Elise's expression hardened. It was true that there were plenty in the Chantry's ranks who would defend every action the Divine had taken. Many a Templar who saw nothing wrong with striking down mages on principle, and she didn't know exactly the sort of people Ser Urban had decided to bring along with him. Her narrowed eyes flickered towards Rhone.
"That is exactly what I'm saying. I have a witness who overheard the exchange between the Divine herself and the Warden Commander. She was asked to hand over her mages, without reason given other than the Divine herself's request. They committed no crimes, and like it or not, their treaty protects them from Chantry rule. Instead they have given their lives over to the service of the Wardens and we are hardly in a position to say whether we think it is a sacrifice or not, being none of us Wardens ourselves."
Glancing towards Lee and then Urban, she shook her head. "I did not invite anyone here to debate with me. If you believe mages ought to be imprisoned in a horrible place merely for the fate of being mages... well then I suppose that is between you and the Maker, but the laws state what happened was wrong. There are ways for the Grand Clerics to make changes within the Chantry, if an abuse of power is happening, but they need proof. I've sent missives to other Chantries in other countries, and they will send delegates of their own. To come and get this information from me, to look around and see for themselves, to report back to their homes. And hopefully the Grand Clerics can do something before we end up in a war."
Sighing, she crossed her arms in front of her. "It does not please me anymore than any of you. I have served the Chantry since I was a small girl. This is my home." Shaking her head, Elise looked to them all. "I have a list of names, Templars who will speak with you on what they have observed. I also urge you to pay a visit to the tower here and speak to the mages inside. Talk to the people of the city, friends... family if you have any Ser Rhone. Sister Abelie will undoubtedly have things to say. Val Royeaux is not the same these days." She offered a small smile. "I do not expect the four of you to strike out and stage a coup. I just ask you to take what I have told you home."
"Yes, the Warden mages were undoubtedly sent to Aeonar without reason. And yes, it is a place of horrors. They say to us... only for the worst of crimes. But that has not always been true either. It is a place where you can send anyone you'd like to conveniently disappear. There are Orlesian Templars right now occupying Nevarra, while many of their own Templars were sent from the country. I don't know why. They Chantry is one entity, but that does not mean we do not all have love and loyalty for our homes, does it?" She shook her head. "What else I know for certain? The Mages have been ordered to remain in their tower here, indefinitely. Though I am not certain who gave the order, or what the reason was. I also know Templar presence and patrols in the city have increased, nearly doubled, and we have had an influx of new recruits. I do not know if some of them are even fit to serve..." She shook her head. "If you're familiar with the training grounds, you might go and speak with some, see what I mean."