#tn commentary

This story opens by establishing the main character as a former altus mage in Tevinter. Vadis - no first name ever given - is meeting with a mysterious contractor who knows all about her history; that Vadis is the disgraced daughter of Magister Mareno Vadis, who left nobility behind to run away with her former elven servant and lover.

Vadis bristles at the mention of being former nobility, and is also adamant to to correct the mystery person that her relationship only started after the elf was no longer a servant for her family.

It was an important point. My romantic relationship with Irian Cestes had started after she’d left my family’s employ. Would’ve been weird, otherwise, and a little too Tevinter on my part to ignore the class dynamics in play.

I personally think this single piece of information says a lot about Vadis as a character. It shows that she respects boundaries, respects her lover, and has a disgust for, as she puts it, "class dynamics" in Tevinter. While I think "class dynamics" is far too lightweight a way to describe systemic slavery, it's at least something that shows Vadis is not so ignorant a noble mage as most of her peers.

The mysterious person commends Vadis for choosing Irian over keeping her nobility, as well as her noted skills now working as a thief. But things turn sour quickly when the person subtly threatens Vadis with revealing all the information collected about her, so Vadis in turn says she's leaving. The mystery person says she'll pay half up front just for Vadis to hear them out. Cue title card.

The mystery person reveals an ancient rubbing, and begins to speak of an artifact called Dumat's Folly. Vadis is hesitant to believe it's really what people claim it to be, given she doesn't even really believe in the Maker, truly.

“I guess I have some thoughts about the incompatible idea of a benevolent Maker and all the awful shit that happens here, yeah.” She nodded. “Then you know the significance of Dumat’s Folly.” She gestured at the rubbing I held in front of me. So that’s what it was. “Supposed to be a piece of the Black City itself. A ‘reminder of man’s hubris, and of the unique and glorious divinity of the Maker.’” I snorted. “Seems like a bunch of nug shit to me.” “Regardless. The artifact has been stolen. By who, I do not know. For what purpose, I do not know. But I would like you to find the answer to both questions. And for that, I will pay you triple your usual rate.”

The triple rate certainly gets Vadis's attention. Vadis recalls the last time she broke into the Archon's Palace, where the artifact is now kept, and while she's hesitant to try it again due to all the guards and magical traps, ultimately agrees to the mystery person's request: find out who took the artifact, and steal it back.

The mystery person gives Vadis a rune, claiming it was once part of the artifact and will resonate with the true Dumat's Folly, telling her if it's authentic or not when channelled with energy.

Flash-forward to Vadis and Irian's apartment, Irian, who is established as a staff-fighting expert - not a magical staff, she is more like a monk from DnD - is training Vadis. Afterwards, they start talking about the job, and Irian first suggests turning it down. They start to bicker, and Irian points out that Vadis is really motivated by pride over everything else.

She’d crossed a line. I leapt to my feet, started to speak, started to shout—and instead, turned away and walked out, into the study across the hallway. I fumed, white-hot anger filling my veins with fire. What business was it of hers? What gave her the right to speak of me like that? I knew the answer, of course. It was because she was right. Second place is the first loser, my father had always told me. He was a cruel man, well suited for life in the Empire, and I hated him—but he wasn’t wrong. I had to be the best.

Ultimately, they end up agreeing on the contract, deciding it would be nice to get out of Tevinter with the money.

The two women successfully break into the Archon's Palace through the servant's entrance, and make their way to the hall of artifacts on display. I personally had to read over this part like, three times trying to understand how exactly they get into the floating palace, and I'm still not sure, sadly. Oh well.

Vadis uses magic to find a tunnel that the thieves used to escape, so she and Irian hop down into it.

The two follow muddy footprints through the tunnel. Vadis finds a bag that includes a bloody note written in Qunlat, suggesting the artifact was stolen by the Qunari.

“Can you read it?” I asked, a little impatiently. The mud was starting to dry out, harden, and I just wanted to get out of there and clean myself up. She nodded. “Yes.” She met my gaze and shrugged. “They tried to recruit me a while back. Promised me a life of glorious freedom under the Qun. I went to one of their training camps. Didn’t stick.” I raised an eyebrow at that, but she continued, “It’s orders—well, instructions. Ben-Hassrath. Locations and names are in code, but it’s telling them to get the item and return home. Not to be seen either.”

Irian herself finds a fake version of Dumat's Folly that does not react to the rune magic, as the mysterious person said it would. They conclude that the Qunari must have the real one.

Vadis uses blood magic to gather memories from the person who bled on the note. She describes what she sees to Irian, who is able to identify the location as Kont-aar, in Rivain.

It's a shame the story skips so fast over the fact that Vadis is a blood mage. We so rarely see uses of blood magic, especially from Tevinter of all places, that isn't for evil purposes. But Vadis is painted as a (mostly) good person, who just... happens to know blood magic. This is also the first to my recollection that we are told a mage can use blood magic to sift through the memories of someone. I think that's quite interesting, and reminds me a little of now Emmrich in DATV can talk to spirits of the dead to recall the person's living memories. Further proof that necromancy and blood magic are two sides of one coin?

Vadis and Irian travel to Kont-aar, which I really wish the story took time to actually describe. There was like, a 2-page long description of the bar that Vadis goes to at the start of the story, but basically a single paragraph just about how Vadis doesn't like Kont-aar because it's a Qunari settlement! Literally the only description we get is that it's "warm" and has nondescript "pleasant scenery".

Also, this bothers me: Epler writes that Irian got people to talk to her by "spreading around a little coin". But... Kont-aar is under the Qun! They don't use coin! What use do they have for coin? Or is this just unique to Kont-aar being a blend of a Rivaini coin system, maybe? Gee, it sure would be nice to have any information at all about Kont-aar!

Vadis and Irian determine that the artifact is being stored on a Qunari dreadnought at the docks. They are able to sneak their way into it with the supplies being loaded onto the ship, where they overhear two people speaking.

“Did anyone get a good look at the two of them?” A male voice. It sounded elven. “No, sir.” Female. A little deeper. Qunari, maybe. “Take half the guards. Sweep the taverns and the docks. Find them. They must be here for the artifact. And if they are, chances are they’re working for him. We cannot risk them making their way onto the ship.” I had an idea as to who he meant by them. Not sure who he meant by him, though. But it seemed we’d made our move just in time. “Yes, Gatt.”

(Yes, it's Gatt from DAI.)

Once they are alone, Vadis and Irian start searching the supplies for Dumat's Folly. But when Vadis finds it and brings the rune to confirm it's real, she's surprised to feel the magic is wild and hungry.

Suddenly, the mystery person from the start of the story appears.

She emerged from deeper into the ship. A lone elf. My client. She’d traded her thick winter clothing for a simple robe, embroidered with an unknown symbol, her hair brushed back, away from her pointed ears. She strode toward me, calmly, unhurrying. Not that she needed to hurry. I couldn’t move a muscle. A paralysis spell, and a pretty strong one at that. She knelt beside me and gave me a look that mixed pity with contempt. She reached down, pried my fingers open. The rune that she’d given me—she held it aloft, examining it critically. Muttered a single word over and over again: “Felassan, Felassan, Felassan.” There was a hum, and the rune began to glow a steady and unpleasant red. I’d been around enough magic to know that was probably not a good thing.

Of course the code word is Felassan. Of course it is.

The mystery elf reveals that she works for the Dread Wolf. She also takes this time to share her master plan: she had replaced Dumat's Folly with a fake, baited the Qunari to steal the fake, which is actually a big magic bomb, then hired Vadis to find out where they took it so she could set up the bomb.

Just when the agent is about to kill Vadis, Irian attacks from behind.

“Sorry. I didn’t hear her immediately, and then when I did, I figured I should wait for an opening.” She shook her head. “Each one of those damned Fen’Harel cultists. ‘Ooh, if we blow up enough people, ancient Elvhenan is definitely coming back.’” She caught my questioning glance. “They tried to recruit me a few years ago. I said no.” “Is there anyone out there that hasn’t tried to recruit you?” I asked. She shrugged in response. I felt like that was answer enough.

This I have a hard time understanding. Why the goddamn hell are the Agents of Fen'Harel apparently just running around blowing people up? How on earth does it at all relate to their goal? Irian here mocks it, but that doesn't suddenly make it make sense. It smells way too much like superhero villains who are easy to sympathize with, so a writer decides to have them blow up a daycare for... reasons.

The mystery elf then starts to wake, but when Vadis attempts to intimidate her, she swallows a suicide pill and dies.

Vadis and Irian mourn their impending death, as well as the death of the thousands in Kont-aar, once the bomb explodes. Then Vadis remembers that they're on a ship, and ships can, you know, sail. So they take control of the dreadnought and head out into the water.

Now, this is the part that, if you'll allow me, I would like to use my local history knowledge to say, also doesn't make sense... because Epler here specifically writes that Vadis and Irian are only about four miles away from the shore when they stop. Epler, despite being Canadian, has apparently never heard of the Halifax Explosion! I can assure you that Kont-aar would still be a goner at just four fucking miles of distance, if this magic bomb is powerful enough to wipe it out entirely at zero miles of distance. Like, the ensuing tsunami alone would still kill people!

Anyway, it's at this point that Vadis and Irian jump into a lifeboat, and Vadis uses magic to push it back towards the shore, just in time to avoid the explosion. Somehow.

The two are taken in by Gatt, and share what they know about what happened. Gatt then in turn explains that the ship was the replacement Darvaarad from DAI's Trespasser DLC, where they were studying dangerous magical items.

Gatt suggests that returning the Minrathous would be dangerous for Vadis and Irian, as Fen'Harel surely knows about them now. He then offers help from "a dwarf in Kirkwall" (obviously Varric) who is apparently an ally to them. Which to me, sounds like this was all a heavy set-up to have Vadis and Irian appear in DATV.

The story ends with Vadis and Irian promising to go to Kirkwall to meet Varric, after they vacation in Val Royeaux.

All in all, I think this story is decent, but not as well written as Epler's other one in Tevinter Nights (The Horror of Hormak). That said, this one does have more fleshed out main characters. Vadis and Irian are both pretty cute as a couple and interesting as individuals. But the biggest flaw I personally find with this story, is that it always focuses on the things I'm less interested in, and flies past the things I am interested in. Kont-aar as a place and the Agents of Fen'Harel as a group, especially.

First Talon: Caterina Dellamorte Second Talon: Dante Balazar Third Talon: Lera Valisti Fourth Talon: Emil Kortez Fifth Talon: Viago de Riva Sixth Talon: Bolivar Nero Seventh Talon: Andarateia Cantori Eigth Talon: Giuli Arainai

The actual plot begins with Viago de Riva complaining about his carriage ride across Seleny, on his way to Lago di Novo. Caterina has called upon all of the eight talons to meet in person for five days, to prepare for a potential Qunari threat to Antiva, since Tevinter has already been invaded. They were instructed to come alone, with only a skeleton staff present for their meals and needs while on the island villa, the Verdant Isle. Viago is naturally paranoid that this will be disastrous, as he is paranoid about most things. But he knows better than to deny a request from the First Talon.

Before even crossing the lake, Viago encounters Teia, who immediately begins flirting with him. Viago is already deeply smitten, especially after he reflects on their time working contracts in Tevinter together, but reminds himself that she is an ally, no more.

I really like how Viago is instantly down so bad for Teia, and yet is so repressed about his feelings. It's so juicy to read...

With only one gondola remaining that isn't full of Teia's luggage, the two are forced to cross together - something Viago figures out Teia planned for.

The servant once again cleared his throat. “ere is one vessel remaining, if the two of you would be willing—” “Absolutely not,” Viago interrupted. Teia rolled her eyes. “Come now, Vi. What’s a gondola ride between friends?” “Gossip.” “Oh, the horror.” Viago glanced at the servant, then gently took Teia by the elbow and led her to the far end of the dock, where he was sure they were out of earshot. “We are not on holiday,” he hissed. “e other Talons will be judging our every move.” “Exactly,” Teia replied. “You and I know what the Qunari are capable of. If the others believe House Cantori and de Riva are united...” Viago filled in the blanks. “It will be easier to sway them into an alliance.” “I knew you’d catch on.” Then she added with a wink, “Eventually.” Viago felt his resolve crumble. “Fine.”

Viago gets bitchy to the gondolier after seeing Teia admire his big strong muscles, and prides himself in scaring the other man off.

When they arrive on the island, Viago offers his arm to Teia, and she notices he "felt like a sinewy ball of tension", remembering that Viago hates physical contact. She questions if this is because he is such a master poisoner, and hyper-aware of any and all substances that could be used against him.

He refused to eat, drink, or touch anything without testing it first. He claimed it a necessary precaution. Teia thought that was a polite term for paranoia.

Continuing to pick apart everything about Viago with a curiosity, Teia also wonders if he ever spent time at the Verdant Isle as a boy, with his mother. The villa is owned by the Crown, and is typically where the king stores his mistresses - one of whom was Viago's mother.

Viago being a bastard son of the Antivan King really adds so much to think about him as a character. Without getting ahead of myself, because more will come up on this later, let's just say his heritage is a bitter spot, and I adore pondering how that contributes to his entire outlook, you know?

Teia and Viago then greet Caterina.

Teia felt Viago flinch beside her and she pursed her lips to keep from giggling. One of the many reasons Teia loved and respected Caterina was her ability to make grown men—professional killers, at that—feel like children fresh from the nursery. To be fair to Vi, Teia conceded, Caterina’s cane is legendary. They had both witnessed the First Talon beat more than one unlucky fool to death with it.

Teia subsides Caterina's anger over all the luggage by calling her "Nonna," with a big smile and kiss on the cheek. Caterina initially rebuts that not even her actual grandchildren call her that, but she can't help but simmer down anyway.

They then meet Dante Balazar and Lera Valisti, who have been busy fencing. Teia is annoyed that at the sight of Dante, Viago unlaces his arm from hers. Dante flirts with Teia, and we get the hint that they have a past relationship - something that is later confirmed in more detail.

Everyone departs to prepare for dinner in their assigned rooms. For Viago, this means preparing antidotes for any potential poisons that could mix with the menu for the night, and taking his daily dose of diluted Adder's Kiss, in his attempts to develop an immunity to the deadly poison.

Teia enters his room, and Viago is taken by how beautiful she looks in her evening gown. He begins struggling with his cravat. Luckily, Teia is there to help him.

“It would help if you removed the gloves,” Teia remarked. “Surely your own cravats haven’t been tampered with.” “The valet touched them,” Viago grumbled. It was a weak defence, but a skilled poisoner knew that anything—even skin—could be laced with something deadly. “How rude,” Teia teased, coming up behind him. His chest tightened. Why are you here? he wanted to ask. It was a fair question. And yet, Viago knew if he brought attention to her impropriety, whatever this was between them would snap like a lute string midsong. And he wasn’t ready for the dance to end. So he fumbled with his cravat a fourth time. Teia cursed under her breath. “You’re ruining it.” She pushed on Viago’s back, urging him to turn around. Only inches apart, Viago looked everywhere but Teia’s face—the ceiling, his walking stick, the creepy fennec statues someone had placed around the room. Then, after second-guessing himself, he glanced down to find the damned woman laughing at him. Viago’s hands shot up to the crumpled cravat. “I don’t need—” “Hush.” Teia batted him away, her nimble fingers already smoothing out the wrinkles he had created. “This is why you have a reputation.” Viago blanched. At twenty-eight, Teia was the youngest Talon in history. Gossip and a string of admirers followed her wherever she went. Compared to her, he was practically a recluse. “I have a reputation?” “As a curmudgeon, yes.” Her full lips upturned slightly. “Well, that’s better than your reputation.” “Oh?” Teia blinked innocently up at him. “Care to elaborate?” “Not particularly.” Their eyes met. Restless energy charged through Viago’s veins that both dared him to move and held him in place.

At the dinner party, Bolivar Nero immediately establishes himself as jerk who doesn't care about the Qunari one bit. Viago reminds the table that a Qunari invasion would mean losing a lot of potential contracts, which disappoints Teia. She dislikes that when it comes to the other talons, it's always about money.

Emil Kortez reminds everyone that the Qunari have invaded Antiva before, and that in the north there are still traces of it from two hundred years ago. This sparks a short debate establishing that there is apparently competition between northern Antiva vs. southern Antiva.

The debate is cut short, when instead they start complaining about their meal not being served yet. Caterina ordered them to wait until Lera arrives at the table, which she has yet to do so.

Bolivar Nero has already begun drinking heavily, and becomes more and more agitated. Teia reflects on how she wishes she could have found more relation among her fellow elven talons, but with Bolivar being too snobbish and Giuli being in too tenuous a position to make friends - her house is in a tenuous position because of what Zevran did - she feels pretty alone.

When Lera still doesn't show but a note does urging them to ignore her absence, Giuli gets rather upset - something Teia notes is out of character for her. Teia also takes note that Dante is shaking and sweating, concluding that he is trying to quit his lyrium addiction again.

I think this story does a way better job at showing just how messy and difficult quitting an addiction is, than DAI does with Cullen. Dante is a fucking mess this entire story, physically and mentally. And he even relapses, which is unfortunately a common and realistic occurrence when someone tries to quit an addiction cold without even having any supports. More so, it shows how dangerous and harmful Dante is to others around him, too. He is not the only victim of his addiction struggles.

Caterina orders Viago and Teia to check on Lera. With the door locked and no answer, Viago shows off his impressive walking stick has a secret compartment for his "vials of death" as Teia puts it. He uses it to melt the doorknob and the two break in. What they find is Lera's corpse, with four steel blades protruding from her chest. They identify this as a reference to the famous assassination of Queen Madrigal. After investigating the corpse, they find lyrium under her fingernails - which leads Viago to suspect Dante is the killer. Teia defends him, however.

Bolivar wants to torture the servant that delivered the note saying Lera would be absent, but Caterina denies his wishes as she believes it is unnecessary. Giuli is extremely distraught by the entire ordeal, accusing Dante of being the killer. But Caterina suggests that whoever killed Lera must be working for the Qunari, rather than one of the Talons themselves. Caterina encourages everyone to retire to their quarters, where in the morning they will conduct a search of the island for any signs of an intruder.

The next morning, Viago wakes Teia up and takes her downstairs to see that all of the servants have been murdered, again recreating an infamous crow assassination from history.

I do think it says a lot about Teia, how much compassion she has for the dead servants, compared to everyone else - including Viago. But being a Crow has not stolen Teia's empathy one bit.

However, a murder mystery is not enough to put a damper on just how horny these two are for each other. Teia starts thinking about how nice it would be to kiss Viago, which prompts him to ask why she is staring. Then they start bickering about how Teia should be more afraid of Viago being the killer. It's without question one of my favourite little banters of theirs in this entire story...

“Are you all right?” Viago’s forehead creased with worry. “Was it the coffee? I tested for Maferath’s Embrace, but there could’ve been other—” “I’m fine,” Teia said with a reassuring smile. “Just admiring your good looks.” Most people would’ve been thrilled by the compliment. Viago only scowled and turned tail. Teia couldn’t understand it. They’d joke and tease, but whenever she tried to speak of the obvious attraction between them, he’d clam up. Well, not this time. She chased after him. “What?” “Nothing,” he growled and continued stomping toward the guest wing. “Do you not think you’re attractive?” Viago turned on her, his ears pink. “Ten people are dead.” She didn’t back down. “And whoever’s responsible will pay, but that has no bearing on this conversation.” “It could be me.” Covering her mouth with both hands, Teia doubled over, laughter spilling from her lips. “It’s not you.” He looked as if she’d slapped him. “I’m more than capable of killing everyone here.” “Don’t tell me you’re offended!” “It is offensive,” Viago protested. “Professionally.” Teia leaned closer to see if he was being serious. His tight jaw and furrowed brow bore all the signs of a bruised ego. “I know it’s not you because we were together when Lera was murdered,” she explained. “Remember? I tied your cravat.” The flush creeped from Viago’s ears to his cheeks. “Yes, well, of course I didn’t do it. It’s just the principle of the matter.” “You’re ridiculous.”

They head to Giuli's room, where they examine her corpse, too. Like Lera and the servants, her death is displayed like an infamous historical Crow job.

“Poor Giuli,” Teia whispered as she neared the body. “I didn’t know you were friends.” “Really, Vi,” Teia muttered. “You don’t have to be friends with someone to feel sympathy.” “If you say so.”

After all the remaining Talons regroup, Emil and Dante reveal that in their search around the island, they found that the emergency gondolas were destroyed, meaning there is no way off the island except for signalling the mainland to come retrieve them - something Caterina refuses to do.

Bolivar blames Dante for killing Lera and Giuli, and blames Viago for killing the servants. Teia offers to lie on Viago's behalf to give him a false alibi, but he refuses.

In the heat of their discussion, Emil reveals that he knows Bolivar sold his House's pearl diving business to Dante, which prompts Dante to accuse Bolivar of setting him up.

Viago scoffed. Bolivar didn’t have the brains—or the stomach—to pull off something like this. “This isn’t just about you. My head’s on the chopping block as well.” “Your daddy will protect you,” Dante sneered. Viago choked his walking stick and counted ten poisons that would leave Dante’s face unrecognizable.

I love love love the implication that Viago's kingly father has either had some kind of influence in Viago's rise to power here, or in the very least, the other Talons assume it. Just like Dante assumes he will be protected. Yet Viago's reaction is one of anger, suggesting that whether it be true or a rumour that his father has helped him out, it's not something he actually wants.

With Viago confined to his room, it doesn't take long for Teia to break in. They discuss the facts, trying to figure out what they're missing, and decide that Dante knows something they don't. But before that, they have another little moment that makes my heart-rate go up...

Viago paused, unsure if he was making something out of nothing. “I noticed you didn’t come to his defence.” Teia glanced at the floor. “I’ve defended him long enough.” It was the same tone she’d used last night when she asked if he kept lyrium in his case. “There are things that don’t add up—beyond the lyrium,” he said. “You mean how he didn’t look half dead today?” “That, and that there was something going on between him, Lera, and Giuli. The way they were acting… Is he, I mean, was he…” Viago cleared the embarrassment from his throat. “Was he the faithful sort?” “The faithful sort?” Teia stalked toward him, a mischievous grin on her face. “You know when you were…” “When we were…?” Viago frowned. She’s going to make me say it. “You two have a history.” Teia continued her advance. “I have history with a lot of people.” “I’m well aware.” The words came out harsher than he intended. Teia’s brows rose. “Does that bother you?” It was a leading question. Viago knew he should laugh it off, but he couldn’t help himself. “Only if I’m a footnote.” Teia stopped cold. Doubt curdled in Viago’s stomach. He opened his mouth to backtrack, when she reached out to brush the line of his jaw. It was only a whisper of flesh against flesh, but to Viago, it might as well have been a punch to the gut. It had been so long since he had allowed someone to touch him. To get close. He was breathless. “That’s entirely up to you.” Teia’s hand dropped, but her phantom touch lingered on his skin.

I want to scream I want to scream I want to scream!!! And we haven't even gotten to the most blue-ballsy part yet!!! But we're about to...

Viago pulls out a serum called 'Pillow Talk' that he tells Teia will influence Dante into telling the truth. They agree that the best way to administer it to Dante is to apply it to Teia's lips, for her to then kiss him with it. The only thing Viago notes is that she needs to be careful about is it turning green under candlelight.

So, Viago begins applying a protective film on Teia's lips so she herself doesn't fall under the serum's influence. Then the serum itself. And oh my god. This entire fucking scene... This entire scene is just something else. But I especially, especially love this part:

It would be so easy to kiss her—to finally discover if her mouth was as soft as he had imagined. Because, of course, he had imagined. So many times. In so many ways. And he hated himself for it. When it came to Teia, he was as weak as any other mark—a lamb to slaughter. As if she could feel the sudden rush of shame within him, Teia brought her hands up to rest on Viago’s hips, holding him in place. His thumb stilled as he realized her breath was short. Her pupils dilated. Before he could stop himself, Viago nuzzled his forehead against hers, his nose brushing her cheek. Teia’s hands snaked up his chest to run through his hair. She tugged him forward. He braced himself on one arm, while the other curled around the small of her back.

"And he hated himself for it." Viago is so fucking repressed he hates himself for having feelings. And yet this man is about to explode just from Teia's touch.

AND TEIA IS NO BETTER OFF AFTER THIS, IS THE THING.

Standing outside her ex-lover’s room, Teia tried to quell the violent drumming within her. Normally, she didn’t need to come down from a physical encounter. Seduction—like any form of manipulation—was about control. She could enjoy herself, but Teia always made sure to hold the upper hand. Viago had shattered that control without so much as a kiss.

Teia was likely taught that seduction is only a matter of manipulation and a tactic for control. She doesn't know how to deal with this genuine lust anymore than Viago does! AAAHHH!!!

But the main plot must go on, and Teia pays Dante a visit. She immediately kisses him, and uses both the serum and her own charm to bring out the truth: Dante and Lera were engaged in a political marriage to strengthen both their houses. Part of the agreement was that Dante had to give up lyrium, and Lera had to stop dating Giuli.

This is a serious revelation, but I can't help but laugh at how much X-Men levels of inter-relationship drama these Talons have going on. Teia and Dante used to date, except he was prone to abusive rages so she left him. Lera and Giuli were having yuri parties in secret, until Dante and Lera decided to get married so they could overrule Caterina. And then Teia and Viago are pining so hard they are leaking brain cells.

Anyway, Dante then reveals that a lyrium kit was mysteriously left in his room, and he took it - thus why he's no longer shaking. But said lyrium also made him black out; something he never experienced before. Teia knocks him out, having gotten what she needed from him, and steals the kit to bring back to Viago, who all this time has been pacing in his room freaking out like he's in a danger zone.

From the architecture to the food, Antivan culture was a celebration of romance and the freedom of expression. The typical Antivan craved passion—spontaneity. Viago was not a typical Antivan. He liked facts—checklists, numbers, precise measurements. Heart palpitations, clammy hands, tight pants—Viago did not like these things. In fact, he would go so far as to say he hated them. Mild curiosity was his favourite mood. What Teia had elicited in him was akin to an internal natural disaster.

But with Teia's return, Viago is able to test the lyrium kit, and finds it was poisoned, but because it was mixed with lyrium, diluted enough to not kill him. The two begin debating who could be responsible for all the murders, if not Dante. Teia gets very defensive when Viago suggests Caterina is responsible. She doesn't want to believe Caterina would do such a thing, but Viago insists she would without hesitation. Teia remains upset, and things start to get tense between her and Viago.

“You always think the worst of people,” Teia whispered. “And I’m usually right,” Viago spat. “You should know how people are. You grew up in the dirt.” He regretted the words immediately. Teia’s eyes glossed over with disgust. “I guess the dirt treated me better than your gilded cage.” Viago’s own temper flared. “Don’t—” She put a finger to his lips, silencing him. Viago flinched from the contact. “See, unlike you, I’m not ashamed of where I came from.” She stepped back toward the door. “And I don’t let it define me.”

At dinner, Teia contemplates Viago's words about Caterina. Eventually, she and Emil head back upstairs to bring food to the still confined Dante and Viago. On the way, Emil and Teia have a cute moment where notes that she is everyone's favourite. Then, Emil begins reciting how the Antivan Crows began as a group.

“Do you know how the Crows began?” Emil asked. “Before the masks and the tattoos and the houses?” Teia thought back to her lessons as a girl. “They were monks—near Treviso? They poisoned a duke who was terrorizing their village.” He nodded approvingly. “They were a group of individuals who did what needed to be done to protect the Antivan people. Over the years, we lost sight of that. Now, it’s all about family. Blood. Instead of a claw working as one, we fight over scraps. Eventually, we’ll all starve.”

Then, Emil and Teia find Dante's dead body.

While that happens, Viago sulks in his room about Teia's final words to him before departing for dinner. He is bitter that she is right.

Viago was hardly Antiva’s only royal bastard. His father had taken many a mistress before and after his mother. To protect the line of succession, the illegitimate children were given a choice: live a life of luxury in exile or join the Crows. Viago was simply the only one who had chosen the latter. Rising to the rank of Talon should’ve been enough. With a small army of assassins at his beck and call, Viago was more powerful than the king. But the harder he worked, the more resentful he became of his half-siblings, who knew nothing of ruling or tactics. The knowledge that, if given a chance, he could restore strength to the Crown dogged him—leaving a hole that no contract or coin could fill.

But when Viago goes to get a change of clothes from the dresser, he is bitten by a venomous adder.

Luckily, Teia realizes that Viago must be in danger if Dante is dead, because his killing matches a famous double assassination. She is able to find an antidote just in time among Viago's ridiculously named vials of puns.

When Viago wakes up, Teia fills him in on Dante's death. It occurs to Viago that he has a way of telling who the killer is, because of this, and the remaining Talons all gather near the villa's fireplace. Because Dante was first suffocated, but the killer didn't know he had the Pillow Talk serum on his lips, Viago reveals that whoever killed him would have a green glow to their gloves under the light. But before they actually conduct the test, Emil admits himself to be the killer.

Yet another great thing about this story is the reincorporation of little pieces, woven into the story seamlessly. The way Viago's sidenote on taking a daily dose of Adder's Kiss ends up helping to keep him alive, and now, the way the serum glows green under candlelight solves the murder mystery.

Emil attacks, but Caterina whacks him over the head with her cane hard enough to send him to the ground. She accuses him of just wanting money out of this, but Emil insists he did it out of patriotism.

“Why?” Bolivar asked. “Why would you do this?” “Money,” Caterina stated plainly. “It’s always money with Emil.” He choked out a pained laugh. “It’s always money with all of us. That’s the problem. In the beginning, we were protectors. We fought for Antiva—for the people. Then somewhere along the way we chose profit over patriotism.” “So, what? You’re killing us pro bono?” Viago sneered. “Not exactly,” Emil confessed. “The Qunari are coming. I was approached and presented a contract—an opportunity—for a peaceful invasion. In exchange for seven deaths, we could keep our way of life. They wouldn’t make us submit to the Qun.” “And you believed them,” Teia scoffed. Emil squared his shoulders. “The Qunari are many things—brutal, rigid, merciless warriors—but they are also honourable.” “There was no honor in Ventus,” Viago growled. “They pulled magisters from their homes. Clapped them in irons, destroyed their minds with poison, and paraded them through the streets.” “It would be different here,” Emil whispered, his conviction diminishing. “That’s why I made the deal.” Caterina hissed, “You made the deal so that you would be the only house left. No more sharing of contracts. No more territory disputes. The Kortez family would be the only family.” “Under one Talon, we might actually get something done.” Even Bolivar laughed at this. “The assassins of House Balazar, Valisti, and Arainai would never submit to you. You killed their Talons.” “Every life is worth a price. And I have the coin to pay it. We’re nothing but a glorified guild of mercenaries now.”

Then, each Talon takes their turn at stabbing Emil to death.

The following morning, they signal the mainland and Bolivar is the first to leave. Teia, Viago, and Caterina remain to discuss steps to prepare for the invasion.

As they prepare to leave themselves, Viago remarks that this is probably the end of Emil's entire house.

Teia sighed. “I only hope the real Emil acted alone. I’d hate to add more bodies to the pyre.” Viago grunted. “House Kortez is dead. Caterina will see to that.” “She’ll be fair,” Teia challenged. “She’ll be ruthless. Just like House Gaspari.” “Who?” “Exactly.” Viago smirked. “Mark my words—she’ll bring her demon of a grandson back from Tevinter to do the job personally.” A shiver passed through them both. “What did you call my grandson?” a voice behind them asked. Viago let out a nervous laugh.

This makes me wonder: How many times has Caterina ordered Lucanis to take out an entire Crow House, in order to maintain control? Because... damn.

Viago says he is headed to Antiva City to talk to his father about the incoming invasion, and Teia asks him if he needs a place to stay. It's a very cute way of ending the story:

“Are you going straight home to Salle?” He sighed and shook his head. “Antiva City.” “To brief His Royal Fatherliness?” She balanced the stick on the tip of her boot. He reached for it. “Why are you asking?” With a kick, she flung the stick onto her other foot. “To see if you had a place to stay.” She held him with a brazen smile. He remembered the feel of her cheek under his fingers, of her hips against his. “Is that an invitation?” “Is that a yes?” He reached out again. This time, she let him have the walking stick, but held on to the end. Viago drew her close, until they were a breath apart. “It’s a definite maybe,” he murmured. Teia beamed up at him. “My favourite answer.”