Of loss and love... Chapter 7 is up.

Here's a little teaser:

 [...] He stopped moving completely, except for a raised eyebrow, when his gaze landed on the letter again; he had noticed on the envelope the name of the head of a noble family from one the northern Free Marches cities, the last one he had been able to visit in his ongoing campaign to retake Starkhaven. This family in particular had pledged to support him but had made no offer to help him with troops, like many other of the allies he had recruited. So Sebastian had allies, but no actual army with which to retake his city. 

Intrigued, he opened the letter and read the elegant writing arranged neatly all over the parchment, reminding him of the troops he so desperately needed. A troubled scowl painted his forehead when he finished reading it, and it took all his will not to crumble the parchment with his fingers. [...]

Rage and loathing crashed against him so hard they took all the air out of his lungs. With a shaking hand, Sebastian left the letter back on the desk and made a decision right there. He only had time to grab his shirt before he left his room, and, putting it on on his way out, went to look for the grand cleric.

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 To read the story from the beginning, click here.

Of loss and love... Chapter 6 is up!

Here's a little teaser:

“Child, something is bothering you,” Elthina said as soon as Sebastian closed the Chantry’s massive doors behind them. Her clear eyes were looking at him with concern. 

Sebastian closed his eyes, his hands still resting on the carved door. Elthina knew. Of course she knew. 

“Is it that obvious, Your Grace?” he asked when he finally faced the grand cleric. 

Her smile was gentle when she replied, “Sebastian, I’ve known you for a very long time; do not think I haven’t noticed how troubled your heart has been lately.” 

He lowered his head. “You see much...” 

Hawke’s expression when he had told her he needed to accompany Elthina back to the Chantry came back to haunt him. She had seemed strangely reluctant to part from his company, and even though she hadn’t attempted to stop him with words, the way she had last looked at him had made the walk to the Chantry feel unreal, for his thoughts had strayed from his mind, following Hawke as a ship would follow the blaze coming from a lighthouse in the middle of a storm...

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 To read the whole story, click here.