"Ma serannas," Varric said with a thin grin, waving to the Dalish who stared them down. As he turned with Aveline and Fenris in the wings, he muttered, "Tight-asses."

"At least they didn't kill us on sight?" Aveline offered.

"You can't tell me that Daisy's ..." Varric faltered a moment and shouldered Bianca more tightly on his back as they walked out from under the eaves of the forest. "You can't tell me her clan was ever that frigid."

"They have good reason," Fenris murmured as they strode towards the road.

"Motivations are entirely subjective." Varric exhaled, looking ahead as he wandered away from them.

It was mid-afternoon when they came upon a three-storey inn along the road, nestled in the thinning trees. The siding was weathered grey, testament to its age and a small stable was butted against the northern wall, with a trio of horses inside. The porch had a handful of chairs and a small table that were all vacant.

"It's about damned time," Varric said as he turned towards the building.

"No, we cannot afford to stop," Fenris said, and he motioned up-road. "For all we know, Sio... Hawke could already be there. If we stop, I might never see her again."

"In which case, there's no point in us hurrying," Varric sighed, turning around. "Look, Broody, my stubby little legs can't take this much hiking. And whether you like it or not, I'm having a drink."

Aveline stopped by Fenris' side and quietly said, "We'll rest the night and be better for it tomorrow. Perhaps we can find someone on their way to Cumberland?"

"I suppose," Fenris said with a sigh, and followed Varric into the inn. He kept his head down and went up to their room as soon as Aveline paid the proprietor. The guard captain followed him, and he helped her out of her armour. She was stretching her arms when Varric strolled in, looking rather pleased with himself.

"I have to tell you, I'm not sure I get enough credit for the work I do," Varric said with a smile as he shut the door behind him.

"What did you do?" Aveline asked, narrowing her eyes.

"Oh, just found us a ride to Cumberland," Varric said, smiling still. He shrugged and added, "A merchant downstairs lost his guard in the woods and will let us ride with him - so long as we protect his goods."

"That almost seems too good to be true," Fenris said, sinking into a chair to start the fire.

"Still," Aveline said as her shoulders relaxed. "Might as well take it and hope for the best."

"So glad you approve," Varric replied. "Since I already told him we'd be there at the crack of dawn."


"I have been blessed with comfort, and while I have suffered, the life I have lived in service to the Maker has been a good one. I have seen death, I have held babes to see them grow, and I have known the beauty of the Maker's Bride." the Grand Cleric said from her lectern. Candles were lit all around her. "But I know the value of hardship. It is only through it that we can know the limits of our faith, and be wholly led into the Maker's light. Through trials and suffering we prove our worth to Him, and through the Chant all will know that He waits to embrace you into his fold."

Hawke kept her eyes on her hands as Elthina spoke to them. It was a hard winter and Kirkwall was struggling to survive. The drought that had followed the qunari uprising had left farmers empty-handed, and the sea's bounty seemed absent. The streets were wind torn and iced. The mats where they knelt before the Grand Cleric were all but bare.

"Many are those who wander in sin, despairing they are lost forever," Elthina said, lifting her pale hands above the congregation. "But the one who repents, who has faith unshaken by the darkness of the world, and boasts not, nor gloats over the misfortunes of the weak, but takes delight in the Maker's law and creations – she shall know the peace of the Maker's benediction."

"Maker, watch over us," Siobhan softly said, exhaling as she lifted her head. Sebastian sat beside her.

"It is good to see you today," he said and offered a close-lipped smile.

"And you," Hawke tiredly said, reaching to touch his hand. "Her grace said you've been helping at the docks."

"Aye," Sebastian replied, his eyes lingering on her hand before he turned his face to the towering, golden statue of Andraste. "There is a great deal of suffering and destruction left in the wake of what the 'Qun demanded'. Sometimes I wonder if we do not realize the true threat the qunari pose the faithful."

"They are trying to find meaning in the world," Hawke said as she took her hand back.

"They are asking to be given it, that is not the same," Sebastian replied.

"Isn't it? I pray to the Maker for strength, I beseech the Blessed Andraste for all of the people suffering in this city - you don't see any sort of similarity?"

"Sio, you still surprise me sometimes," Sebastian said, furrowing his brow. "How can you say that after what the Arishok and his men did to Kirkwall? They are heretics."

"Perhaps," Hawke sighed, slowly standing and rolling her mat. Sebastian followed as she walked to receive a blessing from the Grand Cleric. When she paused to store the mat, she turned to him and said, "In some ways, I imagine that so long as people are trying to do some good - are adhering to the values they believe in hopes of bettering the world they live in - they cannot be so terrible. Even if I don't think they are right."


"Not too bad, isn't it?" Aveline said as she marched in front of the horses alongside Fenris.

"Not for Varric, anyway," he replied, glancing back at the cart in which the dwarf slept.

"Hah," she chuckled, glancing skyward and inhaling deeply. "Did you meet the girls?"

"I saw them," Fenris said, keeping a quick pace. "The merchant did not wish to speak of them."

"Volpen said they are shy. I wonder if they're his daughters?"

Fenris shrugged and continued on. The trees gradually thinned and the air filled with the refreshing breeze of the sea. The day's travel was without incident, and when they camped that night, he idled as the girls skinned a rabbit and tended to the horses.

With the merchant in his tent, he went to help them with the tack.

"Like this," he quietly said, taking over and neatly undoing the strap. He chuckled. "Do you not know their proper care?"

The girl dipped her chin down and shook her head as she hid her hands.

Fenris frowned and stopped what he was doing. "I'm sorry. It's alright not to know. I often aided my... former Master with his horse. Speed and accuracy were a necessity."

Eyes widening, the girl looked back to where her counterpart was setting the rabbit over the fire. She motioned dramatically.

"I'm not going to hurt you," Fenris said in a hurry as the girl ran to the fire. Tugging on the cuff of her friend, the second woman stood up and looked his way. He sighed as she came closer.

"What did you say to her?" she whispered, glancing towards the merchant's tent.

"That I... had a master, I wished nothing more than to help her with the horses," Fenris said and dipped his head. "I apologize if I bothered her."

"You had a master?" The woman asked, her eyes widening.

"Yes," Fenris said with some difficulty. "But no longer."

Fear surfaced in the woman's eyes as she took Fenris by the hand, startling him with the strength of her grip. "Please help us! He's taken us from our homes! He cut out my sister's tongue!"

"What?"

"We are from Kirkwall, my brother was a templar but – but he was killed in the uprising," she hurried to say. "We had nothing, someone recommended us for servant work with the messere, but it... I can't be talking to you!"

"Wait," Fenris firmly said as the woman turned away, catching air as she huddled back down near the fire. His eyes turned to where hers fled from.

Volpen emerged from his tent and tugged his jacket smooth, before raising a hand in greeting. He beckoned Fenris closer. "Greetings – you know, I can't deny my own curiosity. I have wanted to ask about your marks."
"Why am I not surprised?" Fenris asked, his voice tempered. "I used to be a slave to a Tevinter magister."

Volpen cleared his throat, arching his brow as he said, "Really? You must be – have been worth a great deal."

"Lyrium is not cheap," Fenris replied. He kept his eyes focused on the man as he took a slow step closer. "I crushed his heart my palm when he tried to reclaim me."

"Ah I –" Volpen choked as Fenris snagged his neck, the sharp edges of his armour digging into the merchant's skin. The gurgle of alarm in his throat grew as the brands upon Fenris' skin began to glow.

"So I am certain you can imagine how I feel about slavers," Fenris hissed, digging his fingers in. The man kicked and the sputter of his choking grew. The two women turned in blanched surprise. "Filth!"

"Fenris, what are you-" Aveline started, and drew her sword when Fenris acted. With a jolt of energy, he drove his illuminated fist into the merchant's chest. Volpen's eyes widened as Fenris' muscles jerked, and the man's body went limp in his grasp. When he was dropped to the ground, there was an odd silence.

Fenris stood his ground, blood dripping from his fingertips. "The girls. He stole them from Kirkwall."

Aveline's mouth dropped open, and she looked to where the girls. "Is that true?"

"Yes, messere," the woman said, ushering her sister behind her. There was a tremble in her voice as she spoke to Fenris. "Thank you – thank you so much."

Swallowing the cotton in his throat, Fenris kept his eyes from the weeping body at his feet. "Take the horses. Take the cart. Find a life from it."

Varric screwed his eyes shut as he stood up from by the fire and yawned. "What'd I miss?" He arched his brow as the two women ran by. The eldest hoisted her sister up onto one of the horses, soon mounting to take the reins. "Hey... hey wait, don't we need those?"

"We'll walk," Fenris replied, finally looking down. Though his expression was a mask, he clenched his bloodied fist as he regarded Volpen. "Had the man not indicated we were close to Cumberland?"

"Close," Varric scoffed, throwing his hands up as the two women disappeared with the cart. "Right. Because I forgot how much I love walking."