Once they'd parted from Romulus and Khari, Leon and Zahra started down one of the flat, well-edged paths that ran through the settlement. Like spokes on a wheel, all of them met in the center, and all of them reached the outer boundaries. Admittedly, it was a bit of a guess which was the one they wanted, but he recalled the direction Rhys and Rashad had gone in and decided to follow that one. Presumably, it would get them somewhere worth going; the Qunari did not seem particularly inclined to building roads to nowhere, not even the ones that had departed the Qun.
He kept his gait rolling, trying not to move too swiftly or in an excessively businesslike manner, in part because his companion was a great deal smaller than he was and also in part because he didn't really have business to be attending to. It was a foreign feeling, for there to be no task for him to accomplish, and it left him somewhat off-balance. He was almost looking for work to do, scanning the housing units on the side of the road as though something would present itself to him in the form of heavy things to carry or missing things to find or... anything at all really.
But they passed unhindered along the road, drawing eyes on occasion but no voices. Stifling his vague uneasiness, Leon glanced around again, letting his eyes linger on the buildings this time. He'd seen drawings of typical Qunari architecture before. This wasn't even the first Tal-Vashoth encampment he'd visited. But the other had simply been an encampment, tents and all. Not a proper village like this one. He recognized that the geometry was a holdover from the previous lives of the occupants. Even the more personal touches seemed unable to escape it; the Qunari had art just as surely as anyone else did, and he suspected much of it looked like the weaves serving as entrance covers here. Geometrical. Controlled. Clean and precise.
For all of Leonâs efforts to suit her small-statured pace, Zahra seemed to bounce along the straight pathway. She did seem to notice though. A small smirk quirked at the corner of her lips, eyes flitting from his shoulder and back towards sea of identical buildings. She did, however, seem to walk in a half-hazard fashion and allowed her hands to trail across pretty much everything they passed. Smooth canvas with intricate designs woven into the material covering the windows they passed. Everything appeared refined. Clear-cut, symmetrical. As if there was no room for error. She paused a few times, pressing her palms across the bricks. Thumbing the lip of a vase, holding an unusual bundle of plant-life. Unusual flowers. Even they appeared explicitly picked and arranged.
Everything had its place and everyone seemed to move as if driven by committed duties. Shortage of work seemed to be an impossibility in this settlement. No one lingered too long doing nothing and she hadnât seen anyone lounging in the sun, even if there was a lot of that in these parts. It bared down on them without mercy. The wafting smell of freshly baked bread greeted them as they walked. And the sound of clattering hammers struck a rhythmic tune to their right. A steady thunking, never once missing its beat. She appeared somewhat confused by the things they passed. Almost as if the expectations in her head werenât quite adding up. Zahra inhaled deeply and glanced again at her towering companion walking at her side, mouth lightly curling.
âI think this is the first time weâve actually been together,â she broke the silence, âIâd think you were avoiding me, if I didnât know you were a busy man always doing⊠busy stuff.â From the barely tempered expression on her face, it was evident that she was teasing him. Perhaps, trying to illicit a response. Or at least a smile. She inclined her head towards the artistic door-covering heâd been looking at and walked backwards, still facing him as she moved towards it.
Leon supposed she was right about that. Both Rilien and Marceline had more reason to make use of her ship than he did, and in what little free time he had, he just didnât tread the same Skyhold pathways as she did. âAside from when we were introduced, yes,â he agreed easily. The expression on her face indicated that the last part was meant to be a joke, or at least light-hearted as far as hypotheses went, so he didnât take it too seriously.
Certainly, he elected not to say that the âbusy stuffâ felt like all that kept him sane, some days.
âBut I hardly think Iâm the only busy one,â he pointed out, watching with slight apprehension as she approached yet another one of the artworks. She seemed very fond of⊠touching things, apparently unconcerned about whether they belonged to her or not. Perhaps he should have guessed that a raider didnât go in much for notions like private property. He wasnât sure that was even always a bad thing.
âSurely youâre busy enough, running lyrium for Rilien, or ferrying the Inquisition to grand quests of religious revelation?â He said the last part very dryly, perhaps the only hint heâd yet given anyone as to what he thought of the whole thing. It was in his nature to be skeptical, however much it clashed with the way the Chantry appeared to those outside of it, or on the edges.
Zahra threw her head back in an easy laugh. What he said hadnât been all that funny, especially if anyone had overhead them, but she appeared amused either way. She swung on her heels and nearly pressed her nose up to the tapestry as she brushed her fingers across the patterns, eyes reflecting the impeccable circles, the absolute spirals, and mirrored emblems. âThereâs a difference between being busy and looking busy, I suppose. Iâm especially good at the latter,â her smile was wistful as she straightened her shoulders, âBesides, any work aboard the Riptide is done in my absence. Nixiumâs rather talented at bossing people around.â
She paused for a moment and glanced back at Leon, thick eyebrow raised. Hand still poised on the door. If anyone was watching them in the nearby yards, she certainly hadnât noticed. âOh. This? A favor. An excuse to sail. Maybe, more of a selfish personal call. Though Anais can be awfully irritating with all that stuff.â If the way she spoke about it was anything to by, she wasnât all that concerned about it. It might not have been a stretch to assume that most raiders, and pirates, had far different inclinations towards religion. Perhaps, they only worshiped the sea. Zahra inclined her head in a curious fashion and wrinkled her nose, âHere I thought that most people in the Inquisition would cheer for grand quests like this. Yâknow, Chantry hand-holding. But you donât seem to care much. Havenât seen you blubbering about it anyway.â
Leon shrugged. âI suppose many people who believe would see it like that, but my position has... changed the way I think about these things. Most people seldom, if ever, see the Chantry at its worst. I often do. Being as jaded as I am makes it difficult to be optimistic the way they can. Sometimes for better, sometimes for worse." Which way his reservations would lead him this time was as yet undecided.
Zahra simply listened. Eyes peeling away from the tapestry she had pinched between her fingers. She appeared to be considering his words, or trying to read his expression. Whichever it was, she hadnât interrupted him. From what little sheâd said on the matter, she didnât look particularly appalled by his confession⊠if it was at all one. There were stories there, to be sure, but sheâd taken the hint well enough and allowed him to shift the conversation elsewhere. There were two Qunari women nearby shucking corn into a woven basket. Occasionally, their eyes rose from their work to observe the strangers in the next yard, though never for too long.
The topic was one he'd prefer not to linger with, presently, so he shifted the focus of discussion from himself to her. He was, if he could be permitted to think so, rather effective at that. âForgive me if I'm off-base, but it seems as though you had expected something in particular of the settlement. Perhaps something you have not found?" He canted his head to one side. âIt is not quite like I was thinking, either, I must admit."
The smile she wore slipped. She pressed her lips together and hummed a low tune, as if to conjure up an acceptable reason as to why her expectations hadnât been met. At least one that might make sense. She let the fabric sift through her fingers and watched it flap back into place, symmetrical and deliberate. Inflexible and planned. She was silent for a moment before she raised her arms into a cat-like stretch, allowing her arms to fall back to her sides, âYouâve a good eye, Leon.â Zahra regarded him with another leveled stare, âI thought⊠it would be different. This place. The people. Honestly, I wasnât sure what I was expecting.â
There was a brief moment where her forehead scrunched up and she looked out across the yards. She pressed a hand to her mouth, and laughed against her palm. While she didnât look particularly upset, she appeared embarrassed. It was difficult to conclude why, exactly. âI thought Iâd find Aslan here. Not like that. I thought that I could imagine him here, working. Maybe carrying boars around. But I canât picture it at all.â As if remembering herself, she glanced at Leon and shrugged her shoulders, burying her words behind another toothy grin, âHe knew everything about me, and I didnât know a thing about him.â
âI know someone like that," Leon offered, not really sure what to say. He half-smiled in a way that wasn't entirely happy, and shook his head. âSo much so that I honestly can't even tell what side of this whole mess she's on. For... for what it's worth, I think you must have known one important thing about him. He was on your side. Whichever one that turned out to be."
That was the wonderful thing about a true friend, wasn't it? People spoke about family, how close that was, but family could also be deeply divided and still family. There was something about being a friend that didn't work quite the same way. But maybe he was overthinking it. That was a persistent shortcoming of his. He was far too in his own head, even when it was a miserable place to be.
âI'm sorry," he added softly. Pushing a sigh out through his nose, he glanced briefly down the road. âFor your loss. I should have said so sooner."
There was a twitch of Zahraâs lips at Leonâs honesty. Whatever unshed tears mightâve swam there, certainly hadnât fallen. A sharp intake of breath was quickly followed by the ruffling of hands against fabric, as if Zahra was sweeping off dust and dirt from her pants that wasnât actually there. She straightened her shoulders, and sniffed. She appeared to be staring past the buildings, into the distance, though her eyes gradually found their way back to Leonâs. âThank you.â It was barely audible, a whisper, but the sentiment was clear enough.
Heâd said something that had reached her. In any case, it seemed to have an effect. Sheâd lost the tension in her shoulders, and her eyes seemed clearer. No longer seeking solace from what mightâve been an uncomfortable conversation sheâd willingly dredged up. His response, however, appeared appreciated. She cleared her throat and tapped his elbow, inclining her head towards the road theyâd been previously walking down in a letâs go fashion. A small smile tipped the cornerâs of her lips, a small reminder that she was paying attention to his words, âYou should ask her. Anything. Everything, maybe.â
She did not ask who heâd been talking about, but it was clear enough that sheâd listen if he so chose to express himself. If her pace was anything to go by, sheâd recovered rather quickly from her momentary bout of weakness, already walking in the direction theyâd initially been trekking down. She waited for Leon to join at her side before continuing on. âIt sounds like youâve seen a lot. Other Qunari settlements? When we were speaking to Tammy, you looked like you understood what they were saying.â Clearly, she didnât. At least not enough to know the gist of it. It was an open-ended question, though she appeared fixated on what he might say.
âSome," he agreed, inclining his head and retaking to the road alongside her. A bit of his earlier discomfort had faded; the words came more freely to him, now. Perhaps because this wasn't a topic he felt the need to be too circumspect about. âI'm much better at understanding Qunlat than speaking it, I must say. It's a difficult language."
He tipped his head back a little, glancing up at the cloudless sky over their heads. His chest and shoulders expanded with the volume of a large, steady breath. âSeekers often end up in strange places, tracking fugitives or looking for information. I'm sure it won't surprise you that the Chantry is very concerned about the Qunari. They themselves are notoriously difficult to interrogate, which means that most of what we know about them comes from those who are willing to part with the information. Usually, that is the Tal-Vashoth." Zahra nodded as he spoke, content to just listen. She hardly looked where she was walking. Fortunately, Qunari roads were composed of straight, linear lines, so there was no concern of bumbling into anything.
Leon half-smiled. âI am fortunate; my interactions with them have been mostly positive. I helped relocate a few dozen informants away from risk of discovery. They're in The Anderfels now. Learning bits of the language was a good way to pass the time as we rode. Though they speak much better trade tongue than I do Qunlat, now." The smile broadened a bit, though remained close-lipped. They were approaching their destination; it looked as though Rhys and Rashad were already done. They were speaking to a woman who was probably the butcher, from the apron and gloves she wore.
As they approached, it seemed that they were finishing up relaying the details of the hunt to the butcher from what Leon could glean from the conversation. Rashad was the first to notice their approach, and tapped Rhys on the shoulder. The elf turned first toward the Qunari and then toward the direction that he pointed. "Oh, they're the guests Asala brought," Rhys said to the butcher before waving toward them.
"Interesting guests," The butcher replied, mostly due to Leon's appearance, considering how she lingered on him. Eventually, she shook her head. "The Rethari will probably want to meet them," she said, nodding a greeting at them. Eventually, she shrugged and turned to to go back into the building. "Welcome them to Ash-Rethsaam for me, I have work to do. You two put me behind schedule."
Rhys frowned, but Rashad had to cover his mouth, though the hitches in his shoulders revealed the chuckling. Rhys rolled his eyes and hooked a thumb toward the departed butcher, "Qaal says hi."
âSeems she says a bit more than that," Leon replied, allowing himself a small smile. âBut thank you. We've had the chance to walk around a little; it's a lovely town." It wasn't merely the diplomatic thing to sayâhe did genuinely find the aesthetic interesting, though perhaps a bit strict even for his military sensibilities. For the most part, Zahra remained quiet. Squinting her eyes at the departing butcher, as if she could decipher their words by listening hard enough. Besides, she appeared somewhat distracted by the various carcasses hanging by neat hooks, swinging in various states of preparation to be too put off by not understand what they were saying.
âPlease don't let us keep you from anything; if there is somewhere else you need to be, we can entertain ourselves, I think." He'd been undeniably a little concerned about that before, but perhaps their conversation thus far had been enough to convince him that Zahra had much of interest to say... and was willing to share those thoughts with someone like himself.
Rhys shook his head "We just hit our quota, so we're free for the rest of the day," he said, sounding rather happy with himself. "Although..." Rhys added, looking upward to Rashad.
The larger Qunari shrugged in apparent agreement, "Qaal was right, you know. The Rethari will want to meet them.[i]"
"Right. Well, if you two would like, we could take you to the Rethari. He runs a tight ship, I'm sure he'd like to meet you all, though... Where's Asala and the other two?" Rhys asked.
âAsala was speaking with Tammy, when we left," Leon supplied. He trusted they could infer what that was about. âI believe Khari and Romulus were headed towards the center of town; she'd expressed some interest in the game the children were playing." He paused a moment, then shook his head. âIt seems polite at least, to meet this Rethari. If you don't mind that it's only the two of us doing so."
"It'll be fine, as long as [i]someone tells him what's going on," Rhys said with a laugh, "Come, it's back near the middle of the village. Heh, by the time you leave, you'll have this village memorized," he chuckled to himself.
âWell, you've made it fairly easy, being so organized." Leon fell in beside him, pausing to allow Zahra to do the same before they continued. He wasn't exactly worried about getting lost on what was essentially a grid, certainly.
âIf I may ask, what exactly does the Rethari do here? It doesn't seem that you have much need for additional structure." If they kept schedules and quotas by themselves, and they weren't military, he supposed all that was left was to adjudicate disputes and the like.
"Hah, he is our structure," Rhys answered, "You don't think we keep our schedules and quotas on our own do you? The Rethari and his assistants plan out the needs of the village and then send out requests to see that they get done. Everyone does something to help the village as a whole. To do nothing is... frowned upon, but it will not get you sent to the Ben-Hassrath." Rashad shuddered at the word, leading Rhys to pat him on the arm. "Fun story, Qaal was Ben-Hassrath. Took about a year for us to trust her."
Zahra had fallen in step at Leonâs side, glancing behind him whenever Rhys spoke. Her gaze absently dragged back towards Rashad, though it appeared as if she thought better than to direct any questions his way. Her mouth formed a line, curious in nature. âWhatâs a Ben-Hassrath do, then?â She had no trouble rolling the word in her mouth, even if she didnât quite know what it meant, or understand the implications of the position.
âThey're not so different from Seekers, actually," Leon said, shaking his head a little. Before they'd learned the trade tongue word for what he was, the Tal-Vashoth he'd known had used the Qunlat one, and that was what they'd chosen. Some time had passed before they'd been able to put any finer a point on it. âThey act almost like a military police, of sorts. Covert operations abroad, and... reeducation, in Qunari communities." He glanced at the other two for confirmation.
"You know, exactly the kind of people you'd want handling the village meat supplies," he confirmed with a wry grin. Zahra laughed at that, even if it wasnât clear if sheâd understood the jibe. Perhaps, she laughed for the sake of laughter, or not knowing what else to say. From the expression on her face, it was clear she wanted to ask more questions, though sheâd chosen not to.
They had clearly reached their destination, however; the building looked a lot like the rest of them, but a small placard over the doorway read office in Qunlat. Asala's tendency to take everything literally was hardly surprising, all things considered.
Not usually one for treading carefully, Zahra still inclined her head and glanced back at Rhys, âShould we know anything before meeting this, uh⊠Rethari?â Her question was frank enough. It was clear that she didnât want to step on any toes, or say anything that might come off as offensive. Both of which were unusual in her case. She turned her attention back towards the building and its placard, squinting.
Rhys thought about the question for a moment, before shooting her a mischievous smile. "He's big."
Rhys was the one to open the door for them, gesturing that they be the first to enter. Inside was a brightly lit room, with a large desk situated in the middle of the space. The desk held a number of papers and writing utensils, but all of it was neatly organized and apparently properly bookmarked, as a number of parcels held thin slivers of paper marking a specific point in them. However, no one currently sat at the desk, instead a trio of individuals stood at the far end of the building inspecting the wall in front of them. The wall held a board with a number of papers tacked onto it. The individuals, an elven woman, a younger Qunari man, and another, larger Qunari who eclipsed even Leon's height, were in the midst of speaking about repairs when they entered.
"Rethari? These are the guests that Asala brought home with her," Rhys said, slipping in behind them. The larger Qunari, no doubt the Rethari turned toward them and nodded. The other two also nodded and waved warmly before returning to speak amongst themselves about the repairs.
"I had heard that Beres-taar had returned with friends," he began, his voice a deep baritone, but holding elements of warmth within his words. He was a large, powerful man, with stark white hair pulled neatly behind long, twisting horns. The wrinkles in his cheeks belied his eyes, though his eyes remained a crystal blue, and a goatee helped to make him seem younger. He would not have been out of place as a soldier in a previous life. "Welcome, I hope that Ash-Rethsaam has treated you well since your arrival," he said. "I am Rethari and these," he gestured to the pair behind him, "Are my assistants."
Leon considered leaving off his titles in the return introduction, but to do so in a formal situation like this felt like a sort of dishonesty, and he didn't want to end up offending because of it. So he inclined his head respectfully. âShanedan, Rethari. I am High Seeker Leonhardt Albrecht, Commander of the Inquisition. This is Captain Zahra Tavish, of The Riptide." He gestured to her with a hand. âIt is an honor to meet you, and to be welcomed to Ash-Rethsaam."
Zahraâs eyes had widened considerably as soon as sheâd spotted the aforementioned Rethari. Big mightâve been an understatement. There was a brief moment where she hesitated in the doorway. A wry smile tugged at the cornerâs of her lips, as her gaze slipped back towards Leon. She mouthed something about duties being decided by heightâthough the mutter was one of awe, and probably a rhetorical slip of the tongue. Finally stepping through the threshold, she stood in front of the desk. Looking a little like sheâd been pulled in for a tongue-lashing. She pushed her hair out of her face, and inclined her head too, with a softer than usual, âPleasure to meet you all.â
"Maraas shokra," The Rethari said in response, slipping into a formal bow himself. His two assistants, however, seemed rather surprised at the sudden formality and seemed confused as to what the should do. In the end however, they simply mimicked the Rethari
She glanced back over at Leon and back to Rethari. Clearly waiting for some sort of continuation to their introduction. It was obvious that formal situations put her off. One of her hands settled on her hip. Something she seemed to often do to anchor herself. She cleared her throat and added with a gesture of her hand, âI suppose youâd like to know why weâre here.â
"I would," he said, nodding. However, there was no suspicion or malice in his body language, and the smile he wore was genuine, "Out of curiosity, if nothing else. I understand that you arrived with Asala, and she would not bring anyone she did not trust home. That alone speaks volumes."
Leon elected to give him the short version of events. In part, that was for the sake of brevity and the Rethari's time. But the reason they were here was also quite personal to Asala, and he didn't feel that it would be right to spell everything out in its entirety.
âWe will depart as soon as Asala believes herself ready to do so. Until that time, I'm afraid we must impose upon your hospitality."
The Rethari frowned with the news. "It is unfortunate that is what brings her home, though we are nonetheless happy to see her again," He said, managing to smile once again. He then waved him off, "Nonsense, if you are friends of Asala, then you are friends of Ash-Rethsaam. However..." The Rethari said, turning to toward his assistants as he spoke. The two of them exchanged glances before turning back to the Rethari and nodded. "We would ask that you do what you can to help the village in your time here."
Rhys chuckled to himself beside Zahra before shooting her a glance, "Everyone does something to help, remember?" he echoed from earlier.
"In the meantime, we have temporary lodgings for you to make use of," the Rethari revealed, "Rhys, if you could show them?"
The elf nodded, "Of course, whenever you're ready," he told them.
âOur thanks," Leon replied.
He could use some work to do, anyway.
He kept his gait rolling, trying not to move too swiftly or in an excessively businesslike manner, in part because his companion was a great deal smaller than he was and also in part because he didn't really have business to be attending to. It was a foreign feeling, for there to be no task for him to accomplish, and it left him somewhat off-balance. He was almost looking for work to do, scanning the housing units on the side of the road as though something would present itself to him in the form of heavy things to carry or missing things to find or... anything at all really.
But they passed unhindered along the road, drawing eyes on occasion but no voices. Stifling his vague uneasiness, Leon glanced around again, letting his eyes linger on the buildings this time. He'd seen drawings of typical Qunari architecture before. This wasn't even the first Tal-Vashoth encampment he'd visited. But the other had simply been an encampment, tents and all. Not a proper village like this one. He recognized that the geometry was a holdover from the previous lives of the occupants. Even the more personal touches seemed unable to escape it; the Qunari had art just as surely as anyone else did, and he suspected much of it looked like the weaves serving as entrance covers here. Geometrical. Controlled. Clean and precise.
For all of Leonâs efforts to suit her small-statured pace, Zahra seemed to bounce along the straight pathway. She did seem to notice though. A small smirk quirked at the corner of her lips, eyes flitting from his shoulder and back towards sea of identical buildings. She did, however, seem to walk in a half-hazard fashion and allowed her hands to trail across pretty much everything they passed. Smooth canvas with intricate designs woven into the material covering the windows they passed. Everything appeared refined. Clear-cut, symmetrical. As if there was no room for error. She paused a few times, pressing her palms across the bricks. Thumbing the lip of a vase, holding an unusual bundle of plant-life. Unusual flowers. Even they appeared explicitly picked and arranged.
Everything had its place and everyone seemed to move as if driven by committed duties. Shortage of work seemed to be an impossibility in this settlement. No one lingered too long doing nothing and she hadnât seen anyone lounging in the sun, even if there was a lot of that in these parts. It bared down on them without mercy. The wafting smell of freshly baked bread greeted them as they walked. And the sound of clattering hammers struck a rhythmic tune to their right. A steady thunking, never once missing its beat. She appeared somewhat confused by the things they passed. Almost as if the expectations in her head werenât quite adding up. Zahra inhaled deeply and glanced again at her towering companion walking at her side, mouth lightly curling.
âI think this is the first time weâve actually been together,â she broke the silence, âIâd think you were avoiding me, if I didnât know you were a busy man always doing⊠busy stuff.â From the barely tempered expression on her face, it was evident that she was teasing him. Perhaps, trying to illicit a response. Or at least a smile. She inclined her head towards the artistic door-covering heâd been looking at and walked backwards, still facing him as she moved towards it.
Leon supposed she was right about that. Both Rilien and Marceline had more reason to make use of her ship than he did, and in what little free time he had, he just didnât tread the same Skyhold pathways as she did. âAside from when we were introduced, yes,â he agreed easily. The expression on her face indicated that the last part was meant to be a joke, or at least light-hearted as far as hypotheses went, so he didnât take it too seriously.
Certainly, he elected not to say that the âbusy stuffâ felt like all that kept him sane, some days.
âBut I hardly think Iâm the only busy one,â he pointed out, watching with slight apprehension as she approached yet another one of the artworks. She seemed very fond of⊠touching things, apparently unconcerned about whether they belonged to her or not. Perhaps he should have guessed that a raider didnât go in much for notions like private property. He wasnât sure that was even always a bad thing.
âSurely youâre busy enough, running lyrium for Rilien, or ferrying the Inquisition to grand quests of religious revelation?â He said the last part very dryly, perhaps the only hint heâd yet given anyone as to what he thought of the whole thing. It was in his nature to be skeptical, however much it clashed with the way the Chantry appeared to those outside of it, or on the edges.
Zahra threw her head back in an easy laugh. What he said hadnât been all that funny, especially if anyone had overhead them, but she appeared amused either way. She swung on her heels and nearly pressed her nose up to the tapestry as she brushed her fingers across the patterns, eyes reflecting the impeccable circles, the absolute spirals, and mirrored emblems. âThereâs a difference between being busy and looking busy, I suppose. Iâm especially good at the latter,â her smile was wistful as she straightened her shoulders, âBesides, any work aboard the Riptide is done in my absence. Nixiumâs rather talented at bossing people around.â
She paused for a moment and glanced back at Leon, thick eyebrow raised. Hand still poised on the door. If anyone was watching them in the nearby yards, she certainly hadnât noticed. âOh. This? A favor. An excuse to sail. Maybe, more of a selfish personal call. Though Anais can be awfully irritating with all that stuff.â If the way she spoke about it was anything to by, she wasnât all that concerned about it. It might not have been a stretch to assume that most raiders, and pirates, had far different inclinations towards religion. Perhaps, they only worshiped the sea. Zahra inclined her head in a curious fashion and wrinkled her nose, âHere I thought that most people in the Inquisition would cheer for grand quests like this. Yâknow, Chantry hand-holding. But you donât seem to care much. Havenât seen you blubbering about it anyway.â
Leon shrugged. âI suppose many people who believe would see it like that, but my position has... changed the way I think about these things. Most people seldom, if ever, see the Chantry at its worst. I often do. Being as jaded as I am makes it difficult to be optimistic the way they can. Sometimes for better, sometimes for worse." Which way his reservations would lead him this time was as yet undecided.
Zahra simply listened. Eyes peeling away from the tapestry she had pinched between her fingers. She appeared to be considering his words, or trying to read his expression. Whichever it was, she hadnât interrupted him. From what little sheâd said on the matter, she didnât look particularly appalled by his confession⊠if it was at all one. There were stories there, to be sure, but sheâd taken the hint well enough and allowed him to shift the conversation elsewhere. There were two Qunari women nearby shucking corn into a woven basket. Occasionally, their eyes rose from their work to observe the strangers in the next yard, though never for too long.
The topic was one he'd prefer not to linger with, presently, so he shifted the focus of discussion from himself to her. He was, if he could be permitted to think so, rather effective at that. âForgive me if I'm off-base, but it seems as though you had expected something in particular of the settlement. Perhaps something you have not found?" He canted his head to one side. âIt is not quite like I was thinking, either, I must admit."
The smile she wore slipped. She pressed her lips together and hummed a low tune, as if to conjure up an acceptable reason as to why her expectations hadnât been met. At least one that might make sense. She let the fabric sift through her fingers and watched it flap back into place, symmetrical and deliberate. Inflexible and planned. She was silent for a moment before she raised her arms into a cat-like stretch, allowing her arms to fall back to her sides, âYouâve a good eye, Leon.â Zahra regarded him with another leveled stare, âI thought⊠it would be different. This place. The people. Honestly, I wasnât sure what I was expecting.â
There was a brief moment where her forehead scrunched up and she looked out across the yards. She pressed a hand to her mouth, and laughed against her palm. While she didnât look particularly upset, she appeared embarrassed. It was difficult to conclude why, exactly. âI thought Iâd find Aslan here. Not like that. I thought that I could imagine him here, working. Maybe carrying boars around. But I canât picture it at all.â As if remembering herself, she glanced at Leon and shrugged her shoulders, burying her words behind another toothy grin, âHe knew everything about me, and I didnât know a thing about him.â
âI know someone like that," Leon offered, not really sure what to say. He half-smiled in a way that wasn't entirely happy, and shook his head. âSo much so that I honestly can't even tell what side of this whole mess she's on. For... for what it's worth, I think you must have known one important thing about him. He was on your side. Whichever one that turned out to be."
That was the wonderful thing about a true friend, wasn't it? People spoke about family, how close that was, but family could also be deeply divided and still family. There was something about being a friend that didn't work quite the same way. But maybe he was overthinking it. That was a persistent shortcoming of his. He was far too in his own head, even when it was a miserable place to be.
âI'm sorry," he added softly. Pushing a sigh out through his nose, he glanced briefly down the road. âFor your loss. I should have said so sooner."
There was a twitch of Zahraâs lips at Leonâs honesty. Whatever unshed tears mightâve swam there, certainly hadnât fallen. A sharp intake of breath was quickly followed by the ruffling of hands against fabric, as if Zahra was sweeping off dust and dirt from her pants that wasnât actually there. She straightened her shoulders, and sniffed. She appeared to be staring past the buildings, into the distance, though her eyes gradually found their way back to Leonâs. âThank you.â It was barely audible, a whisper, but the sentiment was clear enough.
Heâd said something that had reached her. In any case, it seemed to have an effect. Sheâd lost the tension in her shoulders, and her eyes seemed clearer. No longer seeking solace from what mightâve been an uncomfortable conversation sheâd willingly dredged up. His response, however, appeared appreciated. She cleared her throat and tapped his elbow, inclining her head towards the road theyâd been previously walking down in a letâs go fashion. A small smile tipped the cornerâs of her lips, a small reminder that she was paying attention to his words, âYou should ask her. Anything. Everything, maybe.â
She did not ask who heâd been talking about, but it was clear enough that sheâd listen if he so chose to express himself. If her pace was anything to go by, sheâd recovered rather quickly from her momentary bout of weakness, already walking in the direction theyâd initially been trekking down. She waited for Leon to join at her side before continuing on. âIt sounds like youâve seen a lot. Other Qunari settlements? When we were speaking to Tammy, you looked like you understood what they were saying.â Clearly, she didnât. At least not enough to know the gist of it. It was an open-ended question, though she appeared fixated on what he might say.
âSome," he agreed, inclining his head and retaking to the road alongside her. A bit of his earlier discomfort had faded; the words came more freely to him, now. Perhaps because this wasn't a topic he felt the need to be too circumspect about. âI'm much better at understanding Qunlat than speaking it, I must say. It's a difficult language."
He tipped his head back a little, glancing up at the cloudless sky over their heads. His chest and shoulders expanded with the volume of a large, steady breath. âSeekers often end up in strange places, tracking fugitives or looking for information. I'm sure it won't surprise you that the Chantry is very concerned about the Qunari. They themselves are notoriously difficult to interrogate, which means that most of what we know about them comes from those who are willing to part with the information. Usually, that is the Tal-Vashoth." Zahra nodded as he spoke, content to just listen. She hardly looked where she was walking. Fortunately, Qunari roads were composed of straight, linear lines, so there was no concern of bumbling into anything.
Leon half-smiled. âI am fortunate; my interactions with them have been mostly positive. I helped relocate a few dozen informants away from risk of discovery. They're in The Anderfels now. Learning bits of the language was a good way to pass the time as we rode. Though they speak much better trade tongue than I do Qunlat, now." The smile broadened a bit, though remained close-lipped. They were approaching their destination; it looked as though Rhys and Rashad were already done. They were speaking to a woman who was probably the butcher, from the apron and gloves she wore.
As they approached, it seemed that they were finishing up relaying the details of the hunt to the butcher from what Leon could glean from the conversation. Rashad was the first to notice their approach, and tapped Rhys on the shoulder. The elf turned first toward the Qunari and then toward the direction that he pointed. "Oh, they're the guests Asala brought," Rhys said to the butcher before waving toward them.
"Interesting guests," The butcher replied, mostly due to Leon's appearance, considering how she lingered on him. Eventually, she shook her head. "The Rethari will probably want to meet them," she said, nodding a greeting at them. Eventually, she shrugged and turned to to go back into the building. "Welcome them to Ash-Rethsaam for me, I have work to do. You two put me behind schedule."
Rhys frowned, but Rashad had to cover his mouth, though the hitches in his shoulders revealed the chuckling. Rhys rolled his eyes and hooked a thumb toward the departed butcher, "Qaal says hi."
âSeems she says a bit more than that," Leon replied, allowing himself a small smile. âBut thank you. We've had the chance to walk around a little; it's a lovely town." It wasn't merely the diplomatic thing to sayâhe did genuinely find the aesthetic interesting, though perhaps a bit strict even for his military sensibilities. For the most part, Zahra remained quiet. Squinting her eyes at the departing butcher, as if she could decipher their words by listening hard enough. Besides, she appeared somewhat distracted by the various carcasses hanging by neat hooks, swinging in various states of preparation to be too put off by not understand what they were saying.
âPlease don't let us keep you from anything; if there is somewhere else you need to be, we can entertain ourselves, I think." He'd been undeniably a little concerned about that before, but perhaps their conversation thus far had been enough to convince him that Zahra had much of interest to say... and was willing to share those thoughts with someone like himself.
Rhys shook his head "We just hit our quota, so we're free for the rest of the day," he said, sounding rather happy with himself. "Although..." Rhys added, looking upward to Rashad.
The larger Qunari shrugged in apparent agreement, "Qaal was right, you know. The Rethari will want to meet them.[i]"
"Right. Well, if you two would like, we could take you to the Rethari. He runs a tight ship, I'm sure he'd like to meet you all, though... Where's Asala and the other two?" Rhys asked.
âAsala was speaking with Tammy, when we left," Leon supplied. He trusted they could infer what that was about. âI believe Khari and Romulus were headed towards the center of town; she'd expressed some interest in the game the children were playing." He paused a moment, then shook his head. âIt seems polite at least, to meet this Rethari. If you don't mind that it's only the two of us doing so."
"It'll be fine, as long as [i]someone tells him what's going on," Rhys said with a laugh, "Come, it's back near the middle of the village. Heh, by the time you leave, you'll have this village memorized," he chuckled to himself.
âWell, you've made it fairly easy, being so organized." Leon fell in beside him, pausing to allow Zahra to do the same before they continued. He wasn't exactly worried about getting lost on what was essentially a grid, certainly.
âIf I may ask, what exactly does the Rethari do here? It doesn't seem that you have much need for additional structure." If they kept schedules and quotas by themselves, and they weren't military, he supposed all that was left was to adjudicate disputes and the like.
"Hah, he is our structure," Rhys answered, "You don't think we keep our schedules and quotas on our own do you? The Rethari and his assistants plan out the needs of the village and then send out requests to see that they get done. Everyone does something to help the village as a whole. To do nothing is... frowned upon, but it will not get you sent to the Ben-Hassrath." Rashad shuddered at the word, leading Rhys to pat him on the arm. "Fun story, Qaal was Ben-Hassrath. Took about a year for us to trust her."
Zahra had fallen in step at Leonâs side, glancing behind him whenever Rhys spoke. Her gaze absently dragged back towards Rashad, though it appeared as if she thought better than to direct any questions his way. Her mouth formed a line, curious in nature. âWhatâs a Ben-Hassrath do, then?â She had no trouble rolling the word in her mouth, even if she didnât quite know what it meant, or understand the implications of the position.
âThey're not so different from Seekers, actually," Leon said, shaking his head a little. Before they'd learned the trade tongue word for what he was, the Tal-Vashoth he'd known had used the Qunlat one, and that was what they'd chosen. Some time had passed before they'd been able to put any finer a point on it. âThey act almost like a military police, of sorts. Covert operations abroad, and... reeducation, in Qunari communities." He glanced at the other two for confirmation.
"You know, exactly the kind of people you'd want handling the village meat supplies," he confirmed with a wry grin. Zahra laughed at that, even if it wasnât clear if sheâd understood the jibe. Perhaps, she laughed for the sake of laughter, or not knowing what else to say. From the expression on her face, it was clear she wanted to ask more questions, though sheâd chosen not to.
They had clearly reached their destination, however; the building looked a lot like the rest of them, but a small placard over the doorway read office in Qunlat. Asala's tendency to take everything literally was hardly surprising, all things considered.
Not usually one for treading carefully, Zahra still inclined her head and glanced back at Rhys, âShould we know anything before meeting this, uh⊠Rethari?â Her question was frank enough. It was clear that she didnât want to step on any toes, or say anything that might come off as offensive. Both of which were unusual in her case. She turned her attention back towards the building and its placard, squinting.
Rhys thought about the question for a moment, before shooting her a mischievous smile. "He's big."
Rhys was the one to open the door for them, gesturing that they be the first to enter. Inside was a brightly lit room, with a large desk situated in the middle of the space. The desk held a number of papers and writing utensils, but all of it was neatly organized and apparently properly bookmarked, as a number of parcels held thin slivers of paper marking a specific point in them. However, no one currently sat at the desk, instead a trio of individuals stood at the far end of the building inspecting the wall in front of them. The wall held a board with a number of papers tacked onto it. The individuals, an elven woman, a younger Qunari man, and another, larger Qunari who eclipsed even Leon's height, were in the midst of speaking about repairs when they entered.
"Rethari? These are the guests that Asala brought home with her," Rhys said, slipping in behind them. The larger Qunari, no doubt the Rethari turned toward them and nodded. The other two also nodded and waved warmly before returning to speak amongst themselves about the repairs.
"I had heard that Beres-taar had returned with friends," he began, his voice a deep baritone, but holding elements of warmth within his words. He was a large, powerful man, with stark white hair pulled neatly behind long, twisting horns. The wrinkles in his cheeks belied his eyes, though his eyes remained a crystal blue, and a goatee helped to make him seem younger. He would not have been out of place as a soldier in a previous life. "Welcome, I hope that Ash-Rethsaam has treated you well since your arrival," he said. "I am Rethari and these," he gestured to the pair behind him, "Are my assistants."
Leon considered leaving off his titles in the return introduction, but to do so in a formal situation like this felt like a sort of dishonesty, and he didn't want to end up offending because of it. So he inclined his head respectfully. âShanedan, Rethari. I am High Seeker Leonhardt Albrecht, Commander of the Inquisition. This is Captain Zahra Tavish, of The Riptide." He gestured to her with a hand. âIt is an honor to meet you, and to be welcomed to Ash-Rethsaam."
Zahraâs eyes had widened considerably as soon as sheâd spotted the aforementioned Rethari. Big mightâve been an understatement. There was a brief moment where she hesitated in the doorway. A wry smile tugged at the cornerâs of her lips, as her gaze slipped back towards Leon. She mouthed something about duties being decided by heightâthough the mutter was one of awe, and probably a rhetorical slip of the tongue. Finally stepping through the threshold, she stood in front of the desk. Looking a little like sheâd been pulled in for a tongue-lashing. She pushed her hair out of her face, and inclined her head too, with a softer than usual, âPleasure to meet you all.â
"Maraas shokra," The Rethari said in response, slipping into a formal bow himself. His two assistants, however, seemed rather surprised at the sudden formality and seemed confused as to what the should do. In the end however, they simply mimicked the Rethari
She glanced back over at Leon and back to Rethari. Clearly waiting for some sort of continuation to their introduction. It was obvious that formal situations put her off. One of her hands settled on her hip. Something she seemed to often do to anchor herself. She cleared her throat and added with a gesture of her hand, âI suppose youâd like to know why weâre here.â
"I would," he said, nodding. However, there was no suspicion or malice in his body language, and the smile he wore was genuine, "Out of curiosity, if nothing else. I understand that you arrived with Asala, and she would not bring anyone she did not trust home. That alone speaks volumes."
Leon elected to give him the short version of events. In part, that was for the sake of brevity and the Rethari's time. But the reason they were here was also quite personal to Asala, and he didn't feel that it would be right to spell everything out in its entirety.
âWe will depart as soon as Asala believes herself ready to do so. Until that time, I'm afraid we must impose upon your hospitality."
The Rethari frowned with the news. "It is unfortunate that is what brings her home, though we are nonetheless happy to see her again," He said, managing to smile once again. He then waved him off, "Nonsense, if you are friends of Asala, then you are friends of Ash-Rethsaam. However..." The Rethari said, turning to toward his assistants as he spoke. The two of them exchanged glances before turning back to the Rethari and nodded. "We would ask that you do what you can to help the village in your time here."
Rhys chuckled to himself beside Zahra before shooting her a glance, "Everyone does something to help, remember?" he echoed from earlier.
"In the meantime, we have temporary lodgings for you to make use of," the Rethari revealed, "Rhys, if you could show them?"
The elf nodded, "Of course, whenever you're ready," he told them.
âOur thanks," Leon replied.
He could use some work to do, anyway.