Into the Chaos

chapter thirty-five

I stay on the floor for a few minutes before getting up. There is some bread and cheese on the plate. I don't want to waste it but I'm not hungry. Well, I don't think I could eat anyways. Maybe after I deal with Cole?

I wander down into the lower courtyard to see Solas, Vivienne, and Cassandra standing in a triangle. Cole is one the ground by the stairs. I hoped they would be done by now.

I hear Vivienne first. "This thing is not a stray puppy you can make into a pet. It has no business being here."

Game dialog? Still?

Solas makes some remark about apostates as Cassandra addresses me. "Herald, I wondered if Cole was perhaps a mage, given his unusual abilities."

I look to Solas as he goes to explain. " No need to tell me what he does. He will stay if he wishes, I won't send him out when there are people that need Compassion. "

Solas blinks as me. Then, "You know of his abilities already. It seems Cole is a spirit."

"It is a demon."

I hold up both of my hands in a stop motion before the two of them get into any more arguing. I pull out the notebook I ripped the pages out of before and write: I don't really care what Cole is. He stays. He helped at Haven. I don't think he is of any Ill intent. I show them what I've written.

Solas casts a spell, probably to be able to read the script.

Vivienne raises an eyebrow at me. "And what will its help cost? How many lives with this demon later claim?"

I look at her and write You are aware of the definition of a demon, yes? They possess things and when they dont they turn into what comes out of the breach. Cole has done neither of those.

"Who do you take me for, my dear? I am well aware of what the term means. How are you aware of what this thing has and has not done?"

I have to think on this answer for a second before beginning to write. Decius taught me to dream. I've had most of the questions I've ever had answered by spirits that dwell there.

"You hesitated in your response, my dear. Is that not the truth?"

Simply thinking of phrasing is all, Madame de Fer.

Solas blessedly interrupts us. "Cole is unique, Herald. More than that, he wishes to help. I suggest you allow him to do so."

" I already told you he's staying. If that is what Cole wants." Then, to answer for the others, Cole will stay if he chooses. I will not force him to go. If you'd like, Vivienne, I can tell him to avoid you.

"I highly doubt that thing will stay for long and so, you need not tell it anything."

Is that an insult to my hospitality, Vivienne? I'm hurt. Nevertheless, let's call him over here, shall I?

I show her that last comment and think, Cole? Could you come over here for a moment. I need to speak with you.

Cole appears between Solas and I. Vivienne and Cassandra jump a little at his appearance.

"You are an odd one. No one has done that before." Cole cocks his head at me as he says this.

I have a question. Do you want to stay with the Inquisition?

"Do you want me to? You know that others don't?"

Of course I'd like you to stay. You can help. And I know plenty of people who would rather you leave but they can't see who you are. Do their thoughts hold sway over you?

"They don't. As long as I can help, I'll stay."

Good. I give you permission to help those here who need it. Specifically, you can kill that soldier who will slowly and painfully do so anyways. The one who wishes it be done. Just. Don't tell the others I said that.

Cole disappears and I can see him reappear over by the tents.

I can almost see the 'Vivienne greatly disapproves' as she walks off. Cassandra follows close behind with a nod to me.

"I received your note shortly before you arrived. Could you not give it to me yourself?"

" Says the one who sent a scout to give me dinner. After Decius had sent that same one to ask you to do it... I wasn't planning on leaving my chambers but I forgot that my alphabet for the language we're speaking did not match and had to send the scout to Decius. With words. Didn't do much for my appetite."

"I suppose if you are lacking the words, speaking is difficult. I will attempt to answer any questions of yours. So long as you do the same to mine."

" A question for a question. "

_______________________________________

We stand in the bathroom.

" Where are the glyphs that warm the water?"

"They are inside the pipes, if no one moved them. That doesn't seem to be the case with these," he runs his hand along the pipe to the ceiling. "I think I have an idea of your next question: The pipe is smaller closer to the waterfall, to control the flow. There are more glyphs near the lip of this end of the pipe to further control it."

"That was a question I had. Does this water get cleaned?"

"The water from the fall is fairly clean already."

"No, I mean after it's used. "

"There was a fine grate near the beginning of the pipe to ensure nothing got lost."

" Does it get cleaned of whatever I wash off of myself?"

"The pool itself is enchanted to be as clean as it was when it was enchanted. That one still holds as well."

I furrow my eyebrows. It does what now? " I did not expect that. While earth did not have magic while I was alive, no one ever thought to do this. Or not so commonly for it to end up in books."

"My people were more intelligent than those of today and apparently of yours. We found ways to take care of things properly."

" One last thing and you can ask to your heart's content. How many rooms have something like this? "

"A question for a question you said. I can ask four."

" I asked three. Technically two. You answered the one before I could ask, but you can have three. "

Solas sighs. "Very well. I do not know how many. It was not my job to enchant them or make the parts needed. Shall we go into the main room then for my questions?"