Their investigation around the docks pointed to a campsite out on the Wounded Coast, and that kind of adventure called for reinforcements. Conveniently enough, they'd already run into Isabela. The Rivaini loved hanging out around the docks, and made a killing playing Wicked Grace with young, landlocked sailors.
"Care to go hiking with us?" Hawke asked, propping one boot on the crate where Isabela sat. "We hear the coast is lovely this time of year."
She sighed. "How can I refuse, when you ask so nicely?" The men groaned and protested her departure even as she swept their losses into her pouch. "Look on the bright side, boys. You probably have enough left for a pint ... if you share."
Hawke just shook her head as the three of them walked away. "You're going to wear out your welcome down here."
"Unless the sailors run out of money first," Varric said.
The pirate shrugged a bare shoulder. "Maybe I'll take my game upcity, where the real money is."
Kirkwall's noblemen falling victim to Isabela's bare, bronze skin and ruthlessness at cards? The thought brought a grin to her lips. "Speaking of Hightown, let's see if Aveline's free."
Varric looked at her skeptically. "Hawke, if the captain wanted to get involved in this mess, she probably wouldn't have asked us in the first place."
"She asked us to get answers. She might be interested in the cleanup. Especially if she wants her brought in alive."
Aveline barely glanced up from her mountain of paperwork. "Hawke, if I had time to chase down every reprobate who stirs up trouble around here, I wouldn't need your help."
"Of course. We're only doing your dirty work - why would you feel obliged to get involved?" She stormed out of the guard captain's office.
Isabela caught up to her first. "What's got into you?"
"I just think she should at least help us fight her battles." She shoved through the heavy doors of the Keep and into blinding sunlight.
"Since when do we need her? Let's go get Fenris and -"
Hawke's step faltered at the sound of his name. Isabela grabbed her arm.
"Andraste's holy hole, did something finally happen?"
Varric showed up before she could respond. "So, what's the plan?" They both watched her expectantly.
There was always someone looking to her for answers. She wondered if anyone understood how tiresome that could be. Shutting her eyes, she pinched the bridge of her nose. "Go get Fenris," she sighed. "We'll be at Hubert's stall - he had Bone Pit business he wanted to discuss."
"Are you -"
"Just go, Varric!" she snapped. "Tell him we need his help. I don't like our odds on the Coast without a bit of brute strength on our side." She gave Isabela a stern look and headed down the stairs.
"Well? Tell me what happened."
"No."
She made an indignant noise and swatted Hawke on the arm. "What do you mean, no?"
"I don't want to talk about it."
"Fine." She folded her arms across her ample chest. "And here I thought you liked Fenris."
"I do - did - " She stopped short. "Maker, Isabela, no means no! I don't want to talk about it, and I really don't want you prattling on in front of him and making things worse. Is that clear?" The pirate's wounded expression quickly cooled Hawke's temper. "I'm sorry, Bela. I just…"
"It's alright," she assured her, linking her arm through hers. "I'll get it out of you when you're ready - or drunk."
Her meeting with Hubert turned into an argument, as it often did.
"I think you overstep your bounds, Serah Hawke. Ours is an equal partnership, is it not?"
"Need I remind you that without me, you'd have no miners, and essentially no mine? I will speak with the men, find out how the coin could best be spent, and we will invest half of this windfall in our workforce."
"Bah." Hubert flapped his hands at her. "You coddle these men, serah, but I see there is no arguing with you. Do what you will."
Varric appeared. "Doesn't she always?"
Shoulders stiff, Hawke turned. Fenris stood a few paces behind, looking everywhere but at her. "Ah, good. You're here. Thank you, Fenris, for joining us."
His voice was strained. "You have more than earned my blade."
"Yes. Great. Let's go."
The sun pounded them from above and the wind staged a cruel frontal assault, making the trek exceptionally grueling; at least it was quiet. On their way to the cove, Isabela had launched into her seemingly endless repertoire of sea shanties, Varric joining in on the ones he knew. But now, bloody and worn from battle, they lacked the energy even for that. Hawke took bitter comfort from Fenris' slumped shoulders and downcast gaze.
They had known they'd find an elf with ties to Orlais, heavily guarded by mercenaries. They had not known, however, that the elf was a mage, which of course escalated the tension between herself and Fenris. She'd almost wanted him to say something to provoke her, but to what end? A shouting match wouldn't accomplish anything … although it might relieve some of this contention. But he held his tongue, so she did the same.
By time they reached the city, the sun had retreated beyond the horizon.
"Fenris." Was it her imagination, or did he flinch at the sound of his name on her lips? She held out the scrap of parchment she'd retrieved from the Orlesian elf's body. "You should take this to Aveline." It was a list of names - some familiar, some not, likely targets of the blackmail scheme. "Since you're headed that way."
Maybe he never intended to join them, or maybe he took the hint. "I...yes. Of course." He took the parchment without so much as a glance at her face and slunk off towards Hightown.
Varric and Isabela exchanged glances but said nothing.
"What? You want to drink with him, go ahead. He's got that stolen wine cellar, I'm sure he'd be happy to play host." She headed for the Hanged Man, and after a moment they followed.
Dinner and drinks led to Wicked Grace and drinks, everyone pretended that Fenris' absence was nothing notable, and things felt almost normal. Except, of course, for the amber eyes watching her intently from the corner. And Hawke kept her gaze fixed intently anywhere but there.
Perhaps too intently.
"If I didn't know better, I'd think you were trying to see through our cards," Varric teased. "Wait - can you do that?"
"If she could, she wouldn't be losing," Isabela snorted.
"Maybe that's what I want you to think. Maybe I'm just waiting for the stakes to be high enough, and I'll make you all look like fools." She stared at her hand, then dropped her cards onto the table. "Not tonight, though. I fold."
He frowned. "As do I."
The Rivaini squealed gleefully. She never tired of winning.
"And on that note, I'm afraid I have to resign." The dwarf drained his glass and stood. "I've got a guild thing in the morning, and they have an aversion to reasonable timing."
"Good luck with that." Hawke turned to Isabela. "I'd appreciate it if you'd put off your plan to get me drunk and pry gossip out of me for another night," she sighed.
"Actually…" she looked pointedly over Hawke's shoulder. "I think I've got plans."
She stretched and nonchalantly glanced behind her. A pretty young woman in a very short dress stood at the bar, undeniably looking in their direction. Grinning, she turned back to her friend. "So I see."
"Unless…" She sighed. "I suppose it's not nice of me to leave you -"
"Oh, don't." Hawke waved her hand dismissively. "I'm fine. I'll finish my pint and head home. Maker knows I need an early night or two."
"You're sure?"
"Completely. Happy hunting," she added with a wink.
Hawke hadn't even finished her pint before Isabela and her new friend were heading arm in arm out the door. She smiled ruefully into her glass. You'd never catch a woman like that crying over a lost lover. Well, unless you count ships… which Bela probably did.
The sudden appearance of a glass of whiskey interrupted her thoughts. "I already have a drink." She didn't need to look up to see how it had gotten there.
"But it's almost gone." To her dismay, the blond man sat down across from her.
"And if I wanted another, I'd get it myself," she sighed. "Look, I don't want this being a … thing. Okay?"
"I'm not - I mean, I don't want …" Now it was his turn to sigh. He ran a hand through his hair, which had recently become acquainted with a comb. "I had a decent night's sleep for the first time in years. I just thought that warranted a 'thank you'."
"That's a little weird," she said, raising her brow. "Just so you know."
"I'm sure it is. I'm new to this." He pinned her with his damnably brilliant eyes. "Maybe I need more practice."
"Maybe you should try the Blooming Rose."
He gave her a crooked smile that made heat well up under the collar of her robe. "There's nothing there that I want."
Hawke exhaled sharply. "Really, I -"
"Tell me you didn't enjoy it," he challenged.
She opened and closed her mouth a few times before she found words. "Did you really just ask me that?'
He shrugged, spreading his hands palms-up. "What've I got to lose?"
Suddenly parched, she grabbed the whiskey and downed it in two gulps. "Okay, yes. I did enjoy it."
"Then why not enjoy it again?"
Pressing her lips between her teeth, she considered this carefully, and found herself lacking in answers. Avoiding his gaze, she rolled the empty glass between her palms, testing a series of weak excuses. She could feel his eyes on her, but he said nothing.
She sighed. "People would talk."
"Oh? What people?" He looked around theatrically, then leaned across the table and lowered his voice. "Right - the drunks. Of course!" He fought back a smile, but his eyes crinkled up at the corners. "You're absolutely right. I'd hate to ruin your reputation with the drunk community."
Laughter burst from her lips like a bird startled out of a tree. She covered her mouth in a mix of shock and embarrassment, but that knot in the pit of her stomach had loosened a little. She looked intently at her hands for a long while before she raised her eyes to his face. He was handsome. And … skilled. "I don't want this to get complicated," she said firmly.
"No complications," he promised and slowly, deliberately wet his lips.
"Andraste's pyre," she murmured, getting to her feet. "Go on, then."
"Oh no," he said, bowing. "Ladies first."
She shot him a devilish look over her shoulder. "We'll see about that."