Dragon Age Inquisition: Farms and Estates

Confrontation

Solas turned his attention to Rhys first. A silver-blue light flared in the elf's eyes; Rhys blinked, his face, at least, freed from the spell."How long have you suspected?" Solas asked quietly.

Rhys cleared his throat. "I didn't. I was certain she was wrong. Theron, what—what is that artifact? Who are you?"

Solas pulled his shoulders back and seemed to consider answering, but then shook his head. "I am sorry, Rhys."

As Evie watched, trapped, unable to even scream, Solas's eyes flashed blue once more. Rhys's eyes widened, then closed. His form began to slump, but to Evie's surprise, Solas stepped forward to catch him. With surprising gentleness, the elf lowered the mage to the ground.

Evie could not ask what he had done to Rhys, but Solas seemed to sense the question nonetheless. "He lives, and will awake in time." He rose from his knees and met Evie's gaze, his eyes narrowed in puzzlement. "I do not believe I know you."

Suddenly Evie, too, could move her mouth. "You don't," she said shakily. "But I know you. Solas. Fen'Harel. Probably some other names besides those." She gritted her jaw. "And you cost Cecily an arm."

Understanding slowly spread over the elf's face. "Lady Evelyn Trevelyan. Of course. You have your sister's eyes." His expression grew sad for a moment. "Is that how the Inquisitor tells the story, then?"

"No," Evie said grudgingly, after a moment. "She says you saved her life."

The elf's mouth tightened; he looked almost guilty. "It is strange, is it not, how generously our friends see us?"

"You are not her friend," Evie hissed. "You knew what that mark was from the beginning and you abandoned her with it for two years. It's a miracle it didn't blow her up and half of Skyhold with it. Not to mention the fact that you're trying to kill her along with everyone else in the world."

Solas's expression shuttered, became remote and cold. When he met her eyes again, Evie could tell he was looking at her differently—looking at her the way a god looks at a mere mortal.

"My task is set, Lady Evelyn, and is not for you to judge or understand. I will not harm you out of respect for your sister, but I must—"

The words were cut short when a knife embedded itself in Solas's back.

The control spell flickered—just for a second, but that second was enough. Evie flung the obelisk against the floor with all of her strength. The ancient clay smacked against the stone and shattered, the image of the Dread Wolf cracking right down the center.

"No!" Solas howled, his face white with horror as the fragments rolled to a stop at Evie's feet. He barely seemed to take notice of the blade in his shoulder. "You thoughtless child! Have you any idea what that was?"

"No," Evie said, catching her breath. "But it had power, and you wanted it."

"Smashing it was the right call," Naia agreed from the doorway as she lowered her right arm. She stepped into the room, Zevran close behind her. "So. You're Fen'Harel."

Solas let out a bitter chuckle as he turned to face her. "Ah. Naia Tabris, the fabled Hero of Ferelden." He reached his left arm back for the knife's hilt and pulled it out, barely flinching as he did. Blood ran down his back, soaking into his rough tunic, but somehow Evie knew that he was not nearly as wounded as he should have been. "I know your tale. You were raised behind alienage walls, spat on by the humans who slaughtered your ancestors. And you, Zevran Arainai—orphaned in a brothel, bound in slavery to murderers. Why would you fight to defend this world, to prevent the restoration of our people?"

"Your people, not ours," Naia said defiantly. "My people are mortal enough to die right alongside the shems if you get your way."

"I must admit I share my beloved's skepticism. I fail to understand how dying in an apocalypse would improve the experience of growing up with the Crows." Zevran's smile had a bright, dangerous edge to it. "Though perhaps you would like to come closer and explain it to me."

"I think not." 

Light shone in Solas's eyes, and suddenly Naia and Zevran were tumbling back away from the door, crashing into the wall opposite 'Theron's' room with a painful thud. They fell in a tangle of limbs. A moment later, Solas's form fled the room in a burst of inhuman speed, moving so quickly that his feet hardly seemed to touch the floor.

Naia and Zevran were on their feet again with remarkable ease, but they were still several paces behind the elven god when they began their chase. A heartbeat later, the control spell fell to pieces. Evie sucked air into her lungs and raced after them, her slippers pounding against the hard stone floor. 

I knew I should have worn a knife under this dress.