The Wolf and the Halla

Lyklor

Adani knew, at least on some level, that eventually she would hear from her Keeper about Clan Lyklor. They had threatened her Clan about a year before. So when the message came she wasn't surprised too much.

She had been filling out reports, nothing unusual. When there was a knock at her door.

"Come in." She said.

"Inquisitor, my apologies, there is an elf in the war room. He wishes to meet with you. Said it was urgent. He approached the castle on foot, and alone." The messenger paused. "He says he is from Lavellan."

She looked up. "Who is it?"

The man looked away, "I'm sorry, my lady. I do not know his name or anything of him. I was sent by Lady Josephine to inform you."

"Thank you then." She said with a smile. "I'll go see him at once then."

She stood and headed for the war room. The messenger held the door for her on her way out and she thanked him for it. She walked into the main hall, turned and walked through Josie's office, and onto the large doors of the war room. Leliana and a spy of hers stood at the door. "If you need me, Inquisitor. I will be right here." She stated.

The Inquisior nodded. She took a breath and opened the doors.

Her heart jumped to her throat.

"Adani, what a wonderful castle you have here." He said with a smile. "The Keeper sends her best."

"Revansa?" She was shocked. They sent him? Why?

"None other, my dear!" He said. He rushed to her with open arms and she went into his embrace. "How I have missed you.." He said into her hair. "It has not been the same without you."

She pulled away. "What are you doing here?"

He stepped back and straightened his composure, but did not hide the sadness in his eyes. "I am afraid I don't bring good news." He said sadly.

"What do you mean, lethallin?" She remembered his confession of love before she left on that journey that would change her life forever. She hoped that didn't come up.

He looked icy. But there was a pain behind it now. That had hurt. She hadn't mean for it to, she just loved someone else. "Lyklor." He said through clenched teeth.

She must have looked shocked. But she quickly composed herself. "What did they do?"

"They sent their daughter to us again, in your absence, and we again said we already had a First." He paused "then the leader said 'Where? I don't see her. Has she shucked her duties?' And Deshanna said that you had not. Explained that you were helping out in a greater good.." He looked away.

She didn't wait "And then what? What did they do? Why are you so upset?"

"Then he spit on the ground in front of the Keeper. Said 'You will take her.' When we denied again, saying we already had a First, he said 'Fen'Harel ma ghilan', then he used some kind of blood magic to hold the Keeper. He was strangling her without touching her. Anyone that moved to help was shocked by an invisible ward." He stopped again to take a deep breath. "He released her and asked again. When she choked out a 'no', he looked around at us all, cursed us, said this was not over, jumped on his horse and left in a hurry. The Keeper, her voice, is ruined. He hurt her, she can no longer speak ."

She was shocked. And sad. She would never hear the voice of Deshanna again? She couldn't come up with any words. They returned? Choked her Keeper, and threatened her Clan? No matter because he didn't wait for her to say anything.

"We need your help. We aren't fighters. You know that." He held her by the arms, looking into her eyes. "But you are. You have always been a fighter. I will follow to battle if I must. Many would.. but I hope that your position and manpower will scare them."