Griffin's Walk

Imperial Highway, near West Hill

Alistair macTheirin:

“That report is a masterpiece of saying nothing, dear.” My anger probably showed in my voice as I looked over the shoulder of her armor.

Trinna looked up from her travel desk with a flash of her own annoyance. “He needs to know we are on a recruiting sweep and that I plan for us to visit areas without regular Gray Warden presence.”

“I see that you did not mention your latest recruit or reclamation in your note.”

A sigh, and she sagged a little. “I don't quite know how to report it. There are precedents enough for nobles and princes who are skillful at arms. What was that phrasing when Riordan wanted to convince us that the bastard would be a useful recruit?”

I had to grit my teeth against the sudden remembered ache and anger for a moment. “I really don't remember anymore. I was too busy trying to resist my need to throttle him.”

She turned and put her arms around me, and mine slid around her. No squirming from her for a change.

“I wanted to, too, Alistair. His right hand man was a traitor to other noble houses and even his own son. Loghain locked up his daughter, the queen. Once he was a hero, but he... seemed to corrupt everything he touched after he left the king to die. We did not need a cancer like that.”

I had been half afraid she'd agree with Riordan at the time, her face had been so blank. He was only a traitor. “And we did it without him.”

Hugging me tightly, she added, “You did the hardest part and I am quite aware how hard it was.”

I didn't want to think about this.

I would not think about this for many reasons.

I didn't even want to list why I didn't.

Casting about, I started a new topic. “So we visit your brother next? Should we stop for gifts for your nieces and nephews?” I liked Fergus, he had a level head even if we didn't agree on some things. He made it a goal that we marry and produce heirs. We hadn't told him.

“Either that, or we check on Avernus,” Attyrne added.

She thought that mage was still useful even if I got almost nauseated thinking about his experiments, even with her ban on certain nastier aspects. I worried that he would make a breakthrough that would be damning to us all. I kind of hoped he'd just keel over and die, or eat some arsenic from an old rat trap. “Maybe.”

She thought and then smirked as her fingers wandered to find both ticklish spots and others that made me stop breathing for a moment. Neither of us got amorous as often on the road anymore, that was usually reserved for safer locations or company. As much as being mocked by our friends wasn't fun, we didn't have to worry about danger.

At the back of my mind were the tales that were made to scare trainees, about maleficar finding a courting couple when they weren't alert. Those encounters did not end in losing only money, but blood and misery.

Those old fears were swept out of my mind when Trinna's mouth met mine.

In the morning, Attryne was playing a little fetch-the-stick with Mouser as I woke up and put on my armor. I always found it pleasant when we weren't in a rush for some urgent task. It had taken months for us to get those quiet reports about Kirkwall and then locate our targets. My hope was for a swing through Highever for family, and to the Vigil for Arlessa Trinna to check on and annoy the official Commander. Maybe even a visit to Denerim.

“Where are we going? No couriers out here,” I prompted her. Few of the smaller bannorn kept messengers available.

Her smile said she understood my purpose. “Highever, I'm sure we can find some gifts in the shops first.”

We didn't attract any trouble on the way, though we did listen to the mood of the more settled citizens. There was the usual fear of blood mages, but not much of the Templars here either. Some circle mages traveled as Wynne did and a few braver mages lived fairly openly in places with sponsors.

That made me think of Eamon's son and the future of that line. Not that he had much choice with the law as it is. I suspected he supported the mages for the most part even if he could rarely see his son, even with his rank.

I felt the familiar ache of not knowing and fearing the cost for one child, never seen.

The Cousland home had the flags flying, saying that the family was home. This late in the day, they could not be leaving yet today. Trinna turned to visit some shops and she gave a few coins to a young girl to hold them. She was muttering about her gift list, because the twins, Treven and Leola were much harder to shop for than the baby Alberic. I decided to look for something for Cal and Etta too.

Word must have passed that we'd arrived, as Trinna's coat of arms was being hoisted above even as we reached the gate.

Inside, we were swarmed by the twins, making walking difficult until we arrived in the family's private rooms; the nanny and their mother peeled them off amid promises to see us after dinner if they behaved.

His study suddenly quiet, Fergus grinned at us. “I was hoping to hear from you, Trinna. You are very popular right now. I've gotten more messages looking for you in the last few months than in years. I'd suggest you put the Queen at the top of your list.”