Estella couldn't help the nervous feeling settled at the pit of her stomach. It certainly wasn't the good kind of nerves, either; those had been mostly but not entirely absent this evening so far. Rather, it was the uncomfortable roiling in her guts, the one dangerously close to stomach illnesses of more natural sorts. She tried to focus on taking deep breaths through her nose.
It had been several months since her last run-in with Kess, and though she could make herself call the other woman Q for the purposes of discussing her with the rest of the Inquisition, she was still Kess in her mind. Not even Kestrel. It was the affectionate nickname she always returned to, the warm memories of three years ago instead of the colder, harder ones of the previous year's end. But if she knew anything, it was that little to none of the same sentiment remained with her friend. That friendship was not mutual, if ever it had been, and the knowledge of as much left her feeling bereft. It also ratcheted up the tension Estella was already carrying in her frame, tension she was sure Ves could easily feel and Cy and Rilien could read off her like she were an open book.
"We've done... good things since Val Royeaux, right?" The question was put to no one in particular. She knew it to be true, or at least she honestly believed it was. They'd helped people, in the Graves, and though she knew it hadn't gone exceptionally well—had in some senses gone very badly—she also knew that the fault for that really lay with the Red Templars.
But she hadn't forgotten. That Kess planned to watch the Inquisition's every move. And Estella didn't doubt that it was possible for her, either. As their group passed into one of the auxiliary hallways, the same one Romulus and the others had apparently just been in, she tipped her chin up, taking in the magnificent chandelier overhead, mage-light held in brilliant, clear cascades of crystal, which winked slightly as they were stirred. All the balcony doors were open here, and the breeze tugged the curtains inward with languid fingers, only occasionally reaching the strength to nudge the heavier objects like strings of delicate enchanted mineral.
Closing her eyes, Estella tilted her face back down before blinking them open again. "Is there... some particular way you think I should go about this, Rilien?" His expertise in these matters would always vastly outstrip her own. It was strange, how the very same culture could make such different things of people. For all his obvious ability, Rilien had never lorded that understanding over her. Not once. Perhaps that was why she found it so easy to ask now.
“She would never put in a personal appearance at an event like this unless her organization were planning something of critical importance." The words, as ever, were clean, precise, and factual—uncolored by any sort of moral assessment of the situation. He'd expressed on more than one occasion that he was more than willing to leave such things to others. Rilien paused before they came within earshot of the balcony, turning to face the other three of them directly and making eye contact with Estella in particular. The dark color of the mask he looked out from was a sharp contrast to his eyes themselves. “But she also did not have to arrange a meeting with you, which suggests that she must at least be open to the possibility of negotiation."
His facial expression softened in that almost-invisible way it often did when he spoke to her in particular. “I can give you no better advice than to approach her as you truly are. As you have always done."
Estella felt a soft wave of relief well up from somewhere in her chest, smothering the nervousness just enough that she no longer felt it was about to climb up her throat, anyway. She conveyed her gratitude as well as she could with a smile. As usual, he'd only asked of her something she could reasonably do. And if Rilien believed it was enough, then she dared to hope the same.
With a small nod, she released a soft, pent-up breath. "Okay," she murmured. "Then... be careful, everyone. I don't know why Kess wanted to see me, but it's pretty obvious she thinks it's business." She didn't need to tell them that—all three of them were very intelligent, capable people. But she said the words more to remind herself than anything. To remind herself that she couldn't simply assume terms would be good. Or that they'd remain that way even if they started so.
Pulling in a new breath to replace the old, she led the way out onto the balcony.
It wasn't a particularly large one, though it was just as ornate as everything else here seemed to be. Dark slate tiles, meticulously arranged so that all the corners were neatly in their places. The handrail was marble, a whimsical pattern of ivy carved around it by way of decoration. Each of the short, rectangular columns anchoring it at the far corners was host to a planter, where a drape of the real thing cascaded alongside light purple flowers. Wisteria, the same kind often cultivated for trellises.
Indeed, from the wrought-iron frames to either side, such a cultivation was in progress, though perhaps the season had prevented more earnest efforts until spring. The air, sharply contrasted with the body-heat-warmed interior, was crisp, bordering on uncomfortably chill. The night wore on, after all. The grounds beyond were dark; the lip of the palace roof that hung slightly over the balcony cast it into deep shadow as well.
The shadow flickered, just slightly. At once, Rilien was half a step in front of her, the dull glint of steel appearing in his hand, no doubt slid from somewhere inside his sleeves. But the flicker became much more obvious, a roughly human-shaped shadow detaching itself from the rest as Kess dropped down from the roof to balcony level. She landed softly, eyeing Rilien's knife with something that looked to be an even mix of wariness and amusement.
"Not an assassination attempt." Kess flicked a short piece of her fringe off the front of her mask. "Couldn't risk getting found by the wrong people is all." She glanced between the four of them, seeming somewhat pleased, perhaps by the fact that there were no strangers among them. "A repeat performance, I see. Probably for the best."
“Harder to go wrong with the classics." Cyrus crossed his arms, a bit of tension seeping out of his posture. No doubt it had been put there in the first place by Kess's sudden appearance.
Kestrel smiled, the expression more than a little dark. "How... sensible." She removed her attention from him and settled it on Estella, locking eyes with her. "Really, though... fancy meeting you here, Lady Inquisitor." The implied question was obvious enough.
Doing her best not to flinch at the use of her title in lieu of her name, Estella swallowed. "We wouldn't be," she said, "except we have evidence that Corypheus or some agent of his has plans to make a move tonight. One that might get someone killed." She pursed her lips, keeping steady eye contact with Kess. Rilien had told her it was fine to do this as herself, and she didn't see the point in being deceptive about their intentions.
Kess's lips curled into a fainter smile there, though it was no less cynical in its way. "Just one? My dear, that's an ordinary day in imperial Orlais, in case you'd forgotten. I assume that you mean someone important." The emphasis on the last word was best described as disdainful.
“Someones." Cyrus made the amendment as honestly as Estella had made the admission, perhaps taking his cues from her in this. “At least Celene, the Lord-General, and the Crown Prince." He'd know the evidence as well as anyone did, obviously: he'd actually heard it.
The Bard's brows arched in what might have been surprise. "Ambitious. I actually quite like it, as far as plans go."
Ves raised his eyebrows at that as well, though his overall look was more like he'd tasted something displeasing than simple surprise. "In case you missed it, this is Corypheus that wants someone important slain tonight." His hands were clasped in front of him, now that he wasn't arm in arm with Stel anymore. There wasn't really any point to it in present company, and it helped to have their hands free in case of assassins dropping down from above, as was apparently likely.
It wasn't too difficult to notice that he'd almost reached for something in the bracer on his left arm. Apparently it cinched in a small knife as well as his sleeve. Unlike Rilien's, it hadn't made it into his hands thus far. "I would be somewhat cautious about implying that you're approving of the darkspawn lord's plan. As far as I remember you were trying to change the world, not end it."
Kess tilted her head. "It's just the plan I like, not the planner. It would destabilize the entire Orlesian government and plunge it into a succession crisis. Though actually the better way to do it would be to leave at least two contenders, but with heavy black marks against them. If it were me... I'd just kill Celene. The prince doesn't want it and no one likes Gaspard. Perfect recipe for disaster, you see?"
“And for all of your agents to maneuver themselves into better positions." Rilien finished the thought flatly.
Kess shrugged. "I have no idea what you're talking about." She pursed her lips though, her demeanor taking on a seriousness it had not previously shown. "But suppose I did. Suppose that my plan really did involve that particular assassination tonight. Would you be interested in stopping me?"
That was a double-edged question if Estella had ever heard one. Celene was... she could understand why Kess wanted her deposed. Could at least begin to understand why merely deposed might not seem like enough. A resounding 'yes' could come across as an endorsement of the Empress, and Estella most certainly did not endorse her. How could she?
On the other hand... the same assassination was part of Corypheus's plans. Had been part of a future that ended disastrously for everyone. And besides that, she couldn't make herself be okay with letting someone else be killed like that, without a trial or a fair chance, if such a thing even existed. She had difficulty enough with legally-mandated executions. Drawing her lower lip between her teeth, she let her eyes rest on one of the planters. Even the plants here seemed much too decadent; the floral scent was thick.
"Yes," she said finally. "I would. I don't think someone like the empress should be in charge of a country, but I also don't believe murdering someone in cold blood is the right answer to any problem." Her eyes found Kestrel's again. Estella tried to convey that resolve wordlessly as well, hoping it would not be taken as simple, surface-level idealism. She knew no choice in this situation was perfect.
She just had to pick the one she could live with, and hope that she could get Kess to agree to it as well.
The other woman shook her head slightly, but it seemed to have been the answer she was expecting. "If that's what you want... then let's make a bargain." She lifted her hands to her hips and settled them there. "Celene comes off the throne tonight, one way or another. I've got the one way... but the other way is yours to take or leave."
“And that is?" Cyrus seemed equal parts suspicious and intrigued.
"I know for a fact she's ordered a hit on Gaspard. One of my contacts back at The Roost confirmed. What I don't have is any evidence to prove it. But if I know Lady Aurelie—and believe me, I do—she'll have insisted on proper documentation to make sure she gets paid. If you can find Celene's half of that and expose her, you'll cut her support out from underneath her."
“I thought assassinations were just an 'ordinary day in Orlais.' Who would care that she'd tried to have him killed?"
Kestrel's smile reappeared. "Almost no one. But plenty of people will care that she not only failed, but got caught, particularly by a bunch of amateurs. No offense, but that's clearly what you are. I can't go in there—the moment Aurelie catches so much as a whiff of me, it'll be curtains for all my agents in the castle. Or, well, the ones she knows about anyway."
“Is that all?" The slight undertone of sarcasm to Rilien's words was still detectable.
She shrugged. "No. But you're doing the other part already, apparently. I want someone to find out why my people are disappearing in the gardens. It seems a couple of your friends made quite the impression on a couple of mine." She paused, posture straightening. "You said you wanted justice as much as I do. Here's your chance to prove it. Get that bitch off her fancy chair and in irons where she belongs, and I'll believe you. Simple as that."
"I'm pretty sure meddling in Orlesian political affairs to influence the night's outcome wasn't on our list of objectives," Ves interjected. That said, he seemed to be as intrigued as Cyrus was. "But maybe it should be." He shrugged slightly. "I'd love to see Celene rot in a cell as well, and there's no way Gaspard isn't up to something tonight on top of it all. If we can catch them both, maybe we can remove both of their positions of power, without removing either of their heads."
He glanced next at Estella, obviously interested in where his line of thought was taking him. "This would then cause a certain Crown Prince to become Emperor a little ahead of schedule, wouldn't it? Or perhaps right on time."
Honestly, at this point it seemed to Estella like there was little choice in the matter. Either they ousted Celene, or Kess killed her. Or maybe Corypheus did; it seemed to be fairly overdetermined at this point. She didn't want their inaction to play right into his hands, either. But the problem was that she also found the idea attractive for more selfish reasons. She just believed so much in Commander Lucien and the person he was that she wanted him to be Emperor. She knew he'd make Orlais a better place, for everyone in it. As surely as she knew anything. But she couldn't let that be the reason she made this decision.
She knew he was reluctant himself, for one. And for two... Marcy had had a good point about not interfering in foreign governments. She could hardly imagine anything that would look more autocratic than installing a personal friend of hers at the head of the world's most powerful country.
Estella took a deep breath. Right thing now, consequences later.
With a quick glance at Rilien and Cy to make sure no protests were forthcoming, she settled her eyes back on Kess. "We'll do it. Where should we look for this evidence?"
"Royal wing library and personal offices." Kestrel's answer was immediate. "I'm sure there are those in your group who know their way around a lockpick. Maybe you can lend them that one you always keep in your hair." Kestrel winked, then tilted her head to the side.
"Good luck, Lady Inquisitor. We'll be watching."
It had been several months since her last run-in with Kess, and though she could make herself call the other woman Q for the purposes of discussing her with the rest of the Inquisition, she was still Kess in her mind. Not even Kestrel. It was the affectionate nickname she always returned to, the warm memories of three years ago instead of the colder, harder ones of the previous year's end. But if she knew anything, it was that little to none of the same sentiment remained with her friend. That friendship was not mutual, if ever it had been, and the knowledge of as much left her feeling bereft. It also ratcheted up the tension Estella was already carrying in her frame, tension she was sure Ves could easily feel and Cy and Rilien could read off her like she were an open book.
"We've done... good things since Val Royeaux, right?" The question was put to no one in particular. She knew it to be true, or at least she honestly believed it was. They'd helped people, in the Graves, and though she knew it hadn't gone exceptionally well—had in some senses gone very badly—she also knew that the fault for that really lay with the Red Templars.
But she hadn't forgotten. That Kess planned to watch the Inquisition's every move. And Estella didn't doubt that it was possible for her, either. As their group passed into one of the auxiliary hallways, the same one Romulus and the others had apparently just been in, she tipped her chin up, taking in the magnificent chandelier overhead, mage-light held in brilliant, clear cascades of crystal, which winked slightly as they were stirred. All the balcony doors were open here, and the breeze tugged the curtains inward with languid fingers, only occasionally reaching the strength to nudge the heavier objects like strings of delicate enchanted mineral.
Closing her eyes, Estella tilted her face back down before blinking them open again. "Is there... some particular way you think I should go about this, Rilien?" His expertise in these matters would always vastly outstrip her own. It was strange, how the very same culture could make such different things of people. For all his obvious ability, Rilien had never lorded that understanding over her. Not once. Perhaps that was why she found it so easy to ask now.
“She would never put in a personal appearance at an event like this unless her organization were planning something of critical importance." The words, as ever, were clean, precise, and factual—uncolored by any sort of moral assessment of the situation. He'd expressed on more than one occasion that he was more than willing to leave such things to others. Rilien paused before they came within earshot of the balcony, turning to face the other three of them directly and making eye contact with Estella in particular. The dark color of the mask he looked out from was a sharp contrast to his eyes themselves. “But she also did not have to arrange a meeting with you, which suggests that she must at least be open to the possibility of negotiation."
His facial expression softened in that almost-invisible way it often did when he spoke to her in particular. “I can give you no better advice than to approach her as you truly are. As you have always done."
Estella felt a soft wave of relief well up from somewhere in her chest, smothering the nervousness just enough that she no longer felt it was about to climb up her throat, anyway. She conveyed her gratitude as well as she could with a smile. As usual, he'd only asked of her something she could reasonably do. And if Rilien believed it was enough, then she dared to hope the same.
With a small nod, she released a soft, pent-up breath. "Okay," she murmured. "Then... be careful, everyone. I don't know why Kess wanted to see me, but it's pretty obvious she thinks it's business." She didn't need to tell them that—all three of them were very intelligent, capable people. But she said the words more to remind herself than anything. To remind herself that she couldn't simply assume terms would be good. Or that they'd remain that way even if they started so.
Pulling in a new breath to replace the old, she led the way out onto the balcony.
It wasn't a particularly large one, though it was just as ornate as everything else here seemed to be. Dark slate tiles, meticulously arranged so that all the corners were neatly in their places. The handrail was marble, a whimsical pattern of ivy carved around it by way of decoration. Each of the short, rectangular columns anchoring it at the far corners was host to a planter, where a drape of the real thing cascaded alongside light purple flowers. Wisteria, the same kind often cultivated for trellises.
Indeed, from the wrought-iron frames to either side, such a cultivation was in progress, though perhaps the season had prevented more earnest efforts until spring. The air, sharply contrasted with the body-heat-warmed interior, was crisp, bordering on uncomfortably chill. The night wore on, after all. The grounds beyond were dark; the lip of the palace roof that hung slightly over the balcony cast it into deep shadow as well.
The shadow flickered, just slightly. At once, Rilien was half a step in front of her, the dull glint of steel appearing in his hand, no doubt slid from somewhere inside his sleeves. But the flicker became much more obvious, a roughly human-shaped shadow detaching itself from the rest as Kess dropped down from the roof to balcony level. She landed softly, eyeing Rilien's knife with something that looked to be an even mix of wariness and amusement.
"Not an assassination attempt." Kess flicked a short piece of her fringe off the front of her mask. "Couldn't risk getting found by the wrong people is all." She glanced between the four of them, seeming somewhat pleased, perhaps by the fact that there were no strangers among them. "A repeat performance, I see. Probably for the best."
“Harder to go wrong with the classics." Cyrus crossed his arms, a bit of tension seeping out of his posture. No doubt it had been put there in the first place by Kess's sudden appearance.
Kestrel smiled, the expression more than a little dark. "How... sensible." She removed her attention from him and settled it on Estella, locking eyes with her. "Really, though... fancy meeting you here, Lady Inquisitor." The implied question was obvious enough.
Doing her best not to flinch at the use of her title in lieu of her name, Estella swallowed. "We wouldn't be," she said, "except we have evidence that Corypheus or some agent of his has plans to make a move tonight. One that might get someone killed." She pursed her lips, keeping steady eye contact with Kess. Rilien had told her it was fine to do this as herself, and she didn't see the point in being deceptive about their intentions.
Kess's lips curled into a fainter smile there, though it was no less cynical in its way. "Just one? My dear, that's an ordinary day in imperial Orlais, in case you'd forgotten. I assume that you mean someone important." The emphasis on the last word was best described as disdainful.
“Someones." Cyrus made the amendment as honestly as Estella had made the admission, perhaps taking his cues from her in this. “At least Celene, the Lord-General, and the Crown Prince." He'd know the evidence as well as anyone did, obviously: he'd actually heard it.
The Bard's brows arched in what might have been surprise. "Ambitious. I actually quite like it, as far as plans go."
Ves raised his eyebrows at that as well, though his overall look was more like he'd tasted something displeasing than simple surprise. "In case you missed it, this is Corypheus that wants someone important slain tonight." His hands were clasped in front of him, now that he wasn't arm in arm with Stel anymore. There wasn't really any point to it in present company, and it helped to have their hands free in case of assassins dropping down from above, as was apparently likely.
It wasn't too difficult to notice that he'd almost reached for something in the bracer on his left arm. Apparently it cinched in a small knife as well as his sleeve. Unlike Rilien's, it hadn't made it into his hands thus far. "I would be somewhat cautious about implying that you're approving of the darkspawn lord's plan. As far as I remember you were trying to change the world, not end it."
Kess tilted her head. "It's just the plan I like, not the planner. It would destabilize the entire Orlesian government and plunge it into a succession crisis. Though actually the better way to do it would be to leave at least two contenders, but with heavy black marks against them. If it were me... I'd just kill Celene. The prince doesn't want it and no one likes Gaspard. Perfect recipe for disaster, you see?"
“And for all of your agents to maneuver themselves into better positions." Rilien finished the thought flatly.
Kess shrugged. "I have no idea what you're talking about." She pursed her lips though, her demeanor taking on a seriousness it had not previously shown. "But suppose I did. Suppose that my plan really did involve that particular assassination tonight. Would you be interested in stopping me?"
That was a double-edged question if Estella had ever heard one. Celene was... she could understand why Kess wanted her deposed. Could at least begin to understand why merely deposed might not seem like enough. A resounding 'yes' could come across as an endorsement of the Empress, and Estella most certainly did not endorse her. How could she?
On the other hand... the same assassination was part of Corypheus's plans. Had been part of a future that ended disastrously for everyone. And besides that, she couldn't make herself be okay with letting someone else be killed like that, without a trial or a fair chance, if such a thing even existed. She had difficulty enough with legally-mandated executions. Drawing her lower lip between her teeth, she let her eyes rest on one of the planters. Even the plants here seemed much too decadent; the floral scent was thick.
"Yes," she said finally. "I would. I don't think someone like the empress should be in charge of a country, but I also don't believe murdering someone in cold blood is the right answer to any problem." Her eyes found Kestrel's again. Estella tried to convey that resolve wordlessly as well, hoping it would not be taken as simple, surface-level idealism. She knew no choice in this situation was perfect.
She just had to pick the one she could live with, and hope that she could get Kess to agree to it as well.
The other woman shook her head slightly, but it seemed to have been the answer she was expecting. "If that's what you want... then let's make a bargain." She lifted her hands to her hips and settled them there. "Celene comes off the throne tonight, one way or another. I've got the one way... but the other way is yours to take or leave."
“And that is?" Cyrus seemed equal parts suspicious and intrigued.
"I know for a fact she's ordered a hit on Gaspard. One of my contacts back at The Roost confirmed. What I don't have is any evidence to prove it. But if I know Lady Aurelie—and believe me, I do—she'll have insisted on proper documentation to make sure she gets paid. If you can find Celene's half of that and expose her, you'll cut her support out from underneath her."
“I thought assassinations were just an 'ordinary day in Orlais.' Who would care that she'd tried to have him killed?"
Kestrel's smile reappeared. "Almost no one. But plenty of people will care that she not only failed, but got caught, particularly by a bunch of amateurs. No offense, but that's clearly what you are. I can't go in there—the moment Aurelie catches so much as a whiff of me, it'll be curtains for all my agents in the castle. Or, well, the ones she knows about anyway."
“Is that all?" The slight undertone of sarcasm to Rilien's words was still detectable.
She shrugged. "No. But you're doing the other part already, apparently. I want someone to find out why my people are disappearing in the gardens. It seems a couple of your friends made quite the impression on a couple of mine." She paused, posture straightening. "You said you wanted justice as much as I do. Here's your chance to prove it. Get that bitch off her fancy chair and in irons where she belongs, and I'll believe you. Simple as that."
"I'm pretty sure meddling in Orlesian political affairs to influence the night's outcome wasn't on our list of objectives," Ves interjected. That said, he seemed to be as intrigued as Cyrus was. "But maybe it should be." He shrugged slightly. "I'd love to see Celene rot in a cell as well, and there's no way Gaspard isn't up to something tonight on top of it all. If we can catch them both, maybe we can remove both of their positions of power, without removing either of their heads."
He glanced next at Estella, obviously interested in where his line of thought was taking him. "This would then cause a certain Crown Prince to become Emperor a little ahead of schedule, wouldn't it? Or perhaps right on time."
Honestly, at this point it seemed to Estella like there was little choice in the matter. Either they ousted Celene, or Kess killed her. Or maybe Corypheus did; it seemed to be fairly overdetermined at this point. She didn't want their inaction to play right into his hands, either. But the problem was that she also found the idea attractive for more selfish reasons. She just believed so much in Commander Lucien and the person he was that she wanted him to be Emperor. She knew he'd make Orlais a better place, for everyone in it. As surely as she knew anything. But she couldn't let that be the reason she made this decision.
She knew he was reluctant himself, for one. And for two... Marcy had had a good point about not interfering in foreign governments. She could hardly imagine anything that would look more autocratic than installing a personal friend of hers at the head of the world's most powerful country.
Estella took a deep breath. Right thing now, consequences later.
With a quick glance at Rilien and Cy to make sure no protests were forthcoming, she settled her eyes back on Kess. "We'll do it. Where should we look for this evidence?"
"Royal wing library and personal offices." Kestrel's answer was immediate. "I'm sure there are those in your group who know their way around a lockpick. Maybe you can lend them that one you always keep in your hair." Kestrel winked, then tilted her head to the side.
"Good luck, Lady Inquisitor. We'll be watching."