Meetings and Greetings
Rekkah stared at Shepard after the human made her announcement. She had yet to look up from her study of the map. The woman seemed fascinated with it, running her fingers over the outline of the countries and coastlines. "This is beautiful," she murmured. "Is there any way I can get a copy for a friend?" Shepard smiled at Rekkah as she finally looked up from the map. "Kasumi loves things like this and I need to get back into her good graces after leaving her to deal with my mother." Shepard went back to studying the map. She acts like she's never seen one before. Rekkah thought.
When no one answered her, Shepard looked up in question. "What?"
Rekkah spoke before Leliana did. She didn't know what is was about the other woman that rubbed the spymaster the wrong way, but she also knew that this Shepard was a resource she wasn't going to waste simply to spare her feelings. "What do you mean you can't read the map? It's in plain common, and while I'll admit the handwriting isn't as neat as it could be, it is legible."
Shepard glanced down at the map, her eyes lingering there for just a moment before meeting Rekkah's gaze. "I speak three languages; I understand the basic of two others, along with the curse words in half a dozen more, this" she pointed at the runes proclaiming Tevinter in the common trade tongue, "means absolutely nothing to me."
"You expect us to believe that?" Leliana asked suspicion evident in her tone.
"What reason would I have to lie?" The very mildness of Shepard's response was a sharp contrast to the accusation in Leliana's eyes.
"You could be a spy for the Elder One, sent to infiltrate the Inquisition on the eve of our destruction at Haven."
Cassandra and Cullen stirred uneasily at that while Josephine just looked distressed. "Now Leliana, given as to how Serah Shepard joined our company that seems very unlikely."
"Oh? What better way to gain our trust? Here is the wounded solider, who just happens to wake from her grievous wounds on the eve of battle and saves the life of a well know Chantry official along with the lives of many civilians."
Shepard studied Leliana, head cocked to one side as she looked the spymaster in the eye. "Lady you have a mighty big opinion of yourself and your organization."
Rekkah coughed to hide her laughter, while Cassandra made a disgusted sound. Cullen just sighed and rubbed the back of his neck and Josephine had a mixture of amusement and insult on her pretty face. The Inquisitor was surprised at Shepard's attitude towards the Nightingale. Most took one look at her hard eyes and gave her a wide berth. This woman wasn't intimidated by the spymaster in the least.
Shepard continued, ignoring the rest of them. "Now, like I said before, I don't recognize anyplace on this map, and given the general tech level I'm seeing in this place, I guessing that you don't have a working comm link hidden anywhere." Her voice was calm and cool as she stared Leliana down. There was no real heat in her tone or her eyes, but there as was no give either. "Now, I understand that I'm an unknown. A potential threat. And I fully intend to cooperate with you to the best of my ability until I can get back to my ship and my people." She turned and met the eyes of everyone in the room, ending with Rekkah.
Since Leliana looked as if she was gearing up for another go, Rekkah spoke first. "I understand waking up in a strange place. It happened to me not that long ago. And while I'm not sure how you ended up in the Temple of Sacred Ashes, I'm willing to extend my trust to you." Her silver blue eyes turned to ice. "But understand this Commander Kyleen Shepard; during your stay in Skyhold you are under my command. I cannot, will not, have you undermining my authority within my own organization. And if you choose not to join our cause, you still must abide by our laws while in Skyhold."
She was pleased to note that Shepard kept her eyes on her face the whole time she was speaking. Too many dismissed her as just a dwarf under the thumb of her human advisors. And Rekkah refused to be just the figurehead of the Inquisition. She would wield the power the humans had given her. And woe to those that thought her a puppet.
"I understand Inquisitor Rekkah Cadash. I'm not sure just who or what you're fighting, but if it's anything like the war I just left, you'll need all the help you can get. I will follow your lead, but I need you to understand that if you try to make me to do anything too dishonorable, I will be forced to kill you when I leave for my ship." Shepard's eyes were just as cold as Rekkah's as the two women stared at each other.
The tension sang through the room. Cassandra and Cullen shifted uneasily, hands resting on sword hilts. Leliana, Rekkah knew, had a throwing knife out and held at the ready. Josephine gulped and began edging away from the table.
Rekkah laughed, causing her advisors all to jump at the sudden bark of sound. Shepard gave her a crooked grin. "I think we'll get along just fine Shepard."
She turned away from the war table, gesturing for the newest member of her Inquisition to join her as she left the room. Shepard fell into step next to her, easily matching her longer stride to Rekkah's shorter one.
"So now that that's out of the way, how would you like to go on a trip to a corpse infested swamp to help me get some of my scouts back from the Avvar?" Neither woman looked back at the stunned advisors as the heavy door shut behind them.
"A swamp? Why would I want to go to a swamp? And why would a swamp be infested with corpses?" Shepard wrinkled her nose in distaste. "I can barely tolerate being grounded as it is. Being forced to deal with weather and" she glanced through a darkened doorway and there was a definite curl to her lips as she spotted a large rat lurking in the stairwell leading down to the lower hall "rodents of unusual size?"
Rekkah glanced at the 'rodent' in question and just shrugged. "Eh, that one's not that big. Remind me to have some mousers brought into Skyhold." She continued into the great hall, heading towards the Undercroft. "Now, about that trip to the swamp?"
Shepard scrubbed at her face, hiding her expression as she glanced around the rubble strew room. "Sure, why not. It will give me a chance to see more of the area."
"Great. Let me introduce you to our quartermaster and the head blacksmith. They'll get you outfitted for the trip." She shot the taller woman a grin as she opened the door leading down into the area that Harriet had claimed as his own. "Of course from what I've heard, you've already met Threnn."
"Threnn? Oh, the woman with the sword. Good fighter, keeps a cool head during a crisis. NCO material that one. I take it she's the quartermaster?"
"The one in the same. Through I think I'll switch her to dealing primarily with our troops. She can be a bit of a hard-ass and most nobles require a more delicate touch when swindling supplies and coin out of them. Josephine has someone lined up that has the connections and the light touch needed for dealing with them."
"You say 'nobles' the same way I say 'politicians.'" Shepard noted, approval and humor in her voice.
"I'm almost positive they're one and the same Shepard."
They headed down the stairs, Rekkah leading the way. She could hear Harritt's voice over the fall of the waterfall. From what she could make out, he was talking to someone about the proper setup of his forge area. She approved. The last thing Rekkah wanted was for Skyhold to burn down around her ears because someone placed a forge in the wrong spot. The Clans would never let her live it down.
Entering the wide open area that was the Undercroft, Rekkah spotted Harritt at the far end of the room next to the waterfall. He was in the middle of controlled chaos as workers and blacksmiths worked to get the forge equipment set up to his specifications. She headed towards him, ignoring the muttered "Where the hell did the waterfall come from?" emerging from behind her as Shepard stopped to take everything in. She had noticed that tendency in most veteran fighters. They never entered a new room without first stopping and finding all the exits and potential hiding spots. Since she did the same thing (she was just more subtle about it) she slowed her pace until the other woman caught up with her.
"Harritt!" She called when she was close enough for him to hear her over the chaos.
"Inquisitor Cadash." He bowed his head towards her before beckoning for them to follow him to a slightly quieter area to one side of the room. "What can I do for you ma'am?"
"Harritt this is Serah Shepard," she decided to leave the woman's title of commander alone for now. It could only cause confusion until ranks were worked out between Shepard and Cullen. "She's going to be joining me and my team in the Fallow Mire and needs arms and armor. And after you're done with her, send her on to Threnn for the rest of her supplies."
"Understood Inquisitor."
Rekkah left the two of them to work out just what Shepard would need, and headed back to tend to her own duties that had to be resolved before she could take herself and the others off to the Fallow Mire. She was not looking forward to the trip. She hated the smell of decomposing muck and Ancestors knew it got into absolutely everything! Damn the Avvar for making her go into a swamp. Her good mood spoiled by thoughts of mire muck in unmentionable places, Rekkah headed back to the war room.
Dawn was still a distant promise lighting the eastern sky when Shepard made her way towards the stables. It had been over fifteen years since she had been on a horse and she was not looking forward to the riding again. Her entire riding experience consisted of one summer's worth of riding with her cousins over the Texas landscape. She hadn't been happy about learning to ride, but the twins had dared her, bragging that no mere spacer could keep up with them. And I felt obligated to prove them wrong.
The twins had dragged her over the worst terrain they could find. She hadn't even enjoyed riding with them, mostly because the horse she had been given to ride had known, known! that she hadn't wanted to be there. And that damn horse had done its best to kill her over the course of the summer. She had been bucked off three times, dumped more than she could count, and had her left foot stepped on often enough to develop a permanent bruise. But the real kicker had been when she had broken her arm in three places, along with a dislocated shoulder, when she had tried to jump that damn horse over a broken fence. When her grandmother had demanded to know why she done it, all she could do was shrug and say "They double dared me to." The matriarch of the Kincaid family had not been amused.
Grandfather had just sighed and shaken his head, muttering that stubbornness was part of the female genetic line of the family, while the twins had tried to look innocent of any and all wrong doing. To be fair, they had been sorry she'd broken her arm, but not enough to apologize for goading her in the first place. And when she'd had to comm her parents and tell them what had happened, the lecture she had gotten had left her ears burning for days.
And what did the twins do? They laughed. It had taken years before she had forgiven them that summer spent in hell. Still, Shepard hoped Liam and Luke were safe and well. She knew that Luke and her Uncle Thomas had been working on the Crucible project, and Liam had been in London fighting alongside Anderson. He had been part of that final, desperate dash. She pushed thoughts of her family away. Now was not the time to dwell on what ifs. She had a new squad to meet, and the hell of horseback riding to look forward too.
Entering the stable, she saw three other people along with Cadash helping the stable hands get the horses saddled and ready. She stopped, unsure of where she should go. One of stable boys saw her and trotted over. "Serah Shepard?" He asked. When she nodded gave her a brief bow and gestured for her to follow him. He led her to an unclaimed mount, one that had a calm look in (Shepard gave the horse's nether regions a quick glance) his eyes. "This is Jacek. He's a five year old Dalish All-Bred gelding. " The stable boy gave her a puzzled look as she glared at the horse. "You do know how to ride don't you?"
"Yes, I know who to ride; I just haven't been on a horse since I was thirteen." Shepard extended her hands, letting the gelding sniff them before running her fingers over his tack and finding the itchy spot all horses seemed to have. He snorted and rubbed his head against her chest, nosing her pockets in search of any treats she might be hiding from him.
Seeing that she at least knew how to make friends with her mount, the boy left to fetch the horse's equipment. He helped her saddle him, making sure she knew the proper way to do so, before distributing her gear in the saddlebags. It took a while before both she and the stable boy where satisfied with Jacek's equipment, and she waved away the lad's offer of assistance with mounting. She doubted the youth would have the strength to help her, and if she couldn't even get in the saddle on her own, she had no business going anywhere on a horse.
Cadash and three others were waiting for her by the main gate. She nodded her head in greeting to the medic whose name still escaped her, smiled warmly at Cole and then turned to the Inquisitor and the bearded man that rode next to her.
"Shepard I don't think you've met Warden Blackwall." The woman gestured to the man with the very bushy black beard. He had a shield strapped to his back, and a sword belted at his waist. Heavy chainmail armor covered him from head to toe, with a blue and white motif of some sort of animal proudly displayed on both shield and surcoat.
Shepard eyed Warden Blackwall's beard with fascination. Alliance regulations stated men had to be either clean shaven or keep any or all facial hair trimmed so that breathers could fit and suction properly to their faces. As a consequence she had never seen a beard quite so . . . prominent before in her life.
"Warden Blackwall." She bowed her head in greeting and he returned the gesture.
"Lady Shepard." He had a deep voice, fitting well with his image of knight in shining armor. Somber dark blue eyes regarded her from under heavy black brows, and his face had the weathered look of a man that spent most of his time out of doors. The last man she had seen with a face like that had been her grandfather, and he had been a noted rancher and horseman all his life.
"Just Shepard please," She gave him a slight smile. "As many would be happy to tell you, I am no lady."
"Shepard it is then. And you may call me Blackwall."
When Cadash cleared her throat, Shepard turned her attention back to the Inquisitor. "And this is Solas. I don't know if you remember him, but he help heal you after the attack on Haven. He was also responsible for your care when you were found in the Temple of Sacred Ashes." She gestured to the medic and now Shepard knew why his name had eluded her. It had brought back too many painful memories.
Solus. Solas. How strange that she would know two men both dedicated to healing others, bearing essentially the same name. This Solas was a slender man, almost gaunt looking with sharp facial features and hooded blue-grey eyes. He was bald and his ears tapered to a sharp point as they arched back. He wore leather and cloth leggings with armored protection in the form of metal gauntlets and grieves. A fur draped over his shoulders complete the look. Shepard almost expected the caption of 'barbarian shaman' to appear above him.
"Serah Shepard." The . . . elf? Shepard decided to go ahead and use the term elf until she learn what the polite term for his race was, nodded his head towards her gravely. He had a solemn air about him that reminded her of Thane at his most reserved. "I have many questions for you and no doubt you have just as many for me. Your arrival in Haven was almost as dramatic as the Inquisitor's own."
"Please, just Shepard. And if you have any idea how I ended up here, I would love to know."
"Indeed. We shall learn much from each other I'm sure." The two studied each other before turning back to Cadash.
"And last but not least is Cole. You are already well acquainted with him I believe." The short woman smiled, the cold ice of her eyes warming as she looked at the strange boy sitting uneasily on his horse.
"Rekkah, why do I have to ride a horse?" He looked imploring at her from under his floppy hat. "I've never need a horse before. He doesn't like me being on his back."
Cadash sighed and rubbed her eyes. "You don't have to ride the horse the whole way to the Mire as long as you can keep up. But we're keeping him with us just in case. And I want you riding with us at least part of each day."
"Why"
"Because you need to socialize with more than just Solas, Varric and I, and making people forget you after speaking with them is not socializing."
Shepard wondered at that comment. Cole could make people forget him? She didn't know of any biotics that could do that, though the Leviathans' orbs had caused those around them to lose track of memories, and in one mining colony's case, years of memories. But Cole was human. At least he looked human and Shepard had no problem recalling every moment she had spent in his company. Maybe his trick only worked on those without biotics?
"But I spend plenty of time in the tavern. Everyone smiling, singing, sighs of sensation coming from below." He paused, frowning under the brim of his hat. "How can The Iron Bull be happy and sad at the same time? It makes him happy to make the serving women sigh but he's sad too."
"Cole that is a private matter," Solas rebuked the boy gently. "The Iron Bull's feelings are his own, and are not to be discussed in public."
Shepard couldn't help but snicker to herself. If they thought dealing with Cole was bad, they should try dealing with a hormonal teenage krogan. Grunt had done a lot of growing up his first year on the Normandy.
"Enough." Cadash's tone said she was done with the discussion. "We have a long way to go, so let's be about it." With that she spurred her horse through the main gate and started across the bridge. Blackwall followed close at her heals and Shepard came after. Solas and Cole trailed behind them, Cole still asking Solas why some thoughts were private and not others.
Shepard grinned. She still wasn't looking forward to this trip. It involved weather and most likely rodents of unusual size and there was a swamp in her future. But the banter between Cadash and her companions kept her from missing her own squad too much. At least that was what she told herself as she followed the Inquisitor down the mountain path with the dawn at her heels.