't ignore." Cullen said.

"W-whatever that creature is, could he strike at us here? We can't have a repeat of what happened at Haven." Kayla replied.

"Skyhold has the bones to withstand Corypheus. After what you did with one trebuchet, I'd bet against direct attack." Cullen said, with a hint of proudness directed at Kayla.

The Spymaster looked between all three. "We do have one advantage: we know what Corypheus intends to do next. In that strange future you experienced, Empress Celene had been assassinated."