Anders was waiting, hidden in the shadows of an alcove, as he kept watch over the Chantry. He kept his eyes on the entrance to pass the time as his thoughts whirled about like a murder of crows. He didn't know if he could trust the people he coerced earlier, but anything at this moment was needed to save Karl. Justice was humming under his skin voicing his opinion on the matter suggesting that they do away with this cloak and shadow. Anders knew that the idea seemed pleasing but his time in the Wardens did teach him the act of subtlety when sneaking was a priority. Justice on the other hand could understand the military aspect as Anders tuned him out. Several shadows emerged through the courtyard.
Anders pressed himself against the wall noticing a group of shadows walk into the courtyard. On further inspection it was the mage Hawke followed by her mabari and Dwarven companion. They seemed rather shambled with another person dressed in the city guard.
"Sorry that we're a little late, but it seems cleaning out an inept gang was tonight's' surprise on the way here. It's just going to be rather hard to explain how a very controlled fire in Lowtown started." her mabari gave a hard whuff scratching behind its' ear.
"That Hawke is something I rather not see again or have to explain." Spoke the city guard, making her the more rational person of the group.
"Relax Aveline. If anything it proves how bad the crime in Lowtown is to pin it on a rival gang."
"Say as you may Hawke, there are still rules and inspections to be made that will prove you wrong."
Anders coughed gaining their attention before they wasted his time with this obvious familial act. "I hope you are all ready as I have been watching for awhile. No one has gone in or out in the past hour, so that seems we wont run into any problems."
He noticed they all got quiet after that, clearly readying themselves for battle. Anders considered it sheer luck he ran into a group that could handle themselves or the fact that the mage had a very large, and uncommon mabari imprinted on her, might give away there was more to her than stated. Justice hummed in his head reminding him to focus on the task at hand. Karl was important right now.
They entered the Chantry as quietly as each person could with their skills. Varric seemed fit to walk in without emitting a footstep no louder than the mabari's claws clacking. Hawke did a somewhat surprising job as well sticking to the shadows before reaching the stairs. It just seemed Aveline was the worst trying to keep her armor clanking as loud as she could. It was the dead of night and they trespassing on the holy grounds of the city's church to help a Circle Mage escape. As the number of laws being broken and citations counted off in her head, Anders made his way up the second floor. He had found Karl sitting in front of the many fireplaces, with his back turned to him, reading a rather thick tome. He didn't notice the group nor acted he heard them while flipping a page.
"You always were one to act on your emotions Anders. I know you all too well. You would never give up if it involved freedom." Karl said all this in a rather calm tone.
Anders, disturbed by the speech, lost all sense to remain stealthy and walked forward. "What do you mean by that Karl, and why are you talking like-"
Karl closed his book with a sudden snap as Templars burst into the area. Varric began humming as bolts went flying into a hunter as Hawke gutted another who silenced her mana. Aveline was busy rounding up the rest that were trying to attack an oblivious Anders. His mind was miles away focused on Karl at the very idea that left him cold.
Karl turned around revealing that horror to be true and painted like the sun scared on his forehead. "I was too rebellious as you are. The Templars knew I had to be made an example of mages that test the balance."
Anders didn't want to hear anymore after that. He let down his guard on purpose as the hate built up to release Justice who was screaming for vengeance. The Templars were surprised by the sudden flow of Fade energy rifting into the room that no one notice Karl look at the scene before him with awe. Anders never noticed nor cared as Justice let loose magic that easily iced and electrocute his enemies.
As the last Templar stopped his muscle spasms Anders fell to the floor exhausted. He couldn't hear anything in the dull noiseless zone that entered his ears, not could his brain comprehend what just happened. All he could see was Karl talking to Hawke in an excited matter. It wasn't until Karl grabbed the woman on the arm with a frantic face begging her for something. Anders was questioning how Karl had suddenly gain his emotions until Hawke stabbed Karl.
Anders felt ice running through his veins in outrage until Aveline hoisted him over her shoulders. Varric was busy taking lyrium off the dead Templars and ridding of any incriminating evidence of their presence. Anders paid them no attention as he stared at Hawke running behind with her mabari. He stared at her throughout the night not caring if it was unsettling to her, nor did he care if he had to hand over his maps.
They slowly changed their run to a brisk walk as they arrived around the corner of the informed attack on Donnic. Varric took the time to go over the spoiled goods to make sure everyone was ready. In his mind they went through three epic battles, which he would have had more fun penning, but left him a bit tired. Aveline and Hawke, however, showed no signs of dire fatigue since they were used to this.
"Hawke this is the last time we ever do something that, that irresponsible again on the Chantry grounds." Aveline huffed gently placing Anders on the ground. "The death of several Templars and a tranquil mage leave more questions than answers."
Anders felt this was misplaced sympathy for the death of those monsters ignoring the lyrium potion handed to him by Varric.
"Trust me Avy, if I had it my way there involved sleeping poison and rope instead of the fire and brimstone that our surprise guest pulled out on us." Lady whuffed in agreement with Hawke eying Anders with disdain. "Still we did what we could and made it in time to help your fellow. That should put us miles away from the unspeakable incident."
Anders perked up at that last word. "Incident? Killing an innocent man who was the plaything of his tormentors as a simple incident?"
"Watch your tone and learn to keep your glowy eyes under control. You weren't altogether with us when he practically begged us to kill him so he wouldn't go back to being...that." Hawke crossed her arms to fight off the disturbing feeling of the tranquil man. "I never knew they did that to mages in the Circle, but I can understand that a wounded adult asked me to help him end his misery. I'd be a poor judge of character if I simply ignored the man."
"So putting him down like a dog or a horse with a broken leg was much better than trying to see if somehow they botched his tranquility. We should go back and just burn the bodies when we had the chance" Anders felt the surge of Justice coming out, with the aide of the lyrium, but quickly tuned him out.
"Hold on there sparkles." Varric pulled the mage down by the shoulder. "In-case you haven't noticed your little task put my partner in high risks of being committed to the gallows. Now I'm not condoning as what we did was right or wrong, but we are currently as far away from the site and building up a probably alibi should you like to get back to helping people."
Lady at that moment sat up sniffing the air as the familiar scent of blood flew through the air. Her ears twitched at a distant sound of metal alerting Hawke. She in turn looked to Aveline who was finished up a stamina potion before brandishing her blade. Anders took that moment to understand that they were needed before they rounded the corner.
Aveline knew as soon as she saw one of her fellow guardsmen bleeding and on the ground, surrounded by bandits was enough to confirm her theories that Jeven was son of bitch ill fitted for the rank of captain. She charged into battle like an infuriated lioness claiming blood for flesh hurting her own. Anders concentrated on healing the wounded guardsmen while avoiding bandits trying to take him out as the easy target. He would be lying if he wasn't grateful for Hawke placing glyphs, that froze some in place or forcefully repelled some, as they ran. If anything he was surprise she could put up so many without exhausting herself fighting along side Aveline.
It almost made him respect her. Almost.
As the last bolt whizzed into another nameless carcass, Varric wiped Bianca over his shoulder before collecting bolts and other trinkets. Aveline took it upon herself to look over Donnic's wounds to make sure he didn't suffer anything permanent.
"A-Aveline? Is that you? By the Maker, aren't you a sight for sore eyes. I thought I had my number up tonight." Donnic stared up in awe towards hi savior.
"Guardsmen Donnic," Aveline had a rather flushed look on her face from the fight. "Are you alright?"
"Other than the pounding in my head, I could be worse." Donnic groaned before.
"Rest up guardsman. I'll take it from here. Hawke." Aveline moved to the woman looking inside the satchel. "Is there anything inside that was worth all this trouble."
"Oh more than plenty Avy to make you a damn hero. Seems Jeven was selling secrets to the highest bidder on certain shipments the guard were on and other lovely tidbits from the Viscount."
"I knew it. Thanks Hawke, this will help me put that son of a bitch away for good. Back to the barracks, I want to give this to the Seneschal right away."
Varric took this moment to pat Anders on the shoulder. "You two go ahead. I'm going to escort our friend back to clinic for the maps then head to bed. Bianca needs her beauty rest."
"I'll come by the afternoon to check up on that Varric. C'mon Lady."
With that the group split up to their destinations in the early morning. The sun was rising as Varric opened the door to his suite feeling the ache in his bones before slumping onto his bed. The battles of the early morning in his mind were too much for his precious sleep schedule to be tampered with the weird shenanigans. Thankfully he gained some helpful info pertaining to Anders 'condition' as well as the maps needed for the expedition. Bianca was settled onto her usual pillow as Varric moved to his bed. Stopping to take a big breath. "You know your scent gives you away whenever you visit."
He turned around to see his favorite guest, Leandra, sitting in his chair looking amused. "I take it you had a rough night with my daughter and her friends?"
"More than you think if it didn't involve killing Templars in the Chantry." He noticed the nonplus look on her face at the mention of dead Templars. "Don't worry we made it look like another random apostate killed them while cornered."
"Varric, you are already giving Meredith another reason to pressure the Viscount for more Templar patrols. However, I will have to take action to make sure she is guarded well until then."
"No need to worry milady, we have a reliable alibi that places us saving a guardsman from ruthless killers, under the orders of the Captain of the city guard, from uncovering some corruption. If your lucky you can enjoy a thrilling show with your breakfast of Jeven being escort to the jails."
Leandra shook her head at the dwarf seeing as he was running the gears in his head for another thrilling story. She knew Varric wasn't one to betray her or outright lie, unless it was to embellish a true tell in their favors. A rapid knock on the door caught their attention as Leandra stood from her seat.
"Since we have much to talk about, I will leave you to your rest from tonight's' exertions and meet up with Carver for breakfast. It seems I have much to talk with him about better uses for his finances." Varric shrugged at the mention. "Hopefully it wont give me much of a headache while I'm visiting the Grand Cleric since Brother Sebastian is causing unrest over some family business. I'll have Meeran send you the info."
Varric grunted in agreement as sleep settled in his head walking Leandra to the door. Locking it behind, with several bolts in place, Varric fell on his bed trying to process various info in his head for the next couple of days. Hopefully this wouldn't lead to another all nighter spent running around, because Dwarves were meant to spend long nights drinking and telling stories. He drifted off to where ever that Dwarves go when they slumber into a deep sleep that the dead would envy. It wasn't until well past noon that he heard the other drunks waking up to start their usual routine of a liquid breakfast. Varric knew it wasn't ideal to start off drinking early in the day, but it's always noon somewhere in Thedas.
Rousing himself from the soft confines of the covers, Varric ventured over to his personal bathing room. It mostly consisted of a water pump, medium size copper tub, mirror and sink. It also looked like it fit three very starved Lowtown children, but was enough for a normal Dwarven man. Water splashed on the contact of skin, waking him up slightly more, as the agenda for money came into play. Varric knew that for all of Leandra's wishful thinking she could just mysteriously donate fifty sovereigns towards the partnership giving them an easier time in training.
"Of course, if that were the case then she simply would of intervened sweeping up Hawke to safety from the get go." Varric chided himself lathering up some cream. "Even I know that would be suspicious just to take it. Stories like that usually come with a price to be paid. No, gotta test the poor woman while working in the shadows being all coy about interference. Just like a mother."
Varric chuckled at the thought as he trimmed his face into the usual. There wasn't much he could think of in terms of how they could earn some money. Taking out the Sharps proved to be a good venture since they earned the ear of the Red Jennies. Most likely that get them started on the way but there wasn't enough gangs for them to kill earning that money. Exiting the wash to dress up Varric got dressed to welcome the day and usual ears that were graced by his voice. Said casuals getting drunker by the second, He pulled up to his usual spot signaling Edwina for his pint. Mulling over expenses for their capital, he went over mentally the usual list of contacts to earn a few payments for favors he wouldn't usually work on. It would most likely consist of the lame excuse of butting into people's business solving their problems like a fetcher. Granted not many of these problems walked, like trouble personified, with all eyes on them that screamed big target.
If Varric was a betting man he was sure the thunderstorm that was growing outside might wash him up a problem to solve. Or else he dress and drag and dance the remigold.