This chapter picks up a few years after the last.

"Kylee!" Fenris sighed as his eyes swept the courtyard of the keep. A quiet giggle followed by rustling brush gave the girl away. The elf sprinted in her direction and caught her around the waist as she laughed mischievously. Throwing her over his shoulder, carrying the child as one would carry a sack of turnips, Fenris could not suppress his own smile. While his time in Kirkwall had been turbulent, he had never known a greater sense of peace. Being settled in one place with those whom you could count on in times of crisis were comforts he had taken for granted. Since then his life had carried him across Thedas in search of… something. But surprisingly it was here, with this small human and what remained of his friends, that he found a similar sense of serenity.

The elf plopped down next to the tree where he had left their things and, before the girl could scurry away again, pulled her into his lap. "You may play when we have finished. Our task is nearly complete." Kylee looked up at him and pouted, doing her best to manipulate Fenris into letting her go earlier than planned. However he simply scoffed and reclaimed the book that had been abandoned in the grass. "That sort of influence may be successful with Varric but it will not serve you now."

Kylee sighed, realizing she was doomed, and turned her attention back to the book. She read aloud slowly as she stumbled and worked around words that were not yet familiar. "…the fires remained unlit while negot…"

"Negotiations."

"... were conducted, legend tells us, by shooting…"

"Shouting."

The girl sighed in frustration and furrowed her brow as she continued, "…shouting back and forth from the loft. The ma-mag…"

"Mages."

Fenris had to suppress a grin as the frustrated girl closed the book angrily and pushed it away. "I'll never finish it. It's too hard."

"Do not be in such a hurry. You are learning quickly." Kylee looked up at him with a perfect reflection of Anders' skepticism, causing the elf to chuckle. "Since we are so near the end I will finish." Fenris picked up the book and resumed reading from where the girl had stopped. "The mages went cheerily into exile in a remote fortress outside of the capital, where they would be kept under the watchful eye of the Templars and a council of their own elder magi. Outside of normal society, and outside of the Chantry, the mages would form their own closed society, the Circle, separated for the first time in human history." Fenris gently closed the book and set it next to him in the grass.

"I don't think Sister Petrine knew mages very well."

The comment surprised Fenris as he looked down at his young student. "What makes you think that?"

"Because mages don't like the circle. They wouldn't want to go there."

Fenris considered his next words carefully, knowing this to be dangerous territory. Anders was always very careful to avoid his political ravings around his daughter, choosing instead to carefully inform the girl and answer her questions as honestly as possible so she would form her own opinions rather than repeat his doctrine to unfriendly ears.

"I am not a mage and have never been to the circle," he started carefully. "But I do believe the mages of that time preferred the option."

"Why? The circle takes you away from your family if you have magic."

"That is true. Perhaps they did not fully understand the consequences of their decision."

"Well I never want to go to the circle." Kylee slowly turned in his lap so she was facing him. Her eyes were downcast and she spoke quietly. "If I'm a mage will the Templars come and take ME to the circle?"

Fenris felt a surge of angry fear. "No," he growled protectively. "I would never allow that to happen." He could see his tone frightened the little human so he took a calming breath. "You know your father would never let anyone take you. Neither would your uncle."

The thunder of four large Mabari paws and heavily armored footsteps heralded Carver's approach. Frederick skidded past where the elf and child were sitting and bounded happily before his mistress. "We are finished for today Kylee. You may do as you wish." Not wanting to question the sudden change in itinerary the girl smiled and scurried away from Fenris, darting around the corner with Frederick close behind. The elf sighed and stood slowly, retrieving the book from the grass. "What is it Carver?"

"Scouts spotted a caravan heading this way from Amaranthine."

"What of it?"

"They're flying Kirkwall's banner."