N. GALLUS :

the culprits? the rooks. one of them, for now, at least. ends up welcoming himself in, engages in small talk, then leaves before the other comes in, rinse and repeat. sometimes within several minute intervals and if i’m lucky, several hours to get a breather. i’m not unhappy with their company ; i just wish their planning is more… put together. i can't quite discern whether their daily rounds are planned yet poorly timed or they're uncommunicative and uncoordinated like that. perhaps it’s still too early to judge their ‘leadership' and 'teamwork.'

regardless, the draw of the card of tonight’s visit is garlan, who catches me sitting on my cot—the rare sight of my prosthetic off—parsing through several newspaper clippings spread out next to me and balancing a single sheet atop my other thigh, all while massaging my leg.

my investigation may have temporarily ceased, but i continue applying pressure as he speaks, giving him my full, undivided attention. what i didn’t expect is:

@godwyne, garlan saying, “ you know the distance made no difference to me. ”

he sounds far crazier than i’ve ever known him, which isn’t very long. i could chalk it up to the hours spent in treviso today — all that running and jumping from roof top to roof top, clambering over boxes and ledges, gripping for dear life on the numerously scattered zip line handles; then there’s the grueling fights against the antaam. but i have an inkling it’s a lot more than that, like when blood magic’s afoot and my stomach twists—he didn’t need to even speak for me to know, his mannerisms from today alone is enough.

“ did it, now? ” i chuckle. my brows rising and falling, just as the smile fades from my lips.

it’s pathetic to be this amused, yet intrigued. something i haven’t quite felt in years…

today's one such day. the drizzle really bringing it altogether. several deceased elves and a human on the beach across the docks tucked away in a cavernous passageway, bodies so close to the entrance where the rotting smell just mingles with the fishy seaside stench, all unbeknownst to the merchants laughing in the distance or the captain barking orders to the sailors unloading heavy crates or adjusting the ropes of their slightly creaking ships.

whether the individuals were entering or exiting the hideout remains to be seen because of the earlier downpour having washed away any obvious trails outside; however, i’ve seen this scene before, a sudden unease gnawing in the pit of my stomach — bloody gashes across their bodies, more noticeably along the upper back of their trapezius muscles bleeding into their necks, and the way most are facedown in the direction of the dock, i can only say they were intent on leaving… and the culprit, none other than venatori. blood magic’s, the residuals of it at least, in the air. how they’d love to come back for what's theirs.

with the recent activity in the city regarding solas, it seems to fall in line: venatori eager for revenge on elves causing a ruckus in his name. it’s a similar scenario when varric, harding, and i intercepted the venatori during the slaves' escape, who've said solas only freed them but don't work for him ( the difference between this and now is that they managed to get out, alive ). can’t say this group in particular was exactly destructive like past reports claim nor guarantee they have remote ties to him. but elves heading to the docks after solas was seen here? it can’t just be a coincidence.

the thing is: solas is long gone by now. could he have freed them earlier and they simply stayed put? perhaps. though, unwise. where were they heading? did they have a clear plan unlike the previous group i've encountered?

the human, however… it only took a brief glance for me to realize who she is. silia fritz, daughter of some military parents, who’ve been worried sick, that she’s been dealing in "unsavoury things" late in the night. matched the family's description: short, brunette hair; a mole behind her ear; and never seen without a silver chain bracelet. either solas freed them and she housed them until she could secure them a ride out or she freed them entirely on her own and sought to their safety? her motivation is clear regardless. she certainly wasn’t a shadow dragon, but maybe, could’ve been one.

the case of the missing daughter closes. another, probable, solas-related case opens. both coming to an end where neither got their happy endings. but when do they ever?

approaching footsteps prevail over my train of thought. my fingers curl as i tap into the cold, frost collecting at my fingertips... i can't ever get too comfortable on the job. and just as i turn around—it’s only @godwyne.

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