When they left Sanctum, it wasn't a parade. It was more like vanishing.
No crowds cheered, no flowers were thrown, and no speeches echoed from the balcony. Queen Mirabelle knew how important appearances could be, but she valued secrecy even more. With the Eastern Alchemists and the Inquisition both after the Seal, she couldn't risk anyone knowing she'd left the throne.
Before dawn, a thick magical fog hid a small group of riders as they slipped out through the North Gate.
She didn't bring the whole Iron Legion. Marching an army across the Frozen Wastes would be far too slow and risky. Instead, Mirabelle chose fifty of the Grey Ghosts, Varric's best soldiers in their new magic-eating Star-Metal armor, and a few supply wagons enchanted to glide over snow.
Commander Varric remained behind.
