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“An’aris?” From a flat ear, he looked at her with a curiosity, perhaps one that left her feeling exposed. Either way, the apostate was on their side. The call from Cassandra to move on pulled her out of her thoughts. Light olive skin covered his features, a shine from the Breach above reflected against his bald head.
“Yes, that’s right,” she confirmed.
“My name is Solas, if there are to be introductions. I am pleased to see you still live.”
“He means, ‘I kept that mark from killing you while you slept.’” Solas tightened his grip on the staff he held in his hand. Perhaps they are incompatible .
“ Andaran atish’an .” The grip turned his knuckles white at her words. Ah , she thought, the flat ear has reservations. She was used to this of course, the hatred from the city elves. An’aris was the one who’s travels led her toward the most interaction with the shem cities and towns. Information gathering, observing, things of that nature. She had a good idea of who the main parties were that were to attend the conclave, however a lone rift mage seemed to slip under her radar. Keep an eye on this one . She added his name to her mental list of unknown variables.
“It seems you know more about the mark than anyone I have yet to meet,” she adds.
“It seems so, yes.”
Cassandra adds in quickly, “Solas, like you, is an apostate.”
“Technically, all mages are now apostates, Cassandra. My travels have allowed me to learn much of the Fade. far beyond the experience of any Circle mage. I came to offer whatever help I can give with the Breach. If it is not closed, we are all doomed regardless of origin.”
“And when all of this is over?”
“One hopes that those in power will remember who helped, and who did not.” He’s being truthful , she decides. If they were on the same side, who was she to question where he would go after. Hopefully once the breach was sealed she would go home, report on her mission, and then tend to the halla until the keeper sent her out on the next mission. Her hand went up to trace the vallaslin across her face. Ghi’la em , she silently prayed. His words rang true. It was the exact thought she had directly after she made the decision to help in any way she could.
“Then it seems I owe you my thanks, ma serannas .”
“ Tel’serannas ,” he replied. Her eyebrows raised slightly. “Thank me if we manage to close the breach without killing you in the process. Cassandra, you should know the magic involved here is like any I have ever seen. Your prisoner is a mage, but I find it difficult to imagine any mage having such power.”
“Understood,” Cassandra says. “We must get to the forward camp quickly.”
Solas sides up along her stride, walking beside her as Cassandra and varric squabble ahead of them. It seemed that this part of the path was less scattered with demons, but her haackles stayed raised. These woods were unknown to her, as shadows danced and the slow reflected the sickly green hue of the sky above her she dared not let her thoughts wander further than darting across the landscape before them. Enemies were falling from the sky and tearing through the veil, so little they knew of why. Perhaps they never would find out.
“You are Dalish,” Solas interrupts her thoughts, “but clearly away from the rest of your clan. Did they send you here?”
She decided it best to keep her tone light, inconclusive. “What do you know of the Dalish?”
“I have wandered many roads in my time, and crossed paths with your people on more than one occasion.”
“We are both of the same people, Solas.” Perhaps if she showed that she was of the few who did not hate the flat ears she would be welcomed. Or rather, at least trusted a little more. To her, the elves that lived among the shem were nothing more than lost. They’ve lost their way , she thought, Perhaps he won’t be so quick to shun.
“The Dalish I met felt… differently on the subject.”
“We were once all people of Elvhenan, it matters little to me whether or not you worship our gods. I refuse to fuel the hatred between our ways of life.”