Laeli Hawke hated Kirkwall. She hated how it seemed to always smell like a noxious pier, unless you were actually on the pier (which smelled somehow worse). She hated the baking heat, the rocks and the stones that seemed to be the only building material Wallers knew about. She hated how it was a bloodly hub for Templars, and she especially hated how Fereldans were treated.

Right now, though, she hated the heat most. She was stuck in the back pantry of Lirene's, waiting out the heat for the darkness so she could check in with Athenril. The stuffy, moldy and rat infested cupboard made her almost rethink Athenril's offer to use one of the safehouses.

Laeli struck the thought before she could latch on to it. Lirene's had weathered more than one Templar raid; the same could not be said of Athenril's scattered holdings in the city.

When the Coterie'd found that Athenril was using a Mage as one of her prime smugglers, they'd tried to lure her to them. When that didn't work, they'd tried scaring her or threatening her loved ones. It wasn't until one of Lirene's associates warned her that they'd been selling information to the Templars. It was a small miracle that Gamlen's hovel hadn't been razed to ground already.

The night she'd narrowly escaped the ambush, she'd left. Her family, despite Mother's best efforts, didn't have any more standing than they'd had when they'd washed ashore a year ago. It would only be a matter of time until Laeli was caught, and they would be punished for concealing a Mage.

Lirene offered to hide her; she was a Fereldan in need, after all, and she'd spent a good deal of time liberating stolen Fereldan goods from Coterie keepers. Lirene didn't want to lose her contact in the smuggling world either, so it worked out for everyone.

She just wished it wasn't so hot!

Laeli jerked when she heard her Mabari bark in the main area of the store. It was too muffled for her to make out the tone; nor could she hear more than the occasional muffled cry.

Was it a raid? Had the Coterie found her daytime refuge after all?

Quiety, she moved to the side of the room and carefully arranged the blankets there around and over her, so she just looked like another pile of dirty bedding in the storage area. She was even more abyssmally hot, but she remained hidden, barely breathing, until Lirene came in to let her know it was safe.

She was so warm she dozed, and she wondered how much time had passed before she heard the crack of knuckles on the false back of the cupboard she was hiding in.

xx

"Laeli,"

She didn't move until she saw Lirene silhouetted against the dim light of the room beyond. The woman left the door open just enough that a beam of weak light made it's way in.

"It was your brother," Lirene said after Laeli'd disentangled herself from the sheets. After sitting in that furnace for Maker knows how long, she felt amazingly cooler. Lirene passed her a small cup of water and she nearly choked bolting it all down at once.

"He ask about me again?" Though they'd had their differences growing up and coming to Kirkwall, the relationship she'd had with her younger brother had taken an abrupt turn when she decided it would be better for all of them if she simply vanished.

"Always, but you weren't who he was looking for today." Lirene peered through the door a moment, making sure no one had followed her back out of habit. "He's planning some expedition, needed maps or a guide."

Laeli snorted. Carver wasn't the first person she thought of when she needed a navigator. "Probably Bartrand's. His is the only caravan planning to leave soon. Who would possibly lead that circus to buried treasure? Even after a Blight the roads will be thick with Darkspawn."

"He heard rumors of a Fereldan Warden that snuck in with the rest of the refugees on the tail end of the Blight." Lirene went on. "It worries me that stories of him are already surfacing... But hopefully his reputation as a Warden will keep the worst of the thugs at bay."

"Rumors of who?"

"He's another Mage in hiding, same as you. But a Healer, not a smuggler or the Coterie would have snatched him up by now, Warden or not."

Laeli felt uneasy for a moment, but she quashed the feeling. She'd managed to survive alone before. She could easily do it again. "A healer would be more valuable to you than a pyromancer, you know."

"Hush, I know what you're going to say and I'll hear none of it. Anders doesn't need anyone protecting him; he can do that himself. As a matter of fact, he prefers it."

"Does he, now?"

"He says it makes his work easier, so don't go looking for him. It's hard enough keeping Templars away from you alone."

"You're assuming I'll have time. Athenril's kept me fairly busy," She stood up and started stretching.

"Stay out of trouble, Hawke."

"Do my best, but I promise nothing."