'Oh no. I was the youngest of three siblings – the baby of the family. '

'And your brother?'

'He wanted to become a Templar.'

'Ha!'

'Yeah, that dream pretty much disappeared the minute it turned out I was a mage.'

'How did you find out, Inquisitor? '

'I think I was 17'

'No, how?'

'Why so curious, Dorian?'

'Just making conversation. Although you'll admit that you know much more about me than I do about you. '

'True. But you have also lived a much more interesting life.'

'Flatterer. Besides, I am the only good conversation you're going to get while we're stuck here. Unless you want to talk to that Hairy Lummox. '

'Ugh. Or Vivienne. Don't know which would be worse. Ok, I found out when there was a fire in my room. '

'And?'

'And I covered it in three sheets of ice.'

'Ouch.'

'Indeed.'

The tavern was badly lit, and favoured huddling in corners. One was occupied by Evelyn and Dorian, the Inquisition's newest recruit. Evelyn supposed that from a distance, they looked like lovers.

'And was there anyone with you?'

'My oldest sister, Collete. She panicked, naturally.'

'Ah', Dorian grimaced. He heard a couple similar stories at Skyhold. Families turning on children with magical abilities. Evelyn's face, however, had a half formed smile on it.

'After she stopped panicking, she said', Evelyn paused for effect. She used to tell this story a lot in the Circle. 'Well, Evie, pack your bags. You're going to Tevinter'.

'She did not'

'I swear. That's how I knew we were related. She went into the library, and looked in every book to find a connection.'

'And your parents?'

'Caught her writing a letter to a magister'.

'She sounds very headstrong'.

'Oh, yes. She couldn't bear to think of me rotting away in the Circle'.

The sound of Blackwall's heavy metal boots on the hard wood floor stopped the conversation. His hair and beard were drenched as he ordered an ale, and walked towards the whispering pair. Evelyn considered him carefully. She still didn't trust him, despite all the praise he got at Haven. No one who talks that much about dignity and honour actually possesses it. Besides, she hated the Grey Wardens.

'I hope I didn't interrupt the conversation'.

'Not at all – I was just telling Dorian about the Circle in Ostwick.' She turned towards the Tevinter mage. He was good looking. A shame she wasn't interested in men. 'My parents were upset, naturally, but what was to be done? They came with me to the Circle, and explained that I had never shown any magical abilities before. Mostly people believed us – the Trevelyans are very closely allied to the Chantry.' The lie was well rehearsed and rolled off Evelyn's tongue mechanically.

'And your siblings', Dorian asked. Evelyn coughed into her ale, and the mage dropped the subject.

'What was life like in the Circle?', Blackwall asked, trying to fill the silence.

'Dull for the most part. I had become, eh, somewhat used to a certain lifestyle so the adjustment was a little rough. Although I didn't find it hard to blend in. You all wear the same clothes, and go through the same routines – after a while, you all look the same.

'I find that hard to believe'. Dorian flashed his magnificent smile.

'Tease. A few resented me because I was allowed to go home every month. Also, because of my talents. A lot of people used me to smuggle out letters and stuff, and I would smuggle in wine. So most were okay with the arrangement'.

'Wasn't that dangerous?"

'Yes. Thank the Maker Templars are thick as shit'.

Dorian laughed. Blackwall scowled. The conversation entered an even rhythm, until Scout Harding came in to inform them that the Bull's Chargers had arrived, and were engaged in a fight with a group of Venatori.

'Great', mumbled Blackhall, his second beer having just arrived. Evelyn smiled – he couldn't be all bad.