Cassandra does not fix Josephine with the same angry glare she had pinned on Leliana, but her brows draw down in disapproval at her suggestion.
"Should I have left her to wander free while I consulted with you?" she asks sharply. "Should I have asked her to wait while we discussed in detail just how valid a threat she posed? Yes, I am sure she would have been happy to sit patiently and allow us to come to a consensus on what must be done with her, this mage who directly threatened the Inquisition -"
She is ranting, at Josephine no less, and she cuts herself off, seething and looking angrily away, her heart twisting in her chest as their diplomat invokes the Herald's name. She shoots a grateful look to Cullen as he speaks up; he, at least, seems to understand the potential risk, their duty to keep the entire Inquisition safe.
Then Leliana speaks again, and the flames of Cassandra's ire are fanned to life once again. "Forgive me if I argue against known threats being allowed to wander Skyhold freely, Spymaster," she says with a cold waspishness that surprises even her. "Forgive me if I seek to identify them before they act against us, and lives are nearly lost." It is petty, and more cruel than she ever allows herself to be - but she feels petty, and angry, and betrayed anew with every word that passes Leliana's lips.
Her own lips twist in a sneer as Leliana fails to understand the point yet again. She has never known the Left Hand to be so obstinately obtuse. "If you will not listen, then this is pointless," she growls. "I have told you. I did not imprison her because she displeased me. You will note that I have made no move to imprison you." Her voice raises again, louder with every word as if hoping that if she only shouts loudly enough, Leliana will finally hear her. "She threatened the Inquisition. I did not have time to consider allies, to consider how the elves might feel that a stranger who is not even one of their own now faces consequences for her promise to open further rifts as and when she pleases." She pauses, breathing heavily. She is angry now, her face red.
"I acted because I knew I must, because action had to be taken and I was the one in a position to do so."
never apologize
"Should I have left her to wander free while I consulted with you?" she asks sharply. "Should I have asked her to wait while we discussed in detail just how valid a threat she posed? Yes, I am sure she would have been happy to sit patiently and allow us to come to a consensus on what must be done with her, this mage who directly threatened the Inquisition -"
She is ranting, at Josephine no less, and she cuts herself off, seething and looking angrily away, her heart twisting in her chest as their diplomat invokes the Herald's name. She shoots a grateful look to Cullen as he speaks up; he, at least, seems to understand the potential risk, their duty to keep the entire Inquisition safe.
Then Leliana speaks again, and the flames of Cassandra's ire are fanned to life once again. "Forgive me if I argue against known threats being allowed to wander Skyhold freely, Spymaster," she says with a cold waspishness that surprises even her. "Forgive me if I seek to identify them before they act against us, and lives are nearly lost." It is petty, and more cruel than she ever allows herself to be - but she feels petty, and angry, and betrayed anew with every word that passes Leliana's lips.
Her own lips twist in a sneer as Leliana fails to understand the point yet again. She has never known the Left Hand to be so obstinately obtuse. "If you will not listen, then this is pointless," she growls. "I have told you. I did not imprison her because she displeased me. You will note that I have made no move to imprison you." Her voice raises again, louder with every word as if hoping that if she only shouts loudly enough, Leliana will finally hear her. "She threatened the Inquisition. I did not have time to consider allies, to consider how the elves might feel that a stranger who is not even one of their own now faces consequences for her promise to open further rifts as and when she pleases." She pauses, breathing heavily. She is angry now, her face red.
"I acted because I knew I must, because action had to be taken and I was the one in a position to do so."