I see what must be done, and I do it.

If one thought that getting out of radio duty for the day meant Cassandra would sleep in, one did not truly know Cassandra Pentaghast. No; she was taking advantage of the extra time to put in an early sweep of the island before resuming her training in the salle. She had done such sweeps recently, but they had lapsed to twice a week rather than once a day, largely because it had become rather obvious that simply walking over the causeway would not get her home.

She had explored various exit points already, to no avail. The causeway was both the most obvious and the least likely choice, which made it her end point.

She regarded the long stretch of road critically, the metal of her armor clacking together as she crossed her arms. The books had always said some nonsense about 'thinking of home' when you wanted to return, but that had clearly never helped. Still, she brought the image of home up in her mind: the vast spires and artful bridges of Montsimmard, the halls of the Montsimmard Chantry, lit with candles. The Seekers, their armors shining, running their swords along the whetstone. The sound of the Chanters outside, reciting their lines.

"The one who repents, who has faith," she murmured, "Unshaken by the darkness of the world, she shall know true peace."

She took a step, and then another step, and then another, all in firm rhythm; there was no uncertainty in her, nor in her gait. She saw the blue sky, and the road before her, and she heard the bustle of Fandom, and she felt...

...she felt a sweep of cold beyond her nose.

Her gait stuttered, then stopped. She looked over her shoulder and saw mountains.

"Cassandra!"

Her gaze snapped back. Candles. Runes. Empty vials. Bodies. And--

"Byron!"

[[ establishy! last five lines nfb due to distance. ]]

Swords clashed. Feet moved. No longer, Cassandra thought distantly, did the weight of her armor burden her. It had not been such for nearly a year, but this marked the first time she was conscious of it. Good. A proper warrior had to be accustomed to the pressure of pauldrons on her shoulders, the drag of the breastplate on her chest.

Seeker Byron struck out at her again. She caught his blade with her own. His strength smashed into her with the added pressure of his weight, but she did not yield. She held.

And held.

And... suddenly, the pressure dissipated. She stumbled but a single step - it would have been more, once, but it was still one too many. Suddenly Byron's blade was at her throat, and she gasped.

"You are still too rash, Cassandra," Byron said, his voice laced with a gentleness contrary to the blows he had rained down on her but moments before. "You have great strength, but you cannot rely on it without also trying to glean your enemy's next move."

He took a step away. "We will continue this a week from now."

Cassandra frowned. "Why?" she said. "Where are you going?"

"The Seekers are riding out tomorrow," Byron said. "We were warned of a gathering of blood mages to the north. The Ferelden Circle is concerned; some of their mages have escaped recently."

Blood mages.

"Let me come," Cassandra said immediately, plaintively. "If I am to become a full Seeker, I--"

"No," Byron said. He put his practice blade back with the others. "I believe there is another mission in store for you. A test. There was an apostate arrested not far from here recently, but we've yet to find his lair."

"Byron, if anyone--"

"Cassandra," Byron said sharply. "The Lord Seeker commands it. If you wish to be a full Seeker, you will obey."

Cassandra's face fell, and she made no attempt to hide it. "I see," she said. "Very well."

Byron visibly relaxed. "Now please, go get some sleep," he said, and he was kinder again. Almost comforting. "You've much training to undergo before it's time, Cassandra, but I am confident it will be sooner than you expect. You're very talented." He reached out and gently touched her shoulder. "Now please, make sure you will be well rested in the morning."

Cassandra nodded, her mouth setting in a firm line. "Of course, Seeker Byron," she said.

She waited until she heard the second set of doors slam shut behind Byron. Then she hurled her practice sword violently at the wall.

"Ugh!"

[[ establishy. ]]