Chapter Text
The sound of rusty hinges drifted down the aisle of the dark chantry, mixing with the silent chanting of the sisters and the dust-streaked rays of light coming from the few coloured windows. Forcing the door completely open Sarah Trevelyan walked purposefully into the office of Josephine Montilyet.
Nodding briefly at the ambassador, Sarah walked up to the elven researcher in the corner, dumping a heavy sack on her table.
”Special delivery for you Mineave” she said, the smile on her lips interlaced with an almost intangible disgust, probably due to the smell that hung around the bag like a small piece of rotten fade. ”What's left of a rage demon.”
Not one to let a little smell throw her off, Minaeve's eyes brightened, and she grabbed the bag with eager hands. ”Thank you Herald, this is the first chance I have to study a rage demon. I shall begin immediately.” She made a casual curtsy while grinning madly, and almost ran from the office, most likely on her way to the study area they had created for her in the chantry's basement. It had been necessary to remove her experiments from the ambassador's office, after an extremely pungent accident with the remains of a lesser terror. No one had been able to enter the office for two days, and Josephine had been furious.
Sarah turned to leave, once again nodding silently in Josephine's direction, but a hand gesture from the ambassador stilled her progress towards the door.
”Lady Trevelyan, may I have a moment?” she asked, her clipped words making her voice sound intimidating.
Slowly, Sarah took a step closer to the table, bracing herself. She tried her best to stay out of the advisors' way, and didn't much like interacting with them. War table discussions often saw her standing in the corner while the advisors argued themselves into a standstill, only voicing an opinion when actively asked to do so. She really didn’t enjoy her encounters with any of the advisors, and the stare that Josephine aimed her way now made her want to squirm. But her noble training held her head high and her voice steady as she answered the antivan woman on the other side of the table.
”Yes ambassador?”
Josephine's next words hit her like a fist to the stomach, and she found herself reeling, not having enough time to prepare, to find an answer. Never enough time.
”I'd like to discuss your parents.”
”Wha... What?” Sarah's mind was screaming at her to get out, save herself, stop the woman, but Josephine continued talking without even glancing up from her papers.
”I'd like to send a courier, asking the Banns of house Trevelyan to align themselves with us. What are your thoughts? Should we approach your family for the formal support of the inquisition?”
Josephine's writing stilled and she looked expectantly at Sarah who seemed to have frozen to the spot. Her movements seemed sluggish and her eyes were downcast as she slowly shook her head, not daring to look at the woman across from her. Not willing to face the disappointment marring her features.
”No” Sarah said, noting that her voice only shook a little. ”No, you shouldn't reach out to them.” Still shaking her head, she turned on the spot, whispering ”Excuse me” while waving a hand at Josephine. Then she walked through the door and turned down the chantry aisle, head held high, shoulders rigid.
Behind her, Josephine's eyebrows furrowed as she whispered an antivan curse. Then she promptly stood up, walked around the desk and headed towards Leliana's tent, hoping that the raven hadn't been sent off yet.