Hunt

Chapter 4: Places To Be

Lavellan

"What is our next move?" Leliana was standing next to me as I glossed over the map. I wrinkled my brow, thinking that I had another page of translations. I brushed it off, as my eight new sets of stitches and infinite bruises pulsed across my body. The healers mended my broken bones, however.

"I'll ask Dorian if he knows anyone who can help us. Until then, we're on stand by."

"I'll talk to Charter."

Charter, a female elf, was one of our two head scouts. The other, Scout Harding, was a dwarven woman with a good sense of humor. She was either with Sera (those two were a match made in chaos) or on a mission.

I returned to my tent and pulled out my locket. My heart tugged at the possibility of seeing Dorian again; he's like an older brother I never had. I flipped it open and spoke to the message crystal.

"Hey, Dori. You there?"

His voice crackled over the crystal. "Right here, Lavelle. What can I gloriously do for you today?"

"Do you have anyone in mind to help me with that little problem?"

"Heh, which one?"

"Solas. I found some documents, but I need a little more information before I take action."

"Yes. The little introvert has been quite busy. Cleared out Ostagar I heard. The nobles here had a good chuckle behind their silk fans."

Oh, yeah. Forgot that Tevinter hated Fereldan. And Orlais. And pretty much everything. No doubt they had a laugh when a mage could do what a Fereldan king couldn't. Tevinter was, simply put, ruled by mages, unlike every other country where the mages were kept in check by templars. Templars could stop a flow of magic. Mages really have a bad day then.

"I do think I have the right person for the job. A man by the name of Fenryiel. A mage and a strong one. He's also studied ancient history in addition to his special talent."

"Which is?"

"It's best he tell you. I'll give you directions on where to find him."

†††††††††††

Solas

"Sir," the scout called as he threw open the doors to my study. I sighed.

"No need to shout, lethalin. And those doors are older than your Clan, please be careful. It's a ruin, not a playground."

"Y-y-yes, sir."

"What have you brought me?"

"The report from Ostagar, sir. Everyone is accounted for except a prisoner."

"That's fine. I'm not worried about one person."

"Sir, it wasn't just any person."

I frowned. "What do you mean?"

"They made off with a set of ancient scrolls detailing a prophecy."

"About...?"

"Well, you, sir."

Surprise flashed across my face.

"Who was it?"

"No name, sir. But several guards say they were attacked by an elven woman who was seriously injured. Two of them say she locked herself in the study translating the scrolls. One of our horses is also unaccounted for. She dropped one of her translations if you'd like to take a look."

He handed me a sheet of paper from his satchel. I let my eyes slide across the page before reading it. I'd seen this handwriting before.

"The Evanuris found Mythal awaiting them in- what ever the heck that Elvish means. I think it's 'court' or something. -She knew they would come once the Wolf- Solas?- had gone to his little rebellion -big enough to knock their pompous asses from their thrones- to rally his pack. -pack... really?- They needed to strike her down before he grew too bold. She smiled and welcomed them. -Something about seeing the future? Foresaw?- that they would strike her down. One day, they would all answer for this injustice. They snarled and called her greedy and weak and senseless. -she shoulda knocked the shit out of them. Maybe none of this woulda happened. Every empire falls I guess.- Their anger grew and grew until they knew nothing else. Then, they struck, and Mythal was no more than a wisp. The Dread Wolf came to talk to his friend -they better have been just friends or I'll rip Solas a second new one once I finish tearing into him about his little obsession with world domination. Note to self: buy leash for Dread Pup. That'll learn him a thing or two!- and found that she had been murdered. -but not really or else I wouldn't hear voices in my head. That sounded crazier than I thought.- In his rage, the Dread Wolf buried the Corrupted Ones as he had buried Mythal. Then he brought down the Veil to lock them in the -dream world? The Fade??- for all eternity. Let this record the prophecy of the Rise and Fall of the Dread Wolf."