Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Rook threw open the door to Neve’s office in the Lighthouse. “Lucanis is into me, right?”

Neve was sitting on her desk, facing the doorway and tinkering with a wisp trap. She didn’t bother to look up. “I was under the impression that you two were already an item.”

“So I’m not going crazy?”

“Yes, but that’s beside the point.” Neve smiled, still looking at the trap. Then she frowned at Rook and set the trap down on the desk. “Why do you ask?”

Rook advanced further into the room and sat down on an available crate, clasping his hands. “He keeps showing these signs of affection for me, and then … pulling away at the last second. I don’t understand it.”

Neve gave Rook a bored look. “Seriously?”

He sat back and spread his hands. “What?”

She groaned. “Ugh, you two are so thick. It hurts to watch, honestly.”

Rook squinted at her.

She pinched the bridge of her nose. “Rook, he’s crazy about you. You should see the way he looks at you with those big puppy dog eyes when you’re not looking.” She looked directly at Rook now. “And I’ve already had this same conversation with him about you. ”

“Oh.” They looked at each other for a second. “So then…”

“Maker, you’re stupid. He’s afraid.”

“Afraid of me? ”

She rolled her eyes. “Interpersonal skills,” she said, voice dripping with sarcasm, “must not be part of the training program for Crows.”

“Maybe I was absent that week.”

“Both of you, it would seem.”

Rook gestured to her in frustration. “Then enlighten me!”

Neve took in a deep breath, and then let it go. “He’s afraid of making a mistake and hurting you. Losing control of Spite. Failing to kill the gods. Getting you killed by another house.” She paused. “He’s still dealing with what went down in the Ossuary. He thinks you shouldn’t settle for him.”

“Lucanis thinks that being with him is settling? ”

“I know right. It’s patently absurd.” She bit her lip to tease Rook. “Just look at him.”

Rook laughed half-heartedly. “Do I have to worry about you stealing him from me?”

She winked. “Only if you break his heart first.”

Rook smiled. “So what should I do?”

She raised an eyebrow sarcastically. “You’re asking a potential fellow suitor for romantic advice?”

“I know, I know,” Rook said. “But of everyone here, you probably know him best. And I trust you,” he added after a short pause.

She feigned shock. “Well this is a surprise.” Her face turned serious, and she thought for a few seconds before speaking again. “You can’t push him too hard, that might spook him off a bit. He’s quite flighty in that regard.” She smiled in appreciation of her own unintentional wordplay.

Rook groaned faintly, but made no further comment.

“Be patient, and maybe cool off a bit with the overt flirting. He’s definitely more of the friends-to-lovers persuasion, especially since he lacks any sort of romantic experience.”

“Really?” Rook was taken aback at the revelation.

“I heard from Emmrich that he once tried and failed to flirt with Viago by gifting him a knife,” she supplied.

“That would’ve worked on me…” Rook mumbled to himself.

“You Crows sure are an odd bunch. Birds of a feather, and all that.”

“How many more awful puns are you gonna subject me to?”

“Not many more,” she replied. “Just be there for him, Rook. I think that should be enough. He needs space, but not too much. You don’t want to turn cold on him. That would be just as bad as going in too hot.

“Thanks, Neve,” Rook said, getting up to leave. “I mean it, really.”

“Don’t mention it.” Neve tried and failed to suppress a huge smile now. “And whatever you do, try not to get either of you killed. I have to win this bet with Taash.”

Rook’s face turned bright red and he turned back to see Neve’s shit-eating grin. “What did you say?”

She stifled a laugh. “You heard me. I’m rooting for you idiots.” She paused for comedic timing. “And so is Emmrich.”

Rook somehow managed to turn an even brighter shade of red. “You’re next after Ghilan’nain and Elgar’nan,” he stammered, then left the room.

Chapter Text

Rook was sleeping peacefully in his room in the Lighthouse when he heard the door open, almost imperceptibly quiet. He slept on his side, with his right arm under his pillow and holding his mageknife in a reverse grip, which he always slept with in case he had to fight. His left arm was thrown over the other pillow that he held against him in a cuddling position. His head was turned to the left, able to see that half of the room if he opened his eyes. He didn’t, though, in case he needed to pretend to be asleep.

He registered a handful of near-silent steps, and his blood froze. He could tell that whoever just entered his room wasn’t one of his teammates. Quiet and careful enough that it wasn’t Emmrich, Taash, or Davrin. Too heavy to be Bellara or Harding. No telltale rhythm of Neve’s peg leg. He wouldn’t have been able to hear Lucanis even if he weren’t trying. The footsteps weren’t familiar at all.

The door softly closed, and Rook gripped the hilt of his mageknife tighter. His mind raced, thinking of who this unknown assailant could be. A Venatori assassin? It was possible.

More footsteps came. Rook knew they were quiet, but they struck his ears like drum beats. He suddenly realized he recognized the sound they made against the cool stone floor.

Dress shoes, manufactured in Treviso. A Crow had come for him.

He relaxed his grip on the mageknife ever so slightly and suppressed a grin. A Crow would be a formidable, yet familiar opponent. He knew their fighting style inside and out from years of training against them. To his knowledge, a contract had never been taken out against him, even after the embarrassment he delivered his house when he went rogue against the Antaam. The Venatori infiltrators are showing their hand, he assumed.

The footsteps grew closer, and Rook mentally prepared a storm surge spell to disengage and strike a blow before his assailant could make the first move. He held it at the forefront of his mind, just on the verge of casting. His control over his magic allowed him to do so without so much as a single spark forming between his fingertips. He had always been good at that.

The steps grew closer. Time seemed to slow down as they grew closer still, reaching the foot of his bed.

Coffee. He smelled coffee.

Against his better judgment, Rook opened his left eye as little as he could while still being able to see, and saw Lucanis slowly making his way to his bedside.

Lucanis? Rook thought, absolutely bewildered that he had even been able to detect his approach. Then he saw the faint purple glow in his eyes. Spite? Suddenly it made sense. Spite didn’t have the training necessary to get in undetected, but Lucanis’s muscle memory was lending a hand. If he wasn’t so concerned about being shanked by the demon, Rook would have been impressed.

Spite stopped right next to Rook’s bed, looking directly at him, but made no indication that he meant Rook any harm. He simply stood there, staring. Silently. Unmoving. Rook was able to see that he held no weapons and had no magic at the ready. The wings weren’t even out.

He simply looked at Rook.

Rook’s mind raced. What is happening right now? Has this happened before? I am very naked right now . At least the sheet is covering my lower half.

Spite stood there long enough for it to be unbearably uncomfortable for Rook. Surely he would have done something by now if he wanted to hurt me? What is he waiting for? What does he want?

Without doing anything, Spite suddenly turned and left. Rook heard him gently walk out of the room and close the door behind him.

What the fuck was that?

Rook couldn’t get back to sleep at all for the rest of the night.

Chapter Text

“Do you have a minute?”

“Certainly, Rook.” Emmrich was sitting in his study, reading a book detailing the history and current practices of Rivaini shamans. He looked up from it to see Rook close the door behind him. He set the book down next to the empty teacup on his desk. “How may I be of assistance?”

“It’s about spirits and demons,” Rook began. “Just how similar to people are they, really?”

Manfred made an excited hiss, and Emmrich steepled his fingers the way he always did. “As you well know, there is great variety amongst the spirits of the Fade. Some bear a remarkable similarity to the mortal races in many aspects. Spirits of Wisdom, for example, can be quite intelligent, rivaling even the greatest of mortal minds.” Emmrich held his hands open, with the palms up. “Thanks to Solas’s memories, we now know that the ancient Elves were spirits that took a physical body. You’ve talked to him quite extensively in your dreams, correct?”

Rook tilted his head to the side in thought. “I wouldn't say ‘extensively’ but yes.”

“Being mages, the two of us have certainly encountered spirits that seemed quite far from people as well,” he continued. “Think of the wisps that assist the Mourn Watch in the Necropolis, or that inhabit Neve’s corner of the Lighthouse. The variance that exists among the spirits of the Fade is quite wide.”

“True. I hadn't thought about that.”

“You can be clever when you put your mind to it, Rook.” Emmrich smiled, then furrowed his brow and put on a slight frown. “What prompts this inquiry?”

Rook broke eye contact with Emmrich for a heartbeat. “Spite. He’s a bit…” Rook paused as he tried to summon the words. “...weird.”

Emmrich chuckled. “Not precisely how I would describe the situation with Spite and Mr. Dellamorte, but, yes.” His face became serious again. “I’m sorry Rook, but I’m afraid I can’t say anything for certain about our resident abomination. In all my years of experience - both generally as a mage and as a Mortalitasi - I have never seen nor heard of an occurrence such as this. Possessions tend to be willing, where a mage invites them in. Whether it be a Rivaini seer who channels a spirit, or a mage of the Andrastian Circles failing their Harrowing, possession has always been observed to be mutually consensual.”

Rook put his hands on his hips, visibly frustrated. “Could you speculate, though?”

Emmrich rested one leg on the other knee and rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “Spite and Lucanis were forced together via blood magic in some perverse attempt to create a living weapon, then placed under control with a phylactery. I’ve never heard of such a thing occurring firsthand, or in any tome I’ve ever read. They may be the first of their kind in all of Thedas.” He gestured to the book he had just set down next to him. “I was actually just reading about Rivaini seers and their dealings with spirits. Lucanis came to me earlier about this topic, and I’ve been looking into it at his request. Of any groups in modern Thedas that might have knowledge about this situation, it would be the Rivani.”

“And?” Rook leaned forward, hanging on Emmrich’s every word.

“Nothing,” Emmrich sighed. “I’ve read countless Rivaini codices on the topic of possession, but couldn’t find anything similar to his situation. I’m sorry, Rook, but we are in uncharted waters.”

“Oh.” Rook sat down, disappointed. “Thank you, though.”

Emmrich perked up. “On the bright side, this presents us with the unprecedented opportunity to advance our collective knowledge of the spirits. I’ve been keeping notes on almost every interaction I’ve had with Spite. Everything he’s done or said, I have written down here.” He plucked a small leather-bound book off of Manfred’s tea tray. The skeletal assistant had fetched the book over the course of the conversation. “Did Spite say or do something interesting?”

“Um,” Rook stammered. “Well… He… Uhhhhhh…”

“Out with it Rook! Every point of data is vital in a case study.” Emmrich held his pen excitedly over a fresh page.

“Hecameintomyroomlastnightandwatchedmesleep,” Rook blurted out.

Emmrich looked back at Rook, bewildered. “Oh,” he said plainly. “Well that certainly is…queer.”

Rook could feel himself blushing furiously. Emmrich made a quick note in his Spite journal, then set it back on Mafred’s tray. Rook took a deep breath, and then explained. “He snuck in last night, and I woke up to the noise. He wasn’t loud though. I thought it might’ve been an assassin.” Emmrich raised an eyebrow, then Rook continued. “He was trying to not wake me up, but I’ve always slept lightly, even for a Crow. He just stood there for a minute and looked at me. It was…unnerving.”

“It certainly sounds distressing.” Emmrich thought for a moment. “You’re sure this was Spite and not Lucanis?”

“If it were Lucanis, I wouldn’t have known it had happened at all.” Emmrich nodded in agreement. “Also, he had the glowy purple eyes he always has when Spite is in control.”

“How curious…” Emmrich took his Spite journal back from Manfred and flipped through the pages, searching. After a few moments, he closed it again. “You are a frequent topic of Spite’s. He mentions you quite a lot. There’s a wealth of literature about the effects of long-term possession on the personality of the possessed, but the effects of mortals on the temperament of spirits are widely known. Perhaps Lucanis’s affecttion for you is influencing Spite…”

Emmrich looked up and saw that Rook had sat down in a nearby chair and was covering his beet-red face with his hands. “Elgar’nan, please just kill me now,” he groaned.

Emmrich stood up and put a hand on Rook’s shoulder sympathetically. “Oh, but you did know, right?”

“I never should have recruited you and Neve,” Rook grumbled from behind his hands.

Emmrich laughed jovially. “Did you really need Ms. Gallus to open your eyes? My word, Lace and Taash might win this thing after all.”

“Please stop talking.”

Emmrich gave Rook’s shoulder a gentle squeeze of support. “Oh, don’t despair, Rook. You two still have plenty of time to find each other despite your shared romantic ineptitude.”

“They’ll never find your body.”

“I take that threat very seriously, Mr. De Riva.” Emmrich was trying hard not to laugh. “Fortunately, we Mortalitasi have many sophisticated methods of locating and recovering corpses. My colleagues will have no trouble finding my remains.”

“Not helping.”

“Since you seem unable to move at the moment, I could have Manfred fetch you something. Perhaps a snack? Some coffee? I know Lucanis could brew some just to your liking.”

“I think I’d rather die.”

“You’ve picked a very convenient place to die, then. I could arrange quite the suitable funeral.”

“Thanks.”

Emmrich gave Rook a pat on the shoulder. “I’ll give you some time to think, my friend. In the meantime, I’m feeling a bit peckish myself.” He made his way to the door, then called back as he closed it. “If you have any more data about Spite to report, you know where to find me.”

Rook heard the door shut behind him, and Rook finally looked up. He made eye contact with Manfred, who let out a gleeful hiss. “At least you can’t make fun of me, right Manfred?”

Manfred didn’t have any lips, but Rook swore he was smiling more than usual.

Chapter Text

Illario knelt before Lucanis, wounded and exhausted from their fight. “What are you waiting for, cousin? Finish what you start,” he panted.

Lucanis said nothing. Caterina emerged from the shadows behind the stage. “Lucanis!” she called.

Without moving his blade, he turned and saw the First Talon slowly making her way to her grandchildren.

“Caterina!” Illario cried in false relief. “Thank the-.”

“Silence” she snapped. He obliged, as did the rest of Crows. Glowering, she stood facing the Demon of Vyrantium and the protege that betrayed her. The room fell deadly silent. Caterina’s expression softened as she spoke again. “Illario…I’m almost proud of you.”

Lucanis gave her a bewildered look and his rapier wavered. “Grandmother!” he protested.

Caterina ignored him. “You would have made a fine First Talon,” she sighed, brushing his cheek with a finger, “had you not betrayed us to Tevinter.”

“Caterina, I-”

Her voice was full of disappointment. “All those years of training and raising you as son, and this is how you repay me? Tsk tsk. What a waste. If only you had Lucanis’s loyalty, and he, your ambition.” Illario swallowed hard and averted his gaze. Lucanis tightened his grip on his blade. “A house divided against itself cannot stand. I’m sorry, my boy,” she said bitterly. She knelt down and kissed her grandson’s cheek gently. Then she stood and nodded to Lucanis.

Illario looked up and Lucanis glared into his cousin’s eyes. A single tear ran down Illario’s face and his lip quivered. Lucanis closed his eyes.

Illario’s body hit the floor and blood oozed from his throat. Lucanis flicked a few drops of blood from his blade and sheathed it in a single action. Two nearby Crows hauled the corpse off the stage, and two more got to work cleaning up the mess.

Caterina stood in front of Lucanis and cradled his face in her hand. “I’m sorry you had to do that, mijo.”

Lucanis smiled back weakly. “I’m just glad you’re safe.”

“I knew you wouldn’t fail me.” She gently patted his cheek and withdrew her hand. She now turned to Rook, who had been silently standing by Lucanis’s side the whole time. Her tone became much more official. “Emilio De Riva, I was right to entrust you with bringing Lucanis back to me, it seems. You are a credit to your house, despite your previous…ah…missteps. You have my gratitude.”

“Thank you, First Talon,” Rook replied, internally wincing at her use of his first name.

“Take good care of him for me,” she added, quiet enough to not broadcast to the entire opera house. “I was worried he would ignore his suitors for his entire life.”

Lucanis and Rook looked at each other, blushing. “Yes ma’am,” Rook replied.

Caterina laughed, pinched Rook’s cheek, and looked at Lucanis. “You have good taste, my boy.”

Rook laughed nervously despite his usual bashfulness on the topic of his romantic pursuits. He was worried Caterina might disapprove of their relationship, so he was relieved. Nearby, Neve could be heard snickering.

“Grandmother, please.” Lucanis blushed harder.

She smiled at Lucanis a final time, and then returned to business. “Viago, Teia, Emilio,” she called. Viago and Teia immediately came forward. “You three will prepare reports on what has happened in my absence.”

They nodded together.

She now spoke loud enough that her voice echoed throughout the opera house. “Tonight, however, we must celebrate!”

The Crows cheered. The First Talon had returned.

“Shall we make a discrete exit?” Lucanis whispered in Rook’s ear after roughly half an hour of socializing.

“Are you sure?” Rook replied, turning to face him. “I’m ready if you are,” he added quickly.

“Hmmmm…I have other plans for the evening,” Lucanis purred. He tilted his head in the direction of a nearby doorway.

Rook raised an eyebrow in surprise. “You do?”

Lucanis grabbed Rook’s hand. Rook’s heart skipped a beat. He set down his champagne flute on the table he was standing at. “Follow me,” bade him.

Rook let Lucanis lead the way. He led them down a few hallways, eventually arriving at one of the many beautiful gardens around the Dellamorte Estate. “Where are we going?” he asked.

Lucanis turned to look back at Rook. “Be patient.”

Rook loved that smile. They went down a gravel path that cut through a perfectly manicured lawn ringed with immaculate topiaries and arrived at a broad set of stone stairs leading down to the canals. A gondola was waiting for them in the water, with a gondolier at the stern. “How romantic,” Rook joked.

“Don’t push your luck.” Lucanis held his hand out to help Rook into the boat.

Rook gave him a playful smirk. “Do you know how many of these boats I've jumped into over the years as a Crow?”

“Do you want to get left behind?” Rook took his hand and stepped into the boat. Lucanis followed and sat down to his left. “You’re lucky I like you.”

Rook felt the gondolier push off from the dock. “You do?” he said in a mocking tone.

“It would be so easy to just kill you and dump your body in the canal right now, you know that?” He reached down into the basket and retrieved two wine glasses and a bottle. He handed a glass to Rook and gave him a generous pour.

“And yet you don’t,” Rook said, taking a sip. It was good wine; An Orlesian red. Not too dry, and just the right acidity. Low in tannins, but just enough to give it character. Lucanis picked the precise wine he would have liked. However, the mere thought of Orlais reminded him.of how bad things were getting in the South. Rook’s expression must’ve changed, however briefly. Lucanis took a sip from his glass as if to confirm that the wine wasn’t responsible. He seemed pleased, then asked, “is everything okay?”

Rook took another sip. “It’s nothing.” Lucanis didn’t seem to take that answer. Rook looked into his glass and swirled it. “Thinking about the South.”

Lucanis nodded in silent understanding.

“I feel so useless every time I read Lavellan’s reports,” he continued. “Each time a letter arrives, I’m afraid it's from her. I read them anyway, though. I have to remember what I’m fighting for.”

Lucanis put his right hand on Rook’s thigh and gave a sympathetic squeeze. “What we’re fighting for.” Rook looked back into Lucanis’s eyes. “You’re not alone. We’re right beside you.”

Rook looked back into his wine. “Thank you, but…” Rook struggled to find the words. “I don’t know if I deserve the responsibility. Why me?”

The two of them thought for a few moments before Lucanis offered the only answer he could think of. “Who else?” he said, barely above a whisper.

Rook just sipped more wine. Finally, he broke the silence. “Sorry for ruining the moment.”

Lucanis gave Rook’s thigh another squeeze. “It’s not ruined as long as it’s with you.”

“Unoriginal,” Rook chuckled, “but smooth.”

“You’ve seen me without my shirt,” Lucanis said, trying not to laugh. “You know I’m nothing of the sort.”

“Maybe you should show me to jog my memory.”

Lucanis let out a single, sharp laugh. He smiled and drank some more wine. “How did I get so lucky to end up with you?”

“You think you’re the lucky one?” Rook asked. “I get to go on a romantic cruise through Treviso with the deadliest man in Antiva.”

“Thanks, Rook. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

“Well, you might still be stuck in the Ossuary.” Lucanis’s expression darkened. “Sorry. I did it again.” Rook mentally kicked himself for bringing it up.

Lucanis sighed and pulled his hand away from Rook’s thigh. “I don’t think I can ever thank you enough for breaking me out of there,” he said, staring into his wine glass. A second later, he added, “Us.”

Rook looked concerned. “Spite’s here too?”

Lucanis grimaced briefly, then his eyes glowed a faint purple. “Thank you Rook,” Spite purred through Lucanis’s Lips. “You freed us from the Ossuary. Helped us get revenge. On Zara. On Illario. I will kill Ghilan’nain and Elgar’nan for you. Our contract will be upheld.” Lucanis’s eyes returned to the soft brown Rook was familiar with.

“Well, that’s new,” he quipped.

Lucanis gave a gentle, rueful laugh. “He’s much easier to live with now, no thanks to you.” He looked sad again. “Another debt I could never repay.” 

Rook twisted to face Lucanis, his heart pounding. “I know how you can settle your debts.” Rook’s voice was low and gravely.

Lucanis looked to meet Rook’s gaze. “Tell me,” he whispered, leaning close.

The distance between their lips began to close. “Kiss me,” Rook breathed.

“I thought you’d never ask.”

The moon was full and high in the sky. Though the Dellamorte Estates had faded from view, the sound of the party could still be heard. The city of Treviso bustled around their gondola, and the water gently lapped at the hull. A nearby cafe, filled with couples, emanated sickeningly saccharine music. The gondolier that Lucanis had fetched on such short notice was grinning, though the two Crows in her boat were too preoccupied to notice.

Their lips finally met, and a pair of spectral wings sprouted from Lucanis’s back. He could feel Rook smiling slightly against his mouth, but neither one pulled away. Rook kissed him deeper, pushing his tongue past Lucanis’s lips, and gently pulled him closer. Lucanis responded, opening his mouth more and tilting his head slightly to let Rook in.

Rook pulled away and whispered, “don’t move,” into Lucanis’s ear, then went back to kissing him. He gingerly got up from the bench and moved to sit down in Lucanis’s lap. Lucanis was only barely shorter, but he had to tilt his head up significantly. Rook gently ran his right hand through Lucanis’s hair and clutched his back with his left. Lucanis held Rook’s waist with his left hand and put his right on his back.

Lucanis opened his mouth further, and Rook kissed deeper still. Lucanis maneuvered his right hand under Rook’s shirt, gently caressing the bare skin underneath. Rook moaned quietly in response and gripped Lucanis’s back tighter. Subconsciously, he started to grind against Lucanis.

The gondolier coughed awkwardly, and the two Crows remembered they weren't entirely alone. “Sorry,” Rook said sheepishly. He gave Lucanis another kiss, this time painfully modest, and returned to sitting next to him. Both men were now furiously blushing. They clearly wanted more, but the circumstances didn't exactly allow for it.

Lucanis cleared his throat to break the silence, and then reached down for something else in the picnic basket. “I have something for you,” he said, handing a sheathed dagger to Rook

Rook accepted the gift, pulled it out of the plain scabbard, and examined it. The blade was roughly a foot long, and its single cutting edge was a graceful curve optimized for slashing. It had a narrow crossguard styled like crow wings and a crow skull was embossed at the center. The skull had tiny red and purple crystals for eyes, subtly enchanting it with lighting and fire magic. It was expertly constructed from a single piece of black steel, marbled with gray from a forging process that involved repetitive folding of the blade back onto itself to increase its hardness. It made the blade appear otherworldly. The handle was tightly wrapped in high quality black leather, giving it exceptional grip strength. The modest pommel perfectly balanced the blade, making it feel almost weightless.

This was probably the best mageknife a Spellblade could ask for. “Lucanis, I…how did you get this?” was all Rook could think to say.

He grinned ear to ear, clearly pleased with himself. “I know a few talented people.”

Rook leaned in again to kiss Lucanis briefly. “It's perfect.”

“I hope so. I paid very good money for that.”

Rook laughed and kissed Lucanis again. “I love you, Lucanis.”

Lucanis seemed to not know how to respond. His mouth hung open as he struggled to find the words. Finally, he found them. “I love you too.”

Chapter Text

“Lucanis!” Rook cried as the Blight boil holding his partner in place burst, freeing him. Rook surged forward, propelled by a crack of lightning. Lucanis fell forward, but Rook caught him just in time, folding him into a quick embrace despite the circumstances. “I’ve got you.”

Rook smelled of blood, petrichor, and ozone: the familiar scent of battle with darkspawn. Before Lucanis could fully reorient himself, Rook was pulled away, dragged by one of Ghilan’nain’s blight tendrils. Spite gave him wings, and Lucanis reached forward, about to follow.

“Go!” Rook shouted. “I’ll be fine!”

It took every ounce of control in Lucanis's body to keep Spite from launching them forward. [ROOK!] the demon screamed in his ear.

Trust me! Lucanis pleaded. Trust him.

Spite relented, and Lucanis melted into the shadows.

Ghilan’nain cackled in delight, hoisting Rook in front of her by a leg. “Behold your current age! Fragile. Aimless. Lost! ” Rook struggled fruitlessly. Desperate, he threw spectral daggers and blasts of lightning from his hands, but they uselessly bounced off the monstrosity. Another blight tendril pinned his arms to his body. “We are the only beings in this world who can cleanse and control the Blight. Use it to rebuild the old glories. You’ve done naught but destroy them,” she droned. On the periphery of the arena, Lucanis crept up a half-collapsed wall. He clutched the Wolf’s dagger in his hand, hidden behind his cloak to avoid standing out in the darkness. Opposite to himself, Davrin scaled a pile of similar rubble, but the elf made no attempt to hide.

[KILL HER!]

I need an opening.

Spite growled in frustration.

“You and Elgar’nan are trapped in the past, just like Solas!” Rook spat back, trying to keep her attention. He couldn't see Lucanis or Davrin from where he hung, but he had faith they would act. “You had your chance! Each one of you! We don’t owe you a thing.”

Ghilan'nain laughed a cold, cruel laugh.

“Assan!” Davrin shouted. The screech of the young gryphon pierced the air as he descended on Ghilan’nain, raking his talons across her thin, sinewy body. She howled in frustration and turned to face Davrin. The Warden steeled himself, and leaped towards her, bellowing with sword in hand.

Ghilan’nain’s hands glowed red. In an instant, a storm of blight tendrils caught Davrin mid-air. “You are not worthy of our new Elvhenan!” She screeched, flinging a hand towards him. More tendrils shot from beneath her and one-by-one, impaled Davrin. Assan screeched and went in for another strike, but Ghilan’nain merely grunted at the impact.

[NOW!]

Time seemed to slow down around Lucanis. His heartbeats felt like minutes apart.

“DAVRIN!” Rook screamed.

The Warden smiled at Rook blood leaking from his lips. “Whatever…it takes.”

Ghilan’nain cackled triumphantly and with a wave of a hand, the tendrils holding up Davrin released.

Spite and Lucanis moved as though one, silently leaping from the pillar he was perched on.

Assan wailed and retreated.

The assassin glided through the air on purple wings and whipped out the Wolf’s dagger.

Davrin’s body disappeared into a pit of blight.

Lucanis’s pushed straight down with his wings and folded them as he dove, blade pointed squarely at Ghilan’nain’s back.

The sky groaned as Elgar’nan’s ritual drew near its completion. The Veil around Tearstone Island was paper thin.

“Behold…”

[KILL]

“...our…”

[HER!]

“...ascension!”

Ghilan’nain never saw them coming. They hit her like a meteor. She uttered a horrific scream of agony, as though hundreds of souls cried out from with. Tentacles splayed everywhere; Rook fell as the ones holding him aloft began to spasm randomly, and he broke his fall with a last-second swirl of wind and lightning. Ghilan'nain’s four arms uselessly tried to grasp her assailant as she fell. Her body slammed against the stone tower floor in a nauseating crunch and the ornate helmet went flying. The blight around her quivered as its mistress lost hold. Lucanis pushed the knife deeper. She wailed and reached out to her brother.

“Ghilan’nain!” Elgar’nan cried from across the tower. “NO!”

Lucanis, anticipating Elgar’nan’s approach, fell back to protect a disoriented Rook with outstretched wings.

The dagger in Ghilan’nain’s back shone a brilliant lyrium blue, and magic pulsed from her as the Veil shuddered. Shakily, she reached up to her brother, struggling to get out her last words: “We had…such plans…Elgar’nan…”

The dead god collapsed to the floor.

The Wolf’s dagger shone brighter, the pulses of magic coming faster and stronger. Elgar’nan averted his eyes, then pointed his now-complete red lyrium dagger at Rook. “YOU!” Rook looked up weakly as Lucanis helped him to his feet despite the magical torrent from Ghilan’nain’s death bearing down on them. “You will regret this!” He turned from the corpse at his feet and disappeared in a flash of lightning.

The energy pouring out of the fade continued to intensity. Emmrich, recently freed from his own blight prison on the periphery, rushed to Lucanis and Rook’s side. “We have to get the dagger away from Ghilan’nain!” his skull echoed. The lights in his eye sockets swayed under the magical onslaught.

“ What? ” Lucanis asked.

“The Veil is being torn open! They must be separated!”

Rook stood all the way up. Strangely, the force on him seemed less than that on his companions. Realization dawned on the three of them, and then he spoke. “It has to be me.”

Lucanis reached up and grabbed Rook’s hand. Rook looked back and saw panic in his eyes. “Don’t leave!” he shouted over the howling wind.

Rook kneeled down and placed a fleeting kiss on Lucanis’s lips. “I’ll be back before you know it.”

Tears flew from Lucanis’s eyes. “Please!” he begged.

“I promise.” Rook winked before turning away, then began to march towards the now blindingly bright corpse of Ghilan’nain. The wind roared in his ears as he struggled forward. Only a foot away, he fell to his knees. He could feel his soul struggling to stay in his body. Every molecule of his being screamed at him to run in the opposite direction. His fingers reached the hilt of the Wolf’s dagger, but he could barely feel it. His nerves were overloading from the raw magic spewing forth from the wound in reality. Somehow, he grabbed the knife with the last of his strength and yanked it from the dead god.

A blast of light from the dagger threatened to burn Lucanis’s retinas. When he finally looked back, Rook had disappeared. “Rook?” he whispered. The panic in his voice was unmistakable.

“Lucanis?” Rook’s disembodied voice echoed around then.

Lucanis’s blood turned to ice. His eyes glowed a gentle purple. [“ROOK!”] He and Spite shouted back, desperately searching the area with their eyes.

“Lucanis!” Rook shouted, his voice drenched in terror.

They ran to the place where Rook disappeared. “I’m here!” Lucanis shouted.

“Lucanis, we can’t stay here any longer,” Emmrich pleaded.

They seemed not to have heard the Lich at all. They fell to their knees. [“ROOK!”] they shouted again.

“ LUCANIS! ”

He turned around to look at Emmrich, tears streaming from his eyes. “Help him,” he begged. Emmrich didn’t know what to say. “Please, Emmrich…”

A tear in the Veil opened behind Lucanis, and out stepped Fen’harel, lyrium dagger in hand. In less than a heartbeat, Lucanis was overjoyed to see the rift, confused when Rook didn’t step out, then consumed by white-hot hatred when he recognized the Dread Wolf.

Spite’s wings spread to full wingspan, and Lucanis’s eyes blazed a brilliant purple. Waves of necrotic energy rolled off of him, powerful enough that - despite the distance between them - Emmrich had to throw up a hasty ward. [“YOU”] they shouted, drawing their rapier and leveling it at the trickster god’s throat. [“GIVE HIM BACK!”]

Fen’harel seemed to not even notice the demonic fury pointed at him. He even had the nerve to look remorseful. “I am sorry for taking your love from you.” He couldn’t meet Lucanis’s eyes. “Switching places was the only way I could escape my prison. Rest easy knowing that you will be reunited when the Veil falls.”

[“LIAR!”] they bellowed. The necrotic aura seemed to leech the very color from their surroundings. Tears traced black lines down their face. [“WE HAVE KILLED GHILAN’NAIN! NOW YOU!”] In a flash, Lucanis’s rapier pierced Fen'harel wards. The god was only able to barely deflect the strike from its true target. A line of red blossomed across his chest.

The god looked genuinely shocked for a fraction of a second, then a sly smile crossed his face. A quick spell froze Lucanis’s body in place. “I underestimated you.” His gaze hardened. “I will not do so again.”

[“GIVE. ROOK. BACK!”] Their rage was oppressive. Emmrich had to keep dialing up the strength of his wards.

“I cannot. Rook is too much of a threat to my plans.” He turned from Lucanis. “He has exceeded expectations, but I can now personally bring an end to this madness.” In a flash, Fen’harel disappeared, and the stasis spell on Lucanis ended.

Spite’s wings dissolved and Lucanis fell to the floor, doubled over and sobbing. Emmrich dropped his wards and cautiously approached Lucanis. He looked up at the Lich, tears streaming from his eyes. “The Veil is thin here, right?” Emmrich’s eyes flickered briefly. “Spite can feel it. We have to try.”

[Help us.] Emmrich was close enough to hear Spite.

“Lucanis…”

“Please. I’m not a mage. I don’t know how.”

[Please!]

“There’s nothing we can do right now.”

“But…”

“I’m sorry.” Lucanis seemed to deflate, at last accepting the reality of the situation.

The rest of the team finally arrived.

“Time to go!” Taash shouted. “Antaam’re right on top of us!”

“What happened?” Harding asked, surveying the battlefield. “Where’s Davrin? Rook?”

Neve looked at Lucanis’s wet face and bloodshot eyes. “Shit.” Then she made eye contact with Emmrich. “What happened?”

Emmrich answered plainly while helping Lucanis to his feet. “Ghilan'nain killed Davrin. Lucanis killed Ghilan’nain. Solas broke out of his Fade prison and Rook took his place. Solas has the dagger now.”

“No!” Harding covered her mouth in shock.

“Worry about them later. We need to get out of here. Now, ” Taash barked. Their eyes scanned the horizon. “Assan!” They called. The young gryphon quietly alighted next to them.

Emmrich nodded in agreement, then looked to Harding. “Lace, can you get us off this island?”

Harding blinked as she exited her shock, then began to march towards the edge of the tower. “I already scouted an escape route on our way in, but it’ll be risky no matter what. There’s Antaam everywhere. Emmrich, Neve, we’ll need illusions.” The mages nodded. “Let’s move.”

The remaining team quickly made their way back down to the beach they arrived on, and piled into the boat. Lucanis didn’t say a word the entire time. Emmrich took note of Spite’s deafening silence despite their proximity. As they pulled away from the shore, all Lucanis could do was stare at the ruined tower in the distance.

Emmrich put a hand on Lucanis’s shoulder. He flinched. “He’s not dead.” The Crow was silent. “We can save him. I know it.”

Lucanis finally spoke, barely above a whisper. “Don’t.”

The rest of the team turned to look. A confused Emmrich withdrew his hand and asked: “I’m sorry?”

“Don't give me hope,” he answered. “Give me a target.”

Emmrich would’ve swallowed nervously if he still had a throat. He couldn't get the mental image of Spite and Lucanis standing up to Fen’harel out of his mind. Even the Dread Wolf himself hadn't predicted the sheer power they wielded. He looked at the others, trying to read their emotions.

Neve was looking only at Lucanis, eyes filled with worry. Besides Rook, she was the closest to Lucanis. She trusted Rook enough that she wasn’t too worried about him. Lucanis was her real concern. Only recently, he opened his heart for the first time in years. Now, it lay in a million pieces on the cold stone floor of an Elvhen ruin.

Taash was trying hard to project strength, but Emmrich could tell they were struggling. They had relied so heavily on Rook for emotional support while navigating their relationship with their mother and heritage. They didn’t want anyone to worry, but they were feeling unmoored.

Harding wiped a tear away. With Varric dead and Rook in the Fade Prison, the rest of the team had instinctively recognized her as next in the chain of command. She was doing well, but felt she couldn't fill the shoes. Her proudest achievement - discovering the legacy of the Titans and mastering their magic - felt like it was half Rook’s.

Assan’s ears had never drooped lower. He and Davrin had been inseparable since his rescue from the Gloom Howler so long ago. The young gryphon was curled up at the bottom of the tiny boat, resting his beak on Lucanis’s feet.

It was dawning on all of them, collectively, that the beating heart of the team had been cut out.

Chapter Text

The Tearstone Island survivors finally stepped through the Lighthouse Eluvian. It should have been a relief to finally be back home safe, but it didn’t feel like home at the moment. There would be three empty beds that night. They gathered awkwardly in the library, unsure of what to say. Assan made a beeline for his nest.

Lucanis didn’t look at anyone. He was the next to leave the room. “I’ll call when dinner is ready.” The sound of his footsteps echoed against the frescoes.

The other four exchanged nervous glances before leaving as well. Neve and Emmrich went to his study while Taash and Harding went to her room.

The moment that Emmrich opened the door to his study, Hezenkoss’s skull began to speak. “So, did-.” Without even lifting a finger, he encased her in a solid block of ice and continued directly to a bookshelf.

Neve crossed the threshold behind him without even glancing at the macabre popsicle in the corner. In a single motion, she removed her fascinator, tossed her scepter on an ottoman, and undid her scarf. She turned to face Emmrich. “What happened up there?” she demanded.

“I already told you,” he answered in an uncharacteristically harsh tone. “Rook and Solas swapped places in the Fade Prison.”

“You know that’s not what I’m asking about,” she shot back, voice rising to meet his. “What. Happened.”

Emmrich ignored the question, apparently still searching for a book. Neve scowled, then snapped her fingers, freezing his feet to the floor. He was undeterred.

“EMMRICH!”

Finally, the Lich spun around, eyes blazing and skeletal fingers tinged with necromantic energy. “What?!”

“Something happened up there that only you, Rook, and Lucanis saw. It scared you, but not Lucanis.”

“We were fighting gods! Davrin died! Is that not enough of an explanation?”

“Don’t lie to me! You’re a Lich for Andraste’s sake. You’re not afraid of death anymore, and you’re certainly not afraid of your friends dying. We’ve already fought gods,” she continued, ”and archdemons. Something else happened . Something to do with Lucanis. I need to know what’s going on with him because Maker knows he won’t tell the rest of us.”

The mages stared into each other’s eyes, daring them to back down. Emmrich’s gaze could’ve seared the flesh off her bones if he wanted it to. Frost was forming on the floor under her feet.

Emmrich relented, and sunk into his armchair. He held his head in one hand. “I don’t know exactly what happened, but I’ve never seen anything like it.” He looked back up at Neve. “They were terrifying.”

Neve moved a nearby footstool and sat down across from him. “ They? ”

“Spite. Lucanis,” he answered. He opened the journal he fetched from the bookshelf. Thumbing through it, he continued: “Over time, they’ve grown more cooperative. I knew they had more potential for growth, but this was something else entirely…”

“You’ve never referred to Lucanis and Spite as they before. Always separate.”

Emmrich nodded solemnly. “It was like they were a single entity, brought together by a unifying motivation.”

“Rook.”

“Yes. I thought they might kill Solas.” Neve raised an eyebrow. “Even he seemed to think it was possible.” She would’ve raised the eyebrow higher if she could.

“Then why didn’t he do anything to them?”

“He felt sorry for taking Rook away.”

“Ugh. Asshole. At least Elgar’nan and Ghlian’nain are having fun.”

Emmrich would’ve smiled if he had lips.

“So,” she started. “What do we do now?”

“We can’t kill Elgar’nan without Solas’s dagger. As much as I hate to say it, we need his help. Now more than ever.”

“What about Rook?”

“I don’t know. That prison held the Evanuris for thousands of years. Then Solas changed places with Elgar’nan and Ghilan’nain. Now he’s swapped again, this time with Rook.”

Neve thought for a moment. “Solas’s regrets. We should check them again for clues about how the prison works.”

“Agreed. Solas is one of the most powerful mages in all existence, but he’s flawed just like the Evanuris. There may be a weakness in the prison’s construction for us to exploit. We may not have the lyrium dagger anymore, but Ghilan’nain’s death has severely weakened the Veil. We have a chance, however small.”

Neve stood up and gathered her things. “Let’s get cracking.” She stopped right in front of the door, then turned back, pointing at the ice block. “You may want to take care of that before it makes a mess.”

“Oh, yes. Thank you.” He waved a hand and the ice dissipated. The door swung shut behind her.

“That was very entertaining, Volkarin.”

“Oh, shove it Johanna.”

“Feisty today, are we? Now, tell me, how much of this mess is your fault? Details, please.”

“Don’t you have anything better to do?”

Hezenkoss cackled. “Why else did you bring me here?”

Emmrich didn’t answer.

Lucanis hadn’t even started cooking yet, and it already felt like it was too much. He was sitting on his cot in the pantry, trying to focus on putting together a meal. He couldn’t stop thinking about Tearstone Island. He looked back up at the shelves of ingredients in an attempt to think about dinner. Instead, he saw his other self standing in the corner.

[We will find him.]

“How?”

[He promised us. Rook never lies to us.]

Lucanis said nothing.

[Have you given up?]

“No, but-”

[Then why?] No response came. [We have a contract. You don’t break contracts.]

Silence again.

[If you won’t find him, I will. No coffee tonight.] The demon disappeared from his sight. Somehow, the conversation made him feel better. Spite was determined to get Rook back, even if Lucanis couldn’t give his all right now.

An hour later, dinner was ready. He had prepared roasted fish and potatoes with herbs and a lemon white wine sauce. A side of sauteed sprouts was provided as well as some bread with a dish of olive oil and some butter. A simple pomegranate tart was in the oven now, hopefully ready not long after they had finished eating.

Lucanis liked being able to work with his hands; it brought him clarity and purpose. He felt so useless in the hours since Rook’s disappearance. Now, he could see, smell, and taste the results of his work right in front of him. It helped him feel more real. The feeling was bittersweet, though. It meant the loss was real too. The three empty chairs at the table seemed to stare back at him as he set the table.

Keep moving.

He went to summon the others for dinner. He knocked on Neve’s door first as her room was closest to the dining room. He didn’t hear her inside, so he pushed the door open and didn't see her. He shrugged, shut the door, and instinctively went to Davrin’s abode. He knocked, then realized what he was doing. His heart sank, but then he heard a quiet squawk from inside. He apprehensively went inside, and found Assan curled up on the bed, looking at him mournfully. Lucanis approached the gryphon carefully. Assan raised his head, and Lucanis gently patted it. Assn cooed quietly, then got up and sat down on his hindlegs at the edge of the bed, looking up expectantly at Lucanis.

He sat down next to him, and the gryphon nuzzled up against him. Lucanis got misty-eyed at the display of affection. He could feel Assan’s warmth through his shirt and waistcoat. He scratched Assan behind the ears and under the beak. Assan trilled happily. Lucanis realized that Spite’s wings had sprouted, and one had moved to embrace Assan.The gryphon didn’t seem to mind. “I’m here for you, boy,” Lucanis whispered. He leaned down and kissed the top of Assan’s feathered head. Before realizing that he wasn’t sure what dinner for Assan even was, he said, “come. It's time for dinner.”

Assan perked up at the word and let out another squawk. Lucanis laughed gently as Assan jumped off the bed and made a beeline for one of the cabinets in the room. He started pawing at the door, but the handle didn’t yield. Lucanis got up and went to take a look. The cabinet had been locked. He looked down at Assan.

He squawked again, turning his head to the side like cats tend to. His large and dangly ears flopped over. “Do you know where the key is?” Assan plodded over to Davrin’s desk and pulled a drawer open with his beak. Inside was a simple iron key. Lucanis retrieved it, then unlocked the cabinet. Inside he found a crate of eggs and a bag of what looked like mushrooms.

There was also a note on top of the crate. Lucanis picked it up and read it.

If you’re reading this, then I can no longer take care of Assan. The bag of gingerwort truffles is for special occasions only . Eggs are just about the only thing good for him that can be kept off ice. Take him out to Arlathan forest each morning and night so he can hunt for food. He needs lots of exercise. Ask the other wardens for help if you need it.

In war, victory. In peace, vigilance. In death, sacrifice. - Davrin

A single tear fell and hit the page. Assan managed to shove his head between Lucanis’s legs and started trying to get at the bag of truffles. Lucanis wiped his face, put the note down, and helped Assan get a single truffle. “We’ll go out soon, okay?” He knelt down, and he and Spite gave Assan a quick feathered hug as he scarfed down the truffle. Lucanis locked the cabinet and returned to the courtyard.

Taash and Harding had just left the library and were making their way to the dining room when they spotted Lucanis walking down the steps from Assan’s room. Taash gave Lucanis their usual nod and “hey.”

“Dinner’s ready,” he replied flatly. Taash looked at the door Lucanis just came from, then back to him. “I thought Assan might need something to eat too.”

“What’s he eat anyway?” they asked.

“Davrin left a note behind. They would go hunting in Arlathan together.”

Taash frowned. “Makes sense.”

“You okay, Lucanis?” Harding finally piped up.

“Better. Thanks, Lace.” He looked back towards the library. “I’ll find Emmrich and Neve.”

“Yeah,” Taash replied.

The two of them opened the door to the dining room. “Smells good as always, Lucanis!” Harding called back behind her.

Lucanis smiled. When he reached the door to Emmrich’s study, it was already ajar. He walked right inside to see Neve and Emmrich sitting next to each other at the desk with a collection of books, loose papers, and wolf statuettes strewn about. He stood there, simply watching the two mages for a few moments.

Hezenkoss’s skull glowed as she spoke up. “Vol-kar-in!” she called out in a mocking, sing-song voice. “You have a vi-si-torrrrrrr!”

Neve and Emmrich both looked up from their work. “Am I interrupting?” Lucanis asked.

“Not at all, Lucanis. Dinner is ready, I assume?” Emmrich asked as he set aside the book he was rifling through.

“Yes.” He looked at Neve. “I thought I’d find you here, too.”

She was still scanning a scroll for something. “Emmrich and I have been doing some light reading.” She set a spare book down in the middle to keep her place, then got up.

“What’re you reading about?” Lucanis ventured, even though he already knew the answer.

“We’ll talk over dinner,” she replied. She gave him a kind smile and a pat on the arm as she passed. “Thanks for cooking.”

“Of course.” Lucanis looked back at the Lich. “Will you be joining us?”

Emmrich was already making his way to the door as well. He was holding two small books, a pen, and an inkwell. “Your cooking always smells wonderful. It’s nice to share a meal with friends, even if I can’t fully partake,” he explained, and strode from the room.

Lucanis looked back into the room. “How about you?” he half-jokingly asked Hezenkoss.

“Ugh, you think I want to listen to you lot talk about love and friendship for over an hour? Pass.” Lucanis laughed harder than he expected, then left.

Back in the dining room, the other three had already tucked in and started eating by the time Lucanis had arrived.  Emmrich was reading from one of his books and taking notes in the other while talking with Neve about their research. Taash and Harding sat close to each other, discussing fresh scouting reports from the Tearstone Island area. Assan was dozing by the fire. Lucanis felt just a bit warmer. He sat down and began to eat.

Emmrich let him get a few bites in before roping him into his and Neve’s conversation. “So,” he started. Lucanis looked at the lich. “Neve and I have been researching the Fade prison.”

“I thought so.” He took another bite of fish.

“Right.” Emmrich made a sound to imitate clearing his throat. He was getting better at that. “We looked through the memory that showed him imprisoning the Evanuris and putting up the Veil, and found something we missed upon our first viewing: the prison feeds on the regret of its captors.”

Lucanis swallowed a piece of potato pointedly.

Emmrich’s magical eyes dimmed slightly. “Regret is an extremely powerful emotion, and just as difficult to overcome. Strong enough, it seems, to have bound some of the most powerful beings in all of Thedas for thousands of years. Even the Tevinter Magisters of old were unable to properly enter the prison despite their extreme efforts to do so.”

Lucanis stabbed a sprout and raised it to his mouth. “Is this supposed to make me feel better? Because it’s not working.”

Emmrich’s eyes flickered. “Sorry.”

“What Emmrich’s trying to say is,” Neve interjected, “that the prison was built specifically to hold seven powerful egomaniacs with the emotional maturity of children. Does that sound like Rook?”

Despite the subject, Lucanis could barely help from smiling. “Depending on how he did in battle that day, yes.”

Taash snickered, and Harding elbowed them hard. “What? It was funny.” Harding glared, and Taash shrugged.

Lucanis looked back at Neve, who was grinning slightly. “Fair enough.” Her expression turned serious again. “Rook’s not the kind of guy to let his regrets imprison him forever.”

Emmrich rejoined the conversation. “Additionally, before Elgar’nan and Ghilan’nain escaped, Solas said that the prison had been weakening over the millenia. It’s intrinsically linked to the Veil, which has been in a sorry state these last few months. Even more so, now that Ghilan’nain is dead.”

“The stunt they pulled with that artificial eclipse put a massive strain on the Veil, too,” Neve said.

“Do we just go back to the island and pull ‘em out of a rift?” Taash asked bluntly.

Neve and Emmrich exchanged glances briefly, as though they had a quick silent conversation. Neve spoke first. “The prison can be accessed from anywhere in Thedas. The Evanuris escaped in Arlathan, but Rook entered from Tearstone Island.”

Emmrich finished the thought. “Anywhere that the Veil is significantly thinned would be a good place to try. The ritual site would therefore be an ideal location. Like I said, Ghilan’nain’s death severely weakened the Veil, but the effect would be most pronounced there.”

“I have sources near to Tearstone Island that say the place is still swimming in Fade rifts,” Harding added. “The Antaam fled not long after we did, chased off by demons. It’ll be dangerous, but not as bad as it was today.”

“They used an eclipse to make their new dagger, right? Anything like that coming up we could take advantage of?” Taash speculated.

“Good idea. I’ll look into it,” Neve said.

“Where’s Elgar’nan?” Lucanis asked.

“Too early to tell,” Harding replied dejectedly. “He could be just about anywhere. He has his dagger, so he could strike at any time, too.”

“Then why hasn’t the world ended yet?” Taash asked.

Emmrich answered now: “Elgar’nan doesn't share his sister’s mastery of the taint. He may be powerful, but he can’t drown the world in the Blight like she could. Though it came at high cost, Ghilan’nain’s death bought us a lot of time.”

“Davrin didn’t die in vain,” Lucanis muttered.

And neither did Bellara or Rook. Nobody said those words, but they haunted the room, even if they didn’t know the fate of their missing companions.

“So,” Taash broke the brief silence. “What’s the plan?”

Harding spoke up. “I’ll keep in contact with my sources to monitor the situation on Tearstone Island. We need to make sure we know what we’re dealing with when we go back for Rook. Neve and Emmrich, research everything you can about Solas’s prison. The Veil Jumpers might be able to help with that. Taash, see if you can get any pull with the Lords in regard to magical artifacts. We’ll need assistance piercing the Veil. Lucanis, we’ll need the Crow’s resources to watch the Venatori and Antaam.” She took a breath. “Anything to add?”

Lucanis’s eyes glowed purple. [“We will bring Rook back.”]

“Yes, Spite. We will,” Emmrich assured him. Lucanis’s eyes returned to normal.

“Excuse me?” Taash asked Lucanis.

“Spite has become much less combative lately,” Emmrich supplied.

Taash looked at Lucanis with concern. Lucanis ate another piece of potato nonchalantly. “If he tries to leave through the Eluvian tonight, don’t stop him. He has my permission.”

Harding leaned forward, concerned. “Lucanis, he’s a demon! You can’t trust him.”

Lucanis set down his fork. “Spite’s not like that anymore. We’ve reached…an agreement, of sorts.” Harding began to protest, but he held his hand up. “Do you trust me?”

“Yes, but-” she started.

“And I trust Spite.”

Harding obviously wanted to say more, but she decided to save it for later. “I still don't like this...” she muttered.

“Thank you, Lace,” he smiled weakly. Then his eyes widened suddenly. “ Mierda ,” he muttered, and ran to the stove. He threw the oven door open, and breathed a sigh of relief.

“Dessert isn't ruined?” Taash asked.

“No, thankfully.” Taash pumped their fist as Lucanis set the tart on the table. “Let it cool first. It hasn’t set yet.”

“Boo,” they said back.

“You’re ridiculous, you know that Taash?” Harding joked.

Taash wiggled their eyebrows back at her. “You like that though.”

Harding laughed. “Yeah…”

Lucanis knelt down next to Assan to give him scritches. “I have to take him out to Arlathan for dinner,” he announced.

Neve thought of going with Lucanis, but decided against it. She was too tired to think about anything other than getting some sleep.

“Let’s go,” he said to Assan. The gryphon trilled in disappointment as Lucanis’s scritches were withdrawn. He got up and stretched like a cat before bounding out of the room, Lucanis following behind at a leisurely pace.

As soon she was sure Lucanis was out of earshot, Harding turned to Emmrich. “You can't honestly tell me you're just okay with Lucanis giving in to Spite, right?”

“Lace, I understand your concern, but we need to give Lucanis some grace right now.”

Harding could hardly believe her ears. “Are you even listening to yourself? How is letting Spite run wild ‘giving Lucanis grace?’”

“I’m with her,” Taash added. “Demons are nasty business. I don't trust Spite.”

Emmrich got up and walked to the two of them, holding out his Spite journal. “I've been collecting data on Spite from the moment I met them. Their situation is unique and continues to change.” He dropped the simple leather book on the table for them to examine. “It's hard to put into words, but this isn't your average possession. Spite has been changing over time. I can hear him when I’m near Lucanis. I trust Spite. So does Lucanis, and so did Rook.”

Harding gave Emmrich a suspicious look, and then started to skin the journal. Taash leaned over to get a look as well. After a minute or so, she closed it and took a deep breath. “Fine. If you say it okay, then I believe you. I’m not going to pretend that I’m all on board with this. I really don't like abominations, especially not after what Varric told me about the Kirkwall Chantry. Keep a close eye on Spite, for all of us.”

“Naturally,” Emmrich replied. Then he turned to Taash. “Anything for you to add?”

They had grabbed the Spite journal once Harding set it down and were reading one page very intently. “Holy shit.” They looked up at Emmrich. “Is Spite in love with Rook?”

“What?! Give me that!” Harding exclaimed. Taash handed it to her and she quickly read the relevant entries, eyes widening as realization dawned. “Andraste, save us. A demon in love with a human?” She put the journal down and held her head in her hands.

“Damn,” Taash said. “No wonder we lost that bet.”

“No kidding,” Harding muttered.

Emmrich laughed. “Thank you for that, by the way.” He magically pulled the journal off the floor and back into his hands.

Harding composed herself and looked back at Emmrich. “Well, I guess I feel better about trusting Spite now.”

“I’m more than happy to be of assistance, Lace.”

Chapter Text

Lucanis and Assan walked back through the Lighthouse Eluvian after some time of hunting in Arlathan Forest. Lucanis was already tired before going out, but now he was downright sluggish. It felt like one of the longest days of his life, second only to the day he arrived in the Ossuary.

He trudged up the library stairs and made his way across the courtyard to the kitchen. He grabbed himself a humble slice of the tart he made earlier and ate it, alone. Once finished, he put a silver dome over the rest to keep it fresh, then went to wash his plate and fork. He was about to start boiling water to make coffee when Spite appeared next to him. [No coffee.]

Lucanis had completely forgotten the promise he made to the demon. Making coffee when tired was just a reflex at this point. “Okay.” He put the kettle away and went to his makeshift bed in the pantry. He laid down, and found himself unable to drift off despite his exhaustion and lack of caffeine.

[Sleep,] Spite demanded.

“I can’t,” Lucanis complained.

[Why not?]

“I don’t know.” Lucanis always had difficulty falling and staying asleep, even in circumstances such as these. It could be nerves from letting Spite take over while he slept, worrying about Rook, or a hundred other things. Whatever it was, he wasn’t going to fall asleep like this.

[Figure it out.] Spite disappeared from Lucanis’s vision.

Lucanis sighed and got up from his cot. It was extremely uncomfortable, and that was by design. When he moved in, he needed somewhere to rest that was also difficult to fall asleep in. Spite was much more of an unwelcome guest back then. Now, he was a bit more welcome. He needed somewhere more comfortable to fall asleep. I could take Rook’s bed, just for tonight, he thought. He isn’t using it right now. He tried to make himself laugh with that half-joke, but it only made him sadder.

He quietly made his way back across to the Library and then took the staircase up to the second floor. He stopped at the end of the hallway to Rook’s room, just in front of the door. He felt almost scared to open the door and see nobody inside. His hand rested on the doorknob for a few seconds before he steeled himself and went inside.

He had been in this room more than a couple times with Rook. Initially, the underwater atmosphere reminded him of the Ossuary, which wasn’t pleasant, to say the least. Rook’s presence helped wear down that association to the point that it no longer bothered him. He didn't think about the year he spent in Zara’s hell - he thought about his partner instead. Rook was always so warm and soft, unlike the cold harshness of the prison.

Lucanis walked to the chest of drawers at the foot of the bed, picked up the shaving mirror and looked into it. He and Rook both used it to clean up the lines on their beards, though recently Rook had started letting Lucanis do that for him. It took some convincing, though Lucanis knew Rook was only pretending. Rook didn't offer to return the favor though. The two of them knew Lucanis had an eye for detail and symmetry that Rook didn't.

He put the mirror down and looked at the unkempt bed. The sheets were a soft linen, dyed a muted lavender not unlike traditional Crow garb. The top sheet had been tossed to the side and two pillows were thrown in the vague direction of the headboard. It was the only messy part of the room. Pairs of Rook’s shoes and boots were lined up under the bed near the foot. Clothes were all neatly put away in the chest of drawers and wardrobe.

Lucanis stripped down to his underwear and sat on the bed. He thought back to the last time he was in this bed: right after he gave Rook his new mageknife. They came here after the improvised date and cuddled for a while. Lucanis hadn't felt ready to have sex at the time, so they just laid in their underwear and held each other.

Lucanis didn't know it at the time, but he wouldn't get to cuddle with Rook again for a long time. They were both physically in the Fade, but Rook was sealed away in the Wolf’s prison while Lucanis sat safely in the Wolf’s lighthouse.

Lucanis remembered the last moments they had together at Tearstone Island, replaying them in his head on loop.

“Don’t leave!”

“I’ll be back before you know it.”

“Please!”

“I promise.”

Sadness welled back up in his heart, and Lucanis bent forward, holding his face in his hands. He started crying, then progressed to quiet sobbing. You broke your promise! he thought, then immediately felt guilty for it. The guilt hurt more.

The longing hit him like a charging dragon. He just wanted Rook back, more than anything he had ever wanted in his life. He wanted to see Rook's bright green eyes, the cute little braids he tied back in his hair, the scar on his right brow, and the mischievous grin he got whenever they were joking around. He missed the way his voice sounded when it got low and close to his ear, his goofy cackling laugh. He missed the faint tinge of ozone he could smell in his hair after casting lighting spells all day and the illusory scent of orange blossoms that tried to mask it. He wanted to feel Rook’s strong arms holding him close, the chest hair that gently brushed against his back while they cuddled, the calloused fingers running through his hair, and how their beards mingled when they kissed. He wanted to taste Rook’s lips again. He had never fallen so deeply in love with anyone before.

Lucanis was trying desperately to not make any noise, but he could only do so much. He was gasping to breathe from behind his hand, and his eyes were squeezed shut in an attempt to keep his tear ducts from functioning. He didn't notice that Taash had entered the room until they were standing just a few Qunari paces away from him. “You okay buddy?” they ventured.

Lucanis looked up, face wet with tears. His breathing was shaky and barely under control. He wanted to be okay, but he wasn't. He couldn't open his mouth, so he just shook his head.

Taash sat down to his left and put their right arm around him. “I’m here,” they said.

Lucanis stopped trying to hold his sorrow in. He almost collapsed into Taash’s side, weeping. He wrapped his hands around their torso, holding on tightly for support. Tears flowed freely from his eyes, further soaking into his beard and wetting Taash’s side as a consequence. They sat in silence tracing circles in Lucanis’s back with their hand. He found their Adaari warmth comforting.

Eventually, his breathing normalized, and the tears slowed down. When they felt it was appropriate, Taash spoke again. “Would some humor help?”

Lucanis didn't look up. “Yes,” he answered weakly.

“Mom lied when she told me you guys were scary.”

Lucanis laughed. It was short and shaky, but it was still a genuine laugh. “Thanks, Taash,” he said, still attached to their side.

“Anytime.” Lucanis still didn't move. “Lace is gonna come looking for me eventually, you know,” they added after a couple seconds.

Lucanis peeled himself away from the Qunari and wiped the tears from his eyes. He had stopped crying. “Sorry.”

“Crying alone hurts more than crying on a shoulder. Or into an armpit. Whichever works.”

Lucanis laughed again. Taash had surprised him. He didn't usually think of them as particularly emotionally aware, but they knew exactly what he needed at that moment. “Thank you." He took a deep breath, less shaky now. "I'll be fine.”

Taash stood up and held their arms out. “C’mere.” Lucanis got up and gave them a hug. “It's okay to not be okay,” they said.

“Mhm,” Lucanis grunted in agreement before exiting the hug.

“Now get some sleep. You need it.” Their soft expression dropped, and they took on a more aggressive visage. “Spite. Let him rest for one night before you start with your bullshit, got it?”

Spite spoke through Lucanis. [“He’s too tired to be useful. One night. Then we go out.”]

“Oh.” Taash blinked, apparently surprised that that worked. “Great.”

Lucanis was relieved to hear that Spite was going to leave his body alone for the night. He had been worried about getting poor sleep while Spite was out and about.

Lucanis gave a tired smile. “Good night Taash.”

“Night, bud.” They gave Lucanis a playful punch in the shoulder and left the room.

Lucanis crawled into bed. He softly clapped his hands twice so the magical aquarium lights went out and then pulled a pillow close to cuddle. Finally, he could fall asleep. He closed his eyes, and his exhaustion took over, taking him into a deep sleep.

Lucanis was back in the Ossuary. No, he was outside the Ossuary, looking in through one of the magical walls that held back the water. Inside, Rook sat on the floor, alone. He was bruised and looked exhausted, but otherwise okay. Lucanis started pounding on the wall with his fist. “ROOK!” he shouted, bubbles rising from his mouth.

Rook looked up at him. “Why did you leave me?” Lucanis kept hitting the wall. “Why?” he asked again.

“I didn’t want to!” Lucanis cried. Cracks started to form in the wall where he was hitting it.

“But you did.”

The wall shattered and water poured into the room, taking Lucanis with it. The water stopped. Coughing, he got to his hands and knees and opened his eyes. He was now in the Casa Dellamorte opera house. He was kneeling next to the corpse of Illario, with blood flowing from the slit Lucanis put in his neck. Lucanis gasped and jumped back.

“She always loved you more than me,” the body said.

Lucanis scrambled backwards, away from Illario. “That’s not true!” he cried.

“You know it is,” Illario replied flatly.

“No, it’s-” Lucanis started to say as he stood up, but he couldn’t finish the sentence. His shoulders slumped. “I’m sorry, Illario,” he finished.

“How disappointing,” Caterina said from behind Lucanis. He turned around to face her. “What a waste,” she tutted.

“Caterina!” Lucanis balled his fists. “Why, Grandmother? Why? ” he demanded.

“He was no longer useful to me,” she replied plainly.

“That’s it?!” he shouted. “He was your grandson, my cousin…no…my brother! You drove him to it!”

“Another disappointment, I see.” Before he could react, she buried a knife in his heart. Lucanis collapsed forward. Instead of hitting the stone floor beneath him, he fell into a void. Instinctively, he reached out to Spite with his mind, begging for wings.

“Spite!” he shouted in desperation. There was no response.

He reached out and was now hanging from the ledge of a crumbling Elvhen ruin. He grabbed on with his other hand and tried to pull himself up. Suddenly, pain shot through his right hand and it let go. He looked up and saw that it was Fen’harel who had stepped on his hand. “You cannot bring Rook out of that prison. He is too dangerous.”

“I’ll kill you before letting him spend another second in there!” Lucanis spat back. He pulled the Lyrium dagger from his belt with his free hand and stabbed it into Fen’harel’s foot.

The stabbing didn’t seem to register on The Betrayer’s face. “Do not resist,” he said. His face communicated sorrow. “I will deliver you both from Elgar’nan.”

“Liar!”

“I’m sorry you do not see my vision.” Fen’harel pried Lucanis’s fingers off the dagger and pulled it from his foot, then stepped on Lucanis’s other hand. He fell again into the abyss.

“SOLAS!” he screamed as he fell.

He blinked, and some blight tentacles caught him. He was back on Tearstone Island, held in the air above the ritual site. Beneath him were the dead and broken bodies of Bellara and Davrin. Their blank eyes looked back at him.

“You let Ghilan’nain kill me,” Davrin’s body said.

“Why didn’t you try to save us?” Bellara asked.

“I…I couldn’t do anything!” Lucanis protested.

“You didn’t do anything,” his dead friends corrected him. The tentacles let go and he fell into a pit of blight.

His back slammed into a stone table. He was back in the Ossuary, his naked body restrained on an altar. Venatori cultists ringed the room. Blood oozed from a shallow cut on his chest. A demon that radiated purple magic was lashed to another altar nearby. Zara Renata stood at the foot of the altar, staff in hand.

“Please, just stop,” he begged weakly.

Zara raised her staff and began chanting. A burning pain seared his entire body. Blood flowed from his wound faster and formed a magic circle in the air above him. He screamed in agony.

Lucanis bolted upright in bed, clutching his chest. His skin was damp with sweat, and he had kicked the sheet off in his sleep. The pillow he fell asleep holding was laying on the floor next to the bed. Lucanis looked around him, and a pair of large blue feline eyes started back at him. Lucanis jumped slightly. Assan must have snuck in and curled up next to him while he slept without waking him. “Assan?” he asked the eyes.

The gryphon tilted his head. The room was almost pitch-black, but Lucanis could make out the silhouette of Assan curled up on the other side of the bed. “You don’t like being alone either, do you?” Lucanis asked.

Assan blinked back at him, set his head back down on his front talons, and grunted quietly. He didn’t take his eyes off Lucanis. Lucanis flipped his pillow over, grabbed the other off the floor, and pulled the sheet back up. He settled back into his sleeping position and Assan shifted closer to him. They were separated by the top sheet, but Lucanis felt him gently against his back.

Lucanis drifted back to sleep. This time, he didn’t dream of anything.

Chapter Text

Lucanis finally woke back up. Groggily, he reached up with his hands and clapped twice. The aquarium lights gently glowed again, bathing the room in an aquatic blue light. Next to him, Assan chirped in slight annoyance. He had the sleeping habits of a cat and didn’t appreciate the disturbance. Lucanis rolled over and gave him some scratches behind the ears and he huffed in appreciation. Assan still hadn’t opened his eyes. Lucanis wished Assan could purr like a house cat, but he forgave him for his shortcomings a long time ago. Lucanis lay there for a couple minutes, gently petting the gryphon’s head and doing his best to ignore the fact that he needed to get out of bed.

Spite, standing next to Assan’s side of the bed, decided to ruin the cozy morning atmosphere. [You got your night of rest. Now, we work on saving Rook.]

Lucanis straightened up on the bed and nodded. Depending on how long he had been asleep for, Rook had been trapped in the Wolf’s prison for just under a day. One day too many, he thought bitterly.

[Agreed.]

Lucanis had momentarily forgotten that Spite knew his thoughts. “We need to go to Treviso,“ he said as he got up. “The Crows probably already know, but I should still make my formal report.” He went to the wardrobe and picked out his spare change of clothes. He and Rook could share clothes comfortably, but he had these in here just in case he spent the night and needed a fresh change. In just a few moments, he was ready to head out.

He closed the door to Rook’s room behind him, but didn’t let it latch closed so that Assan could come and go as needed. He made his way to the kitchen and quickly made a cup of fresh coffee. He savored it, but drank it quickly still. He had things to do. Though day and night were fuzzy at the Lighthouse, he could tell that it was already approaching midday. He had slept for a long time. He finished the coffee, washed the dishes, and scarfed down a quick breakfast: a slice of bread with cheese and some cured meat and a bite of the leftover tart from the night before. He grabbed his rapier and a couple daggers from their place in the pantry, then went to the Lighthouse Eluvian. He fiddled with the dial, then stepped through it to Treviso.

“Lucanis!” Teia had apparently been waiting for him. She threw her arms around him and squeezed him tightly. “I’m so glad you’re safe.”

“Easy,” he said, and reciprocated gently.

Lucanis looked past her shoulder and saw Viago standing close by. He was clearly trying to appear standoffish, but he couldn’t entirely hide his relief in seeing Lucanis. Lucanis looked up and saw that the sun was just past its zenith.

Teia relented and examined his face closely. “You weren’t hurt badly, were you?”

Lucanis pushed her hands off him. “I’m fine, Teia. I’m fine.”

Viago finally spoke up. “What happened yesterday?”

Teia turned around and glared daggers at him. He held his hands up and made an expression that said What? I’m just doing my job!

Lucanis chuckled. “I assume you read the report from Harding?”

“Yes,” Teia responded. “We wanted to hear from you personally, though.”

“Fair enough,” Lucanis said. “Let’s go inside first, though.”

“Of course,” Viago said.

Once inside, the three Crows sat in a few chairs arranged in a semicircle. Someone had supplied them with coffee at Viago’s request. Lucanis related his account of the events at Tearstone Island.

“I’m sorry about Rook,” Viago whispered when Lucanis had finished.

Teia shot Viago another dirty look. “Davrin and Bellara, too.”

Lucanis nodded. “Thank you.” He thought back to the image of their bodies from his nightmare last night.

“If there’s any way the Crows can help, let us know,” Teia added.

“We expect Elgar’nan to attack Minrathous any minute now.”

“We already have multiple agents embedded there for intelligence gathering,” Viago replied.

“We can spare a few more, though. We have some we can move there now that Tearstone Island doesn’t need direct surveillance,” Teia said.

“Good idea,” Viago followed up.

“Are you aware of any more Venatori activity in Treviso?”

“We’ve been working on flushing them out after the Antaam were driven out. There’s likely a few more cells active here and there, but no major presence since we got rid of Zara’s lot,” Viago said. Nobody said it, but they all thought the same thing: And Illario. “Why do you ask?”

“I need to find as much information on the Wolf’s prison as possible. We need him if we’re going to fight Solas and Elgar’nan.” Viago and Teia nodded in understanding.

Teia spoke up now: “We have a few low-level Venatori agents locked up. We could try to squeeze some information out about them, but they might not know something like that.”

“Agreed,” Viago said. “You’d want someone higher up for that kind of knowledge.”

Teia frowned sympathetically. “We might be a dead end in that department.”

“Thank you, regardless,” Lucanis said. “If you have some mage targets you need the Demon of Vyrantium for, you know how to find me. I won’t have a lot to do while waiting for leads on getting Rook back.”

“Are you sure?” Viago asked.

Teia shot him another withering glare. Viago recoiled and said Am I not allowed to say anything? with his face.

Lucanis chuckled again at their antics. “I need to keep busy,” he explained.

Caterina appeared nearby. “I have a contract for you, Lucanis.” The three of them jumped in their seats. Caterina had managed to sneak up on them.

Lucanis looked at her and his mind flashed back to the nightmare from the night before. “Thank you, grandmother,” he smiled.

She made her way to him and handed him a piece of paper with the details written on it. He skimmed for details. A Venatori cell had been identified, operating out of Treviso in a limited capacity. Caterina wanted their leader captured for interrogation and their hideout swept for intel. “This might help you get Rook back, too. You must go tonight if you want to catch them. We think they are about to leave the city.” She motioned for Lucanis to stand up, and he did so without thinking. She embraced him gently, then pulled back while still holding his hand. “I’m sorry about what happened, my boy.”

Caterina knew exactly how to soften him. “Thank you,” he said again.

“I still have important work to do,” she said to Lucanis before turning to the other two, “as do you.”

“Yes, First Talon,” Viago replied. He and Teia stood up.

Caterina turned and left them. “You heard her. Be ready for your operation,” Teia said to Lucanis once Caterina had walked an appreciable distance. The three Crows finished their cups of coffee, set them down, and then parted ways.

Lucanis spent some of his afternoon in the markets of Treviso, stocking up on provisions for the Lighthouse. Some seafood flash-frozen with simple ice runes, a new bag of high-quality Qunari coffee beans imported from Seheron, some flour and eggs for baking, a handful of fresh vegetables, a few dried herbs to restore the reserves, and a new bottle of Antivan olive oil.

He went back to the Lighthouse, made a quick dinner for the others, then went back to Treviso. This time, he was wearing his Crow operative outfit. The contract tonight was a solo job: infiltration and extraction. The Venatori goons were disposable, but the leader was needed alive for interrogation.

From the Crow base, Lucanis picked his way across the skyline of Treviso as twilight fell. He went on autopilot, instinctively making his way to his target. He was looking for a bookstore near the university district. The bookstore seemed legit, but it was a front operation for the Venatori. They had evaded Crow detection thus far, but their preparations to leave the city had alerted them to their scent.

Lucanis arrived at the location just as the last vestiges of sunlight faded from the sky. From a few rooftops away, he spotted a few people lounging on balconies from the two floors of apartments above the bookstore. They were probably Venatori agents stationed there as lookouts.

The report that Caterina gave him explained that the apartments were the real Venatori base, while the bookstore was merely a front for them to bring goods and agents in and out without making a fuss. The details of the inside were scant, but intel suggested they were looking to leave Treviso that night. The report suggested that the best line of infiltration would be from the rooftop. The piazza to the south was crowded with Trevisans and he would be easily spotted in the light from the streetlamps. Things were complicated by the fact that the bookstore was sandwiched between two streets that emptied into the piazza, making approach from the east and west more conspicuous. He looked at the rooftop from his hiding place across the piazza. He could make out the almost imperceptible outline of two Venatori agents stationed on the rooftop.

Lucanis would have to move in a wide circle around the piazza to approach from the northern rooftops, then dispatch the two guards stationed there before making his way inside. He would have to locate the ringleader, subdue them, and bring them to the rendezvous point nearby so they could be transported back to Crow headquarters for imprisonment. Once the VIP was secured, he could return with more Crows to clean out the rest of the grunts and sweep for intel.

He pictured his plan in his head as he made his way to the north side of the piazza. Once he arrived a few buildings away from the target, he saw Spite perched on a nearby chimney. The demon looked at a nearby gargoyle quizzically. He spread his wings to imitate it. Lucanis suppressed a giggle. Spite’s wings disappeared as he looked at Lucanis. [You haven’t given up on Rook. Good]

Lucanis almost spoke aloud to the demon, then stopped himself. I would never give up on Rook.

[You are determined. So am I. We will claw him back from the Wolf.]

I may need your help here.

[You need only ask.] The demon disappeared from his sight. We fight for Rook, Spite’s voice echoed in his head.

Lucanis pulled two daggers from his belt, one in each hand. His rapier remained stowed in its scabbard across his lower back. He may need to draw it in a duel, but the daggers were better for now. He started to control his breathing more tightly as he prepared to execute his plan. He watched the two Venatori on the roof, waiting for an opening.

They both turned to look down into the piazza. Immediately, Lucanis jumped from where he hid and silently ran across the rooftops. Crow gear had been expertly designed to not make any noise when running at a reasonable speed. The only sound he made was from the air moving around him as he moved. Only a few yards away, the guards stopped leaning over the parapet and Lucanis dove behind a chimney. The guards returned to conversing amongst themselves. Lucanis peered around the corner of the chimney and saw that they were still looking to the south.

Spite appeared to be crouched near the parapet that ringed the bookstore roof. He sniffed the air. [Magic,] he hissed.

Lucanis nodded in understanding. Venatori bases always had enchantments around the perimeter. They were usually rigged to make a loud noise when crossed. Their vertical range was limited, however. The guards weren’t paying very close attention to their surroundings, however. They had no idea the Crows knew about them.

Lucanis made his way back to the building behind him. Thankfully, it was two stories higher than the others. He quickly scaled the side and stepped back maybe ten paces. Wings? he asked. Spite obliged. Lucanis took a deep breath, then sprinted to the edge and jumped. Though Spite’s wings wouldn’t permit true flight, he could glide with them pretty well. He sailed through the air silently, aiming his daggers right for the two guards. He passed straight over the enchantments, folded the wings, and made a rolling landing on the rooftop. He sprung to his feet and slit both of their throats from behind in a single, clean motion.

Neither one had a chance to react. They fell backwards and Lucanis caught them, covering their mouths so that their last gasps couldn’t escape. Spite growled in satisfaction. Once the bodies stopped twitching, he laid them down, wiped the blood from his daggers, and made his way to the rooftop access. [No magic,] Spite confirmed, and Lucanis opened the door.

The Crow intel suggested that the leader was staying in the southeast suite. He crept down the staircase and followed the hallway to the corresponding door. A faint rune glowed on the wood. Dammit.

Lucanis exited back onto the rooftop and looked over the side to see the balcony for the VIP’s suite. It was facing the piazza, so it would be more exposed. The southwest suite also had a balcony overlooking the piazza, and a Venatori agent was lounging on it, alone, and facing to the southwest. Lucanis had to take the risk and enter the southeast suite from the balcony. He pulled out a vial of clear liquid and a cloth. He removed the stopper, soaked the cloth, and put the vial away. He got up on the parapet and swung his legs over the side. He took a deep breath to steel himself, then dropped down. 

Time seemed to slow down. With the cloth in his right hand, he caught the top of the doorway with his left and swung into the room. He almost collided with the VIP, who was standing at a desk with his back to the balcony, Lucanis quietly landed right behind him and shoved the cloth under his nose while he pinned his arms to his side so he couldn’t resist. He tried to scream, but that only made him inhale more of the anesthetic. His limbs grew heavy and he stopped resisting.

Lucanis scooped him up into a bridal carry, grunting with effort. He was significantly taller and heavier than Lucanis. Lucanis approached the door and opened it with one hand while still holding his target. He quickly snuck down the hallway, up the stairs, and exited to the roof. Once there, he quickly crossed the nearby rooftops, then sped up as he left the bookstore behind him. He crossed a few more rooftops before reaching the rendezvous point. He deposited his target in the arms of some waiting Crows. There was a canal with a gondola next door ready to transport them back to HQ. A few more crows wordlessly stood up, and he turned back to face the building he had just exited.

Back at HQ, he greeted Viago, Teia, and Caterina with a report of a flawlessly executed operation. Though their initial intel didn’t suggest so, the VIP was in charge of almost all Venatori operations in Treviso. Cleaning out the base had yielded a veritable treasure trove of intel on the Venatori: reports from other cells in Treviso, orders from higher ups, and piles of artifacts that were about to be smuggled out of the city.

“I knew you could never fail me, Lucanis,” Caterina said after taking a sip of champagne.

“The Demon of Vyrantium yet lives!” Viago cheered.

“It was nothing,” Lucanis insisted. He was feeling incredibly pleased with himself. It had been a while since he had done a Crow job like this, but he hadn’t lost his edge. He didn’t like to show it, but he desperately craved the validation from his peers and the approval of Caterina.

He finished his glass of champagne, poured himself another, and then went out to the balcony to get some air. He looked out onto the Treviso skyline and sipped more from his glass. He felt happy, but it slowly turned melancholy. He couldn’t forget what happened only the day prior.

Viago joined him on the balcony. “You brooding alone as usual?” he asked jokingly as he sauntered up to Lucanis’s right

Lucanis looked at him and tried to hide his feelings.

Viago noticed immediately. “You’re wishing Rook could be here to celebrate with you,” he said softly.

Lucanis sighed. It was hard to hide things from spies and assassins. “Yes.”

Viago turned to lean backwards on the railing and moved his glass to his left hand while putting his right hand on Lucanis’s forearm. Lucanis felt a bit awkward talking to Viago about it because of their history, but he knew Viago was a good friend. “If anyone can bring him back,” Viago said, “It’s you.”

“Thanks Viago.”

“I’ll leave you to it.” Viago patted Lucanis’s arm again sympathetically and returned to the party.

Spite appeared where Viago had just left. [One step closer.]

The Maker himself could not keep me from him.

Spite smiled widely. [It sounds like we have a contract, then]

Though Spite wasn’t physically there, Lucanis offered him his hand. “Yes, we do.”

Spite shook Lucanis’s hand. ["For Rook."]

Chapter Text

“Dammit!” Lucanis growled, slamming his fist into the library table.

“I’m sorry, Lucanis.” Viago clearly wasn't happy to deliver the news.

“You're absolutely sure?”

“If you think you can get something out on him that even our best mages and potion makers couldn’t, be my guest.”

[Let me try,] Spite said excitedly.

“I don't think that’ll help,” Lucanis replied wearily.

Viago raised an eyebrow.

“Sorry.” Lucanus winced in embarrassment. “Spite.”

Viago nodded.

“Thank you, regardless.”

“Of course,” Viago replied.

“Any other leads on the Venatori?” Lucanis asked, even though he already knew the answer.

Viago spent a few seconds trying to formulate his next sentence. “This is probably above their pay grade.”

Lucanis knew Viago was right, even if he didn't want him to me. The Venatori were never going to know how to get Rook out of the Wolf's prison, no matter how badly he hoped they would.

Viago waited for Lucanis to say something, but he didn't. “We’ll keep you updated on any changes.” He took a deep breath. “Lots of Venatori are moving to Minrathous.”

“Elgar’nan.”

Viago nodded solemnly. They both looked awkwardly at each other for a few seconds. “You’ll get him back, Lucanis. I know it.”

“Don't give me false hope,” Lucanis said, voice rising slightly in annoyance. He instantly regretted it.

Viago bristled slightly against Lucanis's frustration. “I’m just trying to help,” he shot back.

Lucanis looked at the floor between his shoes. “Sorry,” he managed to get out.

Viago’s anger dissolved. “If you need anything,” he said, “you know where to find us.”

Viago awkwardly waited to see if Lucanis would say anything else, but he didn't. He turned and descended the staircase to the Eluvian. Before he fully disappeared from Lucanis’s field of view, he stopped and looked back. They made brief eye contact and Viago knew Lucanis wanted to say something. He didn't, and averted his gaze. Viago left.

“I knew I would find you in here,” Neve said casually as she entered the Lighthouse’s bathhouse.

Lucanis jumped slightly. “You know I come in here for some alone time, right?” He bashfully looked up at the ceiling while shifting his legs to a more concealing position.

Neve chuckled. “I managed to sneak up on the Demon of Vyrantium? Impressive.” She slid into the water, sighing in relief. “I thought you might want good news quickly. I also wanted a bath.”

Lucanis’s heart skipped a beat and he looked right at her.

“That sure got your attention.”

“This better be good.” Lucanis was slightly annoyed to have his bath interrupted, but he hung on her every word.

“We have a good date to try and break Rook out. There's a lunar eclipse in two weeks, plus a meteor shower. Best astrological conditions we could hope for.”

Lucanis rested his head back on the edge of the bath and closed his eyes. This was the first piece of good news since Rook’s disappearance. They had been separated for only a week, but it felt like it had been months by now. Lucanis cracked a smile. “You’re sure you can't get us a solar eclipse of our own?”

Neve laughed. “Even if Emmrich could pull that off, he'd never agree to it.”

“I wish he was still mortal. I can't threaten him anymore.” Neve snickered. “Don't tell him I said that.”

“You know he’d laugh too.”

Lucanis smiled, eyes still closed. The two of them sat in silence for a few minutes, enjoying the bath. The water was the perfect temperature. On more than one occasion, he had dozed off in here, lulled to sleep in the warm embrace of the water. Spite seemed to enjoy it, too, since he would always wake up right where he fell asleep.

He raised his hand out of the water and inspected his fingers. They were starting to get wrinkly. He sighed and dropped his hand back below the surface as he closed his eyes again.

“Getting out soon?” Neve asked.

“Mhm,” he grunted to confirm.

“I promise I won’t look,” she said, covering her eyes with her hands.

Lucanis cracked open an eye to peer at her. “You better not.”

Neve smiled from behind her hand. “It’s tempting, believe me.”

Lucanis sighed. “I could never trust you Tevinters.”

“And yet you trust me. Curious.”

“Don’t push it.” He stood up to leave.

“What’s for dinner?” she called as he went to the washroom.

“For you?” he replied just as he was about to close the door, “a vial of poison.”

“Make sure it’s the good stuff. I’d hate to die of cheap poison. That would be undignified.”

Lucanis laughed. “I’ll keep that in mind.” He closed the door behind him, then sat down on the wooden bench.

Spite appeared next to him on the bench, sharing his appearance. Even though he was essentially looking in the mirror, he instinctively averted his gaze out of consideration for the demon. I do look good, though, he thought.

[Two weeks. Then we have Rook again.]

“We can’t know for sure.”

Spite grew agitated. [Are you giving up?]

“No, but-”

[We have a contract. You don’t break contracts.]

“What if we fail?”

Spite didn’t seem to understand. [Why would we fail?]

Lucanis couldn’t stop himself from thinking, I don’t deserve him.

Spite tilted his head, confused even more. [But you do want him, yes?]

Lucanis paused. “Yes.”

[Then bring him back.]

Lucanis smiled weakly. It was hard to argue with Spite. He did want Rook back, more than anything. His fear of failure was always at the back of his mind, threatening to consume him. Spite’s single-minded determination was sometimes frustrating, but it could also help him push past that fear. Rook needed him, and he needed Rook.

He quieted his fear and stared straight ahead at the stone wall. “We will get him back.”

Lucanis didn’t see, but Spite smiled, then disappeared.

Lucanis woke up in Rook’s bed again. As usual, he was on his stomach, propped up on his right side by the pillow under his left. He opened his eyes groggily. Every morning for the past two weeks, despite his attempts to the contrary, he hoped Rook would magically replace his cuddling pillow. Every morning, he was disappointed.

He wasn’t drinking as much coffee anymore since Spite had stopped taking over while he slept, but he still needed a cup in the morning. Assan shifted slightly behind him, preparing for Lucanis to get out of bed. The two of them had been growing closer in the last two weeks. They had both experienced great loss at the same time, and found solace in each other. Every morning after breakfast and every night after dinner, he and Lucanis would go to Arlathan Forest so Assan could hunt. Their morning outings also occasionally included hunting for gingerwort truffles. Assan couldn’t get enough of those things.

Lucanis groaned and rolled out of bed. He forced his limbs to move, and staggered to the coffee station he had set up in the corner. Lucanis had essentially turned Rook’s room into his own by this point. He had brought some furniture from Casa Dellamorte: a wardrobe to store his clothing, two chairs and a coffee table for a small sitting area, and a coffee station that he had some craftsmen custom build for him years ago.

The coffee station was like a miniature kitchen. It was a cabinet constructed of solid walnut. There was a spout fed by a simple earthenware cistern held within the cabinet, as well as a copper plate enchanted with a special rune of magnetism that somehow heated a kettle to boil water. Lucanis didn’t understand it at all, but the artisan’s guild ensured him it was somehow better than a more traditional heat rune. It did perform as advertised, much to his pleasure. The cabinet’s drawers were neat and organized, filled with bags of coffee beans, cups, spoons, saucers, and anything else a coffee fiend could need.

While the water boiled, Lucanis ground some beans and prepared the pour-over brewer. He made the coffee, then sat in a chair and sipped it delicately. The warmth and caffeine slowly pulled him out of his early-morning haze. Assan was still napping in the bed.

Lucanis eventually finished his coffee. He quickly cleaned up the dishes before getting dressed and heading to the kitchen for some breakfast. By the time he returned to the library, Assan was already waiting there for him. Lucanis petted him for a minute, then they both went down the stairs and through the eluvian.

Strife and Irelin were already waiting for him on the other side. “Good. You’re here,” Strife said.

Lucanis didn’t even bother hiding his annoyance. It was too early for anything business related. “Yes?”

“We have some information that might help with getting Rook out of the Fade,” Irelin answered.

Lucanis was no longer annoyed. “What do you have?”

Irelin handed Lucanis a scroll. “Ritual notes we retrieved from some nearby ruins,” she began. “They appear to date back to Solas’s rebellion.”

“We’ve translated them, and they provide some information on how he built the Evanuris’ prison,” Strife added. “Emmrich will know what to do with it.”

Lucanis didn’t even bother to open the scroll and inspect it. It would have entirely gone over his head. “Thank you.”

“Tell him I said hello,” Strife said. “I haven’t seen much of him lately. He’s working too hard.”

Lucanis winced internally. Emmrich and Neve had been working so hard on finding ways to get Rook out of the Wolf’s prison that they had little time for anything else. They spent hours and hours in Emmrich’s room discussing theories, reviewing notes, reading books, and picking through Fen’harel’s memories for any scrap of information they could find. They didn’t discuss the details with the non-mages, but they said they were making good progress. Hopefully this new addition from the Veil Jumpers would help them.

The eclipse was fast approaching, and Elgar’nan was up to something in Minrathous. The Tevinter capital had completely crumbled overnight to the risen god, with only a small resistance spearheaded by Fen’harel and the Shadow Dragons. Crow agents were still able to get information out of the city, but things were looking grim. Neve was beside herself with worry for Dock Town, but she had to keep working on bringing Rook back.

“Is something wrong, Lucanis?” Irelin asked.

Lucanis realized he was just standing there, holding the scroll and lost in thought. He blinked. “Yes, sorry. Just thinking.” He shifted awkwardly. “I’ll bring this to Emmrich.”

Lucanis turned and went back through the Eluvian. He quickly jogged up the stairs to reach Emmrich’s study. He knocked and then entered. Neve and Emmrich were both inside, discussing the mechanics of the ritual they planned to break Rook out.

They both looked up to greet Lucanis. Emmrich was first. “Good morning Lucanis.”

He walked to the desk that the two mages were sitting around and held the scroll out. “Strife sends his regards.”

Neve reached out and took the scroll from Lucanis. “What is it?”

“From Solas’s rebellion, apparently. He said it should help.”

Neve opened the scroll and skimmed for a bit. Her eyes widened as she kept reading. “Maker’s breath, this is exactly what we need.” She passed the scroll to Emmrich.

Emmrich skimmed the scroll as well. Neve kept reading over his shoulder. “My word,” he said as he set it down. “This certainly makes things much easier.”

Neve looked back to Lucanis. “We won’t need nearly as much lyrium now.”

Lucanis didn’t pretend to know anything about how magic worked. “Lyrium?”

“When the Magisters Sidereal pierced the Veil in ancient Tevinter, they used almost all the empire’s lyrium and the blood of thousands of slaves,” Emmrich explained. “We plan to do something similar, though on a much smaller scale. We only need to open the Veil long enough to bring one man out, and the Veil will be significantly weaker for us as well.”

“Where are we sourcing our lyrium from?” Lucanis asked.

“Lace has managed to get some support from Kal-Sharok in that department,” Neve said. “Taash also got the Lords to lend us some artifacts from their vaults that might help.”

Emmrich seemed to be doing some napkin math on a scrap of paper. He looked back up at Lucanis. “We’re going to get Rook back. I know it.”

Lucnais nodded, then remembered he just left Assan alone in Arlathan forest. “Mierda.” He turned to leave the room. “Assan’s still out there, I have to go.”

It was the night before the eclipse. The team had been working overdrive over the last few days. Neve and Emmrich had been locked in the lich’s study for three days straight - double, triple, and quadruple checking their ritual schematics. Taash had been constantly going back and forth with the Lord of Fortune, one by one bringing back various magical artifacts that might help the ritual succeed. Harding had been overseeing the transport of crates full of refined lyrium. Lucanis had been reviewing Crow intelligence reports about the situation in Minrathous. Three weeks of separation from Rook were, hopefully, about to come to a close.

Lucanis was sitting in one of the chairs in Rook’s room, reading one of those Crow reports in his underwear. It was late at night, and his anxiety was keeping him awake. He hadn’t drank much coffee that afternoon at the request of Neve, but he still couldn’t sleep. He couldn’t stop thinking about how things could go wrong with the ritual.

Neve carefully opened the door to the room. “Still awake?” she asked from the doorway. Lucanis looked at her without getting up. She went inside and sat down in the chair across from him. She gently took the report out of his hand. “C’mon Lucanis. You have to get some sleep.”

Lucanis closed his eyes and leaned all the way back in his chair. “Every time I close my eyes, I see him, walking towards Ghilan’nain.” Lucanis looked back at Neve. “What if that was the last time I saw him? What if…?” his voice trailed off, unwilling to finish the thought.

“I don’t know,” Neve said. “We’re doing everything we can. Trust me. It will be enough.”

Lucanis couldn’t bring himself to smile.

Neve stood up. “Please. Get some sleep.” She patted his thigh. “Rook will need you when he’s back.” She left the room.

Lucanis sat in the chair for a few more minutes. Trying, and failing, to think of anything other than Rook. He gave up, and went to bed. Assan chirped in annoyance as Lucanis pulled some of the top sheet out from under him. Lucanis pulled the sheet up over himself and wrapped himself around a pillow. Every night for the past three weeks, he fell asleep, wishing that it were replaced with Rook. He imagined the warmth of Rook’s skin against his, Rook’s body hair mingling with his beard and he lay across his lover’s chest. Their chests rising and falling as their breathing synchronized. Tonight, on the last night he might still hope they could be reunited, the yearning hit harder than usual. A few tears squeezed out of his his eyes, and he gently cried himself to sleep.

Chapter Text

Lucanis was beginning to tire of the demons. Tearstone Island was no longer occupied by the Antaam, but the damage sustained by the Veil meant the place was teeming with the things. Emmrich had spent hours at the site of Ghilan’nain’s death, preparing the ritual that would tear open the Wolf’s prison and finally bring Rook back.

[For Rook!] Spite shouted in Lucanis’s ear as he cut down another demon with his rapier. The blade was gently humming with subtle necrotic energy, empowered by Spite. All day long, they had been cutting down demon after demon while Emmrich carefully completed his work. He, Taash, Harding, and Neve formed a loose protective circle around the Elvhen ruin while Assan patrolled the skies above to alert them to any approaching demons. The Lyrium that had been transported to the ritual site was drawing their attention.

Twilight started to fall, and Assan let loose multiple cries from above. A pack of demons was approaching from the north. Lucanis started to jog in that direction, mentally preparing himself for another skirmish. Today, he was wearing armor designed for more frontline combat. Crows tended to wear more lightweight gear intended for their usual clandestine operations, but he did have heavier gear for such an occasion. It had a reinforced leather breastplate and surprisingly light plate to protect the arms.

When he arrived, he found Neve trying to hold off a pride demon and a small pack of shades. She had most of the shades enveloped in a miniature blizzard and was desperately trying to keep the pride demon from getting to her. A few ice lances were embedded in its abdomen, but it kept advancing towards her.

Lucanis drew a throwing dagger as he sprinted directly at the pride demon. “HEY!” he shouted to grab its attention, then threw a blade as it turned to look. It howled in agony and stumbled black slightly as a dagger sprouted in its forehead. Neve took the opportunity to launch another ice lance, but her movements were clumsy. The ice lange shattered against the demon’s chest and she stumbled backwards from the recoil.

In his peripheral vision, Lucanis could see that Neve’s blizzard dissipated and the shades became active again. Taash and Harding arrived on the scene just in time and started dismantling them. The demon turned back to Neve and Lucanis’s blood boiled with fury. A hazy outline of Spite’s wings manifested. He drew another dagger and threw it at the demon’s head in an attempt to get its attention. The dagger glowed green as it sailed through the air and sunk into its temple, generating a flash of necrotic energy. The demon let loose a guttural screech, then turned to face Lucanis.

Lucanis drew two more daggers from his belt as he sprinted straight for the pride demon, now only a few yards away. It roared and lashed out to him with a whip of lightning. He dove into a roll then got right back up and kept running. Behind him, a tree exploded with a crack of thunder as the whip impacted it then sprung back to the demon’s hand. Lucanis quickly closed the distance that still remained, and the whip became impractical. The demon roared and swung an arm in a wide arc in front of it. Lucanis dropped to avoid the attack and slid between its legs, lashing out at its heels with both daggers. The demon roared in agony and fell forward as its Achilles tendons were severed. Out of nowhere, Taash leaped into the air and brought their axes down on the demon’s neck, cleanly separating it from the body. The demon’s form dissolved into nothing.

Lucanis got up, stowed his daggers, and immediately went over to Neve. He reached out to help her to her feet. “Are you hurt?”

Neve took his hand and pulled herself up, wincing. She was breathing heavily and had a shallow cut on her cheek. She wiped the blood away, saying, “nothing a simple poultice won't fix when this is all over.” She smiled, despite the pain. “Thanks, by the way. For saving my ass.”

“Don’t mention it.”

“What about me?” Taash asked.

“I got it off Neve and set you up,” Lucanis said, smiling.

“He’s right, you know,” Harding added as she jogged over.

“Hey, who’s side are you on here?” Taash protested.

“The correct side,” Lucanis answered.

Taash kicked a rock into a tree. “Do final blows mean nothing?”

“You get the kill credit, I get the ‘saving Neve’ credit.” Lucanis punctuated the phrase with air quotes.

Taash seemed happy with that response. “Good.”

Harding pointed to the sky. “Look,” she said.

The last wisps of twilight had disappeared from the sky, and the moon was tinged reddish brown from Thedas’ shadow. The meteor shower was now visible, with the occasional meteor streaking across the starry sky. It was time to start the ritual.

Everyone seemed to be caught in a trance by the sight above them. “Let’s go,” Neve announced, snapping everyone out of it. Lucanis retrieved his daggers from where the pride demon used to be, then followed the others up to the ritual site.

Emmrich was standing in the middle of the ruins, surrounded by glowing lines of lyrium chalk that traced complex geometric patterns and spelled runic words of power. Candles and chunks of refined Lyrium were dotted around the area, and three especially powerful relics on loan from the Lords of fortune were arranged in a triangular pattern around the primary magic circle. “Keep watch for demons,” he said. “The ritual will further draw their attention. Things could get dangerous.”

Everyone nodded in understanding. Neve took her place at Emmrich’s side while the other three formed a loose perimeter, straining to see in the faint moonlight.

Emmrich raised his staff and Neve placed a hand on his shoulder. She closed her eyes. Emmrich’s etheric eyes blazed brightly, and he slammed the butt of his staff into the stone floor. A gust of wind emanated from him, the candles lit with ghostly blue fire, and the artifacts began to hover. The lyrium chalk blazed brighter and Emmrich began chanting in ancient Elvhen, and the air around them became distorted. 

Lucanis gripped the hilt of his rapier tightly. Until this point, he had tried to force himself to not hold onto hope that Rook could return. That effort vanished now. He was desperate to bring Rook home. He wasn’t a religious man, but he said a quick prayer to the Maker under his breath. He could feel Spite’s apprehension gnawing at the back of his mind.

Another cry from Assan warned them of more demons approaching, this time from the West. Lucanis, Taash, and Harding gathered on the western edge of the platform, straining to see what was out there. A pack of four shades slowly materialized. Harding quickly dispatched them before they could reach the foot of the ruins with a volley of titanstone. They all returned to their original places.

Emmrich continued to chant in Elvhen while Neve supported him with her own magic. The distortion in the air grew stronger, but the Veil still had yet to be pierced. Emmrich had assured them all that the ritual shouldn’t take terribly wrong, but they weren’t given a real time estimate. The anticipation was killing Lucanis.

The ritual continued. Emmrich’s chanting didn’t falter in the slightest, and Neve stood stock-still behind him, terrified to move and ruin everything. The other three dispatched a few more packs of shades. At the ten-minute mark, the distortion in the air gave way to a small rift in the fade. Lucanis’s heart leapt, but his joy soon turned to horror as a bolt of green energy shot from the rift and landed just outside the ritual, only a few meters from Lucanis. A pride demon materialized at the point of impact.

[KILL IT!] Spite screamed as his wings sprouted from Lucanis. Lucanis had already sprung into action, running straight at it and drawing his rapier. Necrotic energy hummed across the blade. The demon roared defiantly as Lucanis approached. He quickly threw a knife into its face with his right hand, and it screeched, staggering from the pain. Before it could recover, Lucanis leaped into the air, propelled further with a flap of his wings, and sunk his rapier into its chest with his left hand. The impact knocked the demon to the floor and bellowed in agony. Lucanis let go of his rapier and drew two more daggers. In a flash, he gouged deep gashes into the demon’s body, then sunk them into its face. The demon stopped moving and dissolved. Taash and Harding didn’t even get a chance to help. Lucanis wordlessly gathered his weapons and returned to his place.

Still, the ritual continued, and the fade rift slowly grew. Emmrich’s chanting faded into background noise for Lucanis. Occasionally, packs of shades and other lesser demons would approach, and Harding dispatched them from afar. Another pride demon didn’t appear.

At the twenty minute mark, Neve fell to her hands and knees from exhaustion. She had spent all her magic. She tried to stand and lend assistance to Emmrich, but she cried out in pain from the exertion. Emmrich’s chanting faltered for a second, and the runes flickered briefly. Neve screamed in frustration. “NO!” Lucnanis’s blood froze in his veins. They couldn’t fail, not now. Neve looked right at him. “Lucanis!”

He rushed to her side, kneeling. “Neve!”

“Don’t worry…about me…” she managed to get out. She was breathing hard and clutching her side. “You…have to…help him…”

“I’m not a mage!” he cried.

“Abomination…” She struggled to speak. “Spite…connected…to the fade…” She cried out in pain again.

“I don’t know how!”

“Rook…he needs you…Bring…him home…”

Lucanis blinked tears from his eyes. “I can’t!” he sobbed

[Yes, you can.] Spite said calmly. Lucanis looked to see his reflection standing next to Emmrich. [I can feel Rook out there. Find him.]

Lucanis gathered his will. I won’t give up.

[Crow’s don’t break their contracts.]

Lucanis stood and faced the fade rift. Emmrich continued to chant, desperately keeping the fade rift open. Lucanis drew his rapier, and once again, it glowed with Spite’s necrotic energy. He turned his thoughts into a focusing lens for Spite’s magic. Rook needs us.

Before meeting Rook, Lucanis had difficulty keeping close relationships with his colleagues in the Crows. Years ago, he found himself falling for Viago, but the rejection instilled a fear of intimacy in him. If he didn't get too close to anyone, he reasoned, then they couldn't hurt him and he couldn't hurt them. That had worked for a long time, and he got comfortable.

Then, when he went to the Ossuary, he found a twisted sense of solace in thinking that nobody would miss him terribly while he was missing. Sure, the Crows would miss the Demon of Vyrantium, but none of them - except maybe Illario - would miss Lucanis Dellamorte. He held out hope that he might see his brother again some day, but then discovered that his year of torment was because of Illario. He almost fell into a pit of despair.

Rook had managed to pull him out of it. When they first met, Lucanis was simply grateful to him for freeing him from the Ossuary. Then, he found Rook’s relentless optimism grating and his open flirtation unwelcome. Lucanis had a job to do, and he didn’t want to get distracted from it. Over time, however, he grew to appreciate Rook’s positive outlook. Though sometimes sickeningly sweet, Rook always knew just what to say to pull him out of his gloomier moods. He started to consider Rook a friend, then subconsciously began to develop romantic feelings for him. He didn’t realize it until he almost kissed Rook, then panicked and ran away. He thought that Rook couldn’t love the real Lucanis. He was too damaged and dangerous. It would be better for both of them if they remained just colleagues.

He couldn’t tell himself that anymore after Rook saw the Ossuary in his heart. Rook saw him for who he was, and he didn’t run away. Lucanis had spent so long telling himself that he wasn’t deserving of love that he assumed it was impossible. Rook loved Lucanis even though he couldn’t love himself. 

Lucanis may have been possessed by a demon of Spite, but his heart was trapped by fear. Fear of getting hurt, hurting others, disappointing his associates, not living up to Caterina’s expectations, being consumed by Spite, failing to kill Ghilan’nain again and now Elgar’nan. Losing Rook forever.

Lucanis pushed back his fear and stepped in front of Emmrich. Spite’s wings extended to a full wingspan and became almost entirely opaque. His eyes blazed a brilliant violet and the energy around his rapier grew stronger. He was going to get Rook back, even though the gods conspired against them.

He slashed at the fade rift in front of him, and the Veil yielded to his will. The rift expanded massively, now large enough to fit a person through. He sheathed the blade and plunged both arms into the rift. For a second, he felt nothing. Then, he felt a pair of hands grasp his forearms. He grabbed them back, and pulled hard. There was too much resistance.

[“LACE, TAASH, HELP!”] they shouted. His friends immediately appeared beside him and threw their hands into the rift.

“THREE, TWO, ONE,” Taash counted. “PULL!”

They all pulled together, and Rook tumbled out of the rift and into Lucanis’s arms. Lucanis pulled him close,  enfolding him in a tight embrace. Rook’s hair smelled of ozone and orange blossoms. Lucanis started to cry.

“Can’t…breathe…” Rook mumbled into his ear.

Lucanis immediately released him from the hug and held Rook’s face in his hands. “You’re back,” he said with tears streaming down his face.

Rook smiled weakly, then promptly collapsed. Lucanis caught him, then lowered him to the ground. Lucanis kneeled, holding Rook partially upright. “No…” He started to panic. He turned to look at the lich. “Emmrich?”

“He’s not dead, Lucanis, but close to it. We need to get him back to the Lighthouse immediately. It’s not safe here.” Emmrich turned around and cast a quick spell to seal the fade rift behind him.

Lucanis nodded and picked Rook up in a bridal carry. Harding led the group back down the path to the boat. Taash helped Neve walk, and Emmrich carried back the remaining ritual supplies and the artifacts. Spite’s wings didn’t disappear until they left the island.

Rook’s consciousness hovered just beneath the surface, able to vaguely hear his companions speaking around him. He couldn't catch any of the words. Briefly, he opened his eyes as he was carried across the beach. Lucanis appeared like an angel to him, with black wings, shining armor, and eyes full of magic. The moon was almost blood red in the sky. He wished on a shooting star that would wake up again before slipping into a dreamless sleep.

Chapter Text

Rook was laying in his bed for the first time in almost a month. Emmrich assured Lucanis many times that he was alive, but Lucanis refused to leave his side while he slept. Rook’s breathing was shallow, his heartbeat was slow but strong, and his forehead was warm and beaded with sweat. Lucanis had brought a chair to the bedside and would often hold Rook’s hand, gently rubbing his thumb against the back. Rook lay there for two whole days, propped up with some pillows while being fed with regular sips of medicinal flasks to restore his strength.

Finally, on the morning of the third day, he awoke. His fever had subsided and he groggily opened his eyes. He looked around and his brain slowly informed him that he was laying in his own bed, but the room was slightly different. There were new pieces of furniture, and the existing ones had been slightly rearranged. He liked what had been done with the place. Lucanis was sitting in a chair that had been pulled to his bedside. His glowing purple eyes told Rook that Spite was keeping vigil over him while Lucanis slept.

“Lucanis,” Spite said. Their eyes blinked a couple times, and the glow faded.

Now back in the driver’s seat, Lucanis immediately got up to sit on the bed next to Rook and crushed him in a hug. “You’re okay!” he breathed into Rook’s ear.

Rook laughed weakly and returned the hug. “I promised I’d be back,” he whispered.

Lucanis released Rook from the hug and gave him a quick, gentle kiss. Rook’s lips were dry and slightly chapped, but he didn’t care. He was just glad to be back with him. Once he had pulled back, he tried to put on a serious face. He was still grinning slightly, despite the effort. “If you do something like that again, I’ll kill you.”

Rook smiled again. “The Demon of Vyrantium threatening to kill a mage? I guess I’ll have to never leave your side.” Rook leaned forward and kissed Lucanis again. Neither wanted to pull away and they tenderly kissed each other for a few seconds.

They were so focused on each other that neither Crow realized that the door to the room had opened and Neve had entered, holding another flask of healing potion. “Alright lovebirds, cut it out,” she announced. Rook and Lucanis immediately separated, blushing furiously. Neve laughed at their bashfulness and kept walking until she was standing near the bedside. “You two are so adorable, you know that? You’re like little schoolgirls embarrassed that their parents might find out about their crushes.”

Rook’s face was still bright red. He looked at the flask Neve was holding. “Is that poison? I think I’d like to die now.”

Neve handed him the flask. “Unfortunately no. I’m waiting for Elgar’nan to die before I kill you.” Rook took a swig from the flask, grimacing at the unpleasant taste. “Even then, I think Lucanis would have me eviscerated if I tried anything like that.”

Rook almost choked on the potion, then stared daggers at her. “Can you at least wait until I’m done drinking before you try to make me laugh?”

“Where’s the fun in that?” Rook drank the rest of the potion and handed the empty flask back to Neve. “How’re you feeling?” she asked.

Rook thought for a second. “Worse than I thought I would. I wasn’t in there too long, but I feel like I was hit by an ogre.”

Neve and Lucanis exchanged concerned glances. “Rook,” Lucanis said softly. “You were missing for three weeks.”

Lucanis’ words hit him like a punch to the gut. “Three weeks?” he croaked. He looked at his hands. “It felt like a few hours at most. ”

“That would explain why you passed out as soon as we pulled you out of the prison,” Neve said. “Your personal flow of time was altered. That messed with your body. You’re lucky to be alive.”

“Why didn’t that happen to the gods?” Lucanis asked.

“They’re gods, Lucanis,” Neve said. “Solas slept for thousands of years after putting up the Veil.”

“If I had been in there any longer…” Rook’s voice trailed off.

Lucanis gently took one of Rook’s hands with both of his. “It doesn’t matter,” he assured him. “You’re here.”

Rook looked into Lucanis’ eyes. He smiled weakly, but Lucanis could tell he was still thinking about how close he came to death.

Rook’s stomach grumbled, breaking the tension in the room.“I’ll get you something to eat,” Lucanis said. He kissed Rook again and gave his hand a squeeze of reassurance. “Stay here.”

Neve didn’t have anything witty to say about the kiss this time. She and Lucanis left the room without a word.

The door closed behind them, and Rook went back to looking at his hands. His mind replayed what happened at Tearstone Island and in the Wolf’s prison. Bellara’s disappearance, Davrin’s death. He had promised Lucanis he would come back, then Solas immediately tricked him into thinking he had died. The sight of Lucnanis’ corpse had haunted him the entire time he was there. The revelation of Varric’s death had felt like a sucker punch, but it felt even worse when he was relieved that Lucanis was alive instead. That involuntary thought felt like a betrayal.

It should’ve been me.

Rook felt like he had stolen Varric’s life from him. Varric was the one who led the effort to track down the trickster god all across Thedas. Varric was the one who recruited Rook after he made a fool of himself with the Crows. Varric got them through Minrathous and distracted Fen’harel long enough for he and Neve to disrupt the ritual. At least when he still thought Varric was alive, he didn’t feel like such an impostor. He was temporarily taking over the operation while still getting help from Varric. Now, he realized that he had completely replaced Varric as lead of the Veilguard. Then, Rook narrowly escaped death a second time, and Varric was still dead.

It should’ve been me.

Why did he deserve to live when Varric didn’t? Why did the others look up to him as their leader? Why did they spend three whole weeks trying to get him back while Elgar’nan was still at large? Why did the Dread Wolf keep him alive instead of just killing him then and there? Why did Lucanis love him when he was clearly just stumbling around blindly, hoping he could save the world when he was clearly unqualified? Rook’s mind continued to spiral into despair while he lay in bed. He didn’t cry. He felt empty. Solas had been manipulating him the entire time, pulling him along like a puppet on a string.

It should’ve been me.

The door to the room swung open and Lucanis entered, holding a tray with a steaming omelette and freshly-cut fruit. Rook jumped slighting in bed as his thoughts were interrupted.

“Are you okay?” Lucanis asked as he walked to the bed.

Rook clearly wanted to say something, but he didn’t. “I’m fine.”

Lucanis placed the tray in Rook’s lap and sat down in the chair. “What’s on your mind?”

“Has Varric been dead this whole time?”

Lucanis stared at Rook. “I don’t…what?”

Rook couldn’t look Lucanis in the eye. “Solas, he…he used blood magic on me.” He shifted uncomfortably in bed. “He made me see and hear Varric. I thought he was still alive.”

Lucanis wasn’t sure what to say.

“I thought he was guiding me every step of the way,” Rook continued, “but I’ve been making this all up as I go.”

Rook’s face was a mixture of emotion. Lucanis could see sorrow, guilt, and doubt cross his face. Lucanis thought for a moment, then spoke. “When you pulled me out of the Ossuary and we all thought that Caterina was dead, I wished that I could have died instead to save her.” Rook looked at Lucanis, unsure of where he was going with this. “I thought that everything would be better if I had died instead.”

“Lucanis…”

Lucanis took Rook’s hand into his. “Please. For me, don’t think like that.”

“But Varric was supposed to be our leader! He would’ve done a better job than me!” Rook’s voice wavered as he held back tears. “He should be here, not me.”

Rook’s words stung Lucanis. “Rook, please…”

“Oh, cut it out you big baby!” Harding scolded Rook from the doorway. Rook and Lucanis turned to look at her. She walked up to the bedside and firmly punched Rook in the shoulder. “Do you really think Varric would’ve left you in charge if he didn’t think you had what it takes?”

“Lace, I…”

“You what, Rook?” she demanded. “We all spent three weeks moving heaven and earth to get you back and you have the nerve to whine about how you’d rather be dead?”

Rook and Lucanis blinked. They weren’t used to seeing this fiery side of Lace.

“We followed you because you were a good leader, not because Varric asked us to,” she continued. “We’ve done so well without Varric because of you, not in spite of you.”

“But Davrin, and Bellara!” he protested.

“Davrin was a Warden,” she countered. “He knew what it might cost. Bellara volunteered to take down the wards. We all followed you that day because we knew your leadership was our best shot at taking down Ghilan’nain, and we did .”

Rook was too stunned to say anything back. Lucanis realized it was his turn to talk again. “If we thought we could take out Elgar’nan without you, then we would have tried to. But we need you Rook. We can’t do this without you.”

The two of them managed to snap Rook out of his pity party. He smiled, genuinely this time. “Thanks, guys. That means a lot.”

Harding deflated. “Thank the Maker. I was worried I would have to take over permanently.” Rook raised an eyebrow at her. “What? I’m not cut out for leadership. I’m just a scout.”

Rook and Lucanis continued to give her bewildered looks.

“We’ll talk more later. See ya.” She turned and left the room, closing the door behind her.

Rook and Lucanis looked at each other. “You think you know someone,” Lucanis said.

“No kidding.” Rook looked down at the tray of food still sitting in his lap. “Shit. I forgot you made me breakfast.” He grabbed his fork and started dismantling the now-cool omelette. Lucanis chuckled, then stood up to make some coffee for the both of them. “I see you did some redecorating in my absence,” Rook said between mouthfuls of egg. The food helped restore his strength. Already, he was feeling much better.

Lucanis leaned back against the coffee station while their drinks brewed. “Well, someone had to make this place more livable. No way to make coffee before getting dressed? Where are we, the Ferelden countryside?” Lucanis shuddered at the thought.

Rook laughed. “You’re lucky Lace isn’t around to hear you badmouthing her home.” He took a bite out of an apple slice.

“Please,” Lucanis scoffed. “I’m an assassin. I know when someone’s out of earshot.”

“You know I’m an assassin too, right?”

“A pretty bad one, according to Viago.”

Rook groaned. “He told you about that fiasco with the Antaam, did he?”

Lucanis laughed. “Yes, among other things.”

Rook was afraid to ask. “Other things?”

“He says you were quite the playboy. Gave him lots of headaches.”

Rook wanted to disappear. “Ah…well…I…uh…” he stammered.

“You’re so cute when you’re flustered.”

Rook was bright red. “Thanks?”

“It’s very easy, too.” Lucanis smiled. “Lucky me.”

Rook’s brain was short-circuiting, and he kept opening and closing his mouth as he tried to figure out some kind of witty response. He was used to the other team members teasing the two of them that he didn’t know what to do when Lucanis was the aggressor.

Lucanis laughed again, and his expression softened from amused to content. “I’m just glad you’re back, Rook.”

Rook’s brain started working again. “Me too.” He continued to eat his breakfast in silence while Lucanis waited for the coffee to brew. Once it was done, Rook scooted over in bed so Lucanis could sit next to him. They sat there together, holding hands and sipping their coffee. Rook set his empty cup down on the tray and leaned into Lucanis, resting his head on his shoulder. “I could get used to this,” he sighed.

Lucanis squeezed Rook’s hand gently. “So could I, mi amor,” he said, and kissed Rook’s head.