Dear cousin,

Life is getting tense in here in Kinloch hold. Especially after a newly harrowed mage Surana left with a Grey Warden Duncan and another, an apprentice Jevan?, Jowan? or something escaped.
Now, normally an escape wouldn't be that big of a deal. There is a mage, Anders, who escapes with such regularity there are bets going around about when his next escape is going to be and how long it's going to take until they catch him. No, the difference here is that the guy who escaped was a bloodmage.

It was expected of course, that something was going to happen. It is an open secret among the enchanters that books about blood magic are left lying around those that seem to have an unhealthy interest in power or those that seem especially insecure. It is a test of sorts. To see if they can withstand the temptation. There are multiple ways to pass, you could turn the books in, you could ignore them, you could even read/study them (the theories in those books are useful in understanding the other schools of magic) but you should never practise the magics described in the books. No matter how much you try to hide it, to those more in touch with the fade (or an especially talented templar) you are tainted forever. Besides those that try often act pretty suspicious during and afterward, and usually get caught in the act.

It was luck, really. Instead of any amount of skill that allowed the kid to escape. He was lucky on three counts. The first was that Irving had no proof beyond mere suspicion that he was going to try something. The second was that Uldred, the one who usually deals with bloodmages, is off to Ostagar to help fight the darkspawn horde that has gathered there. And his third point of luck was that Surana and a chantry-initiate (they were in love apparently) helped him get rid of his phylactery otherwise he probably wouldn't even have gotten into the phylactery room.

There is no point in dwelling on the past though, even if it is only a week since it happened. "Adapt and move on" that is the way to survive here in Ferelden. Well that, and "take every opportunity you have to get out for a while with both hands". The templars have gotten stricter with us mages, less time alone, more oversight on subjects of study and curfew is followed more closely. It at least isn't as bad here as it was back in Kirkwall. There is more respect between the mages and templars here.

Now, enough about what is going around here. How are you doing? Your brothers are also of to Ostagar right? Are you waiting for their return? How is your mother coping? I know it hasn't been that long since your father died. If I were you, I would start packing. The grey warden that was here while he was confident in the might of the army gathered seemed nervous over the size of horde and didn't seem sure this isn't the start of a new blight.

So my recommendation to you is that you start to pack, just in case the battle goes south. Now you know the drill. If you can't write back directly, just use the summoning ritual I sent you and Muninn shall appear to deliver your letter.

Hope this will find you in good health.

Kind regards (also to your family), and stay away from templars.

(Knight)Enchanter,

Daylen Amell