Rhone hadn’t family to question. It would have been convenient, he supposed, to have some relative in Val Royeaux, someone whose word he could trust because they were bound by blood. He had friends in the Templars, but if Elise spoke the truth, those brothers and sisters could have been in Nevarra as easily as the Spire. Even if he knew Templars in the city, he’d always been closest to those in Montsimmard and those he’d traveled with in Nevarra. His time in Val Royeaux had been too infrequent over the last decade and his relationships had grown feeble in his absence.
There had been no lasting friendships from his childhood. He’d been a wildling with his caregivers. With the other children, Rhone had been a brawler and an instigator. From the first day, he’d been a compulsive liar and a thief. If he scratched his memories, he could remember a few faces, a name or two. However, if they hadn't been taken by the Templars, they'd been all but forgotten. In turn, he couldn't imagine he'd be a welcome sight.
Abelie would undoubtedly have things to say. When Elise suggested her counsel, Rhone nodded.
He supposed that there was also Jana. She was never short an opinion, never shy. She’d tell him, in no uncertain terms, if she’d seen something, anything in need of change (whether it was in his power to change it or not). As far as he knew, she was still in the Trocadéro.
Rhone was distant for these few pondering moments, and he found himself nodding weakly when Urban insisted that he meet Elise’s source. When Urban sought Rhone’s eyes out, his agreement became firmer. Though Urban didn’t need Rhone’s support or permission, he offered quietly: “I think it’s wise.” The closer to the source’s mouth, the better. The more Ser Urban investigated, the better. Ser Kief too, whose rationality was as much of a comfort as Urban’s skepticism. Kief wouldn’t linger more than necessary. Urban wouldn’t be led unduly astray by Elise’s intelligence.
“The Wardens are beyond our help.” The three of them couldn’t be tasked with solving every problem from here to Amaranthine. He didn’t want to deprive Urban his answers, and assumed that Urban asked out of more than mere curiosity. “Forgive me, Ser Urban… but I’m more concerned with what Elise meant by ‘not fit to serve’. We have mages in our company. If they’re at risk, even with our supervision, we should know that now.” ‘With our supervision’ was a great joyless joke: for all the mages with them, only one was present.
“Noah is at the Spire. Now. Will he be detained?” Noah was a Spire mage and his freedom was the Spire’s to revoke, but Rhone knew that detainment wouldn’t be without consequences. All of the mages in their care, whether they were Circle or apostate, were expected back in Amaranthine. “… and Enchanter Wyland is one of Ferelden’s few Circle mages. Under no circumstances can she be detained here indefinitely. None.”