There's a faint, hollow ringing in his ears. For a beat, Alistair's face is completely blank.

"He never..." Dawning comprehension, then. "That's why. I couldn't -- "

Grey Wardens can always sense their own. Whenever Alistair crossed paths with Blackwall, something felt -- off, but he couldn't place his finger on what. And now he understands.

Because Blackwell isn't a Warden at all. Blackwell never took the Joining. Never swore the oath. Never --

The comprehension's outpaced by disbelief; by disgust; by fury that ignites like a wildfire, all while his grip slowly tightens on Cullen's hand.