"Yes. As I recall, the Seneschal was deeply involved. I was not, but there was ... The Inquisition brought both its templars and its mages to the table, to try to negotiate out of the strike. The mages won the right to decide what to do with the phylacteries, those that could be identified as belonging to Inquisition-aligned mages, at least. But it came at the cost of some concessions. I am not a diplomat, but my understanding is that everyone leaves the table somewhat annoyed is not an uncommon outcome of this sort of discussion."

He sighs, though, and goes on. "I mention it because... I do not know for sure, but in hindsight, it seems to me, this was about when Antosha began to lose faith in the Inquisition. Based on some conversations we had," sometimes arguments, though not always, "I believe that he did not defect because he agreed with Corypheus. He defected because he feared that even if the Inquisition won the war, his reward would be imprisonment in a Circle. That the Inquisition would not shield him, or might even actively hand him over to the Chantry." Quieter, he adds: "I do not believe the man I knew would agree with all or most of the Venatori's politics and aims. But I can believe that he would hold his nose and tolerate them if it kept him out of a cage."

Vanya had been able to believe, for a time, that their identities as Templar and apostate were less important than their identities as Inquisition members. In hindsight, if Antosha had ever believed that, the belief hadn't lasted as long.