'Serah, Knight Alistair took us into the Rose. While in there an elf decided, he wanted to bed him. He plied him with drinks to coerce him into the backrooms. But Knight Alistair wasn't interested, and the elf gave up. But the Knight didn't stop drinking even when Keran took away the ale. He was able to get two of the other girls to give him drinks. He kept talking about being in a brothel and someone named Zevran."

I stood there on the stairs listening to the recruits tell the tale vacillating between wanting to throttle Alistair and feeling sorry for him. Everything he lost was his own fault, but he lost the only family he had when he left.

I couldn't even blame Teyrn for running and jumping into his lap. The sorrow under the drunk slurring pulled at my heart and yet I was so angry and hurt I wanted to pummel him to unconsciousness.

"I didn't think anything scared you, demon killer. But the look on your face…" Alton said before grunting from Darragh's elbow.

I scowled at him and glanced back over my shoulder. "Teagan or Cailan said nothing about him joining the Templars. Or that Rutherford would be here. I wonder which of the gods I offended that everyone I know, enemies as well as friends, are in Kirkwall."

Alton grew serious and stiffened in true warrior fashion. "I don't know that name. Should I put a bolt through his heart and be done with it."

Bitterly I said, "No the time to do that was two years ago before he convinced Aedan Cousland that the mages couldn't be saved, and the tower needed to be annulled. He is a problem but not that kind of one. They were close at one time. He may be able to help him. Alistair and he shared a room at monastery together."

"Which means?" Darragh prompted. "I don't mean to rush but the party we just left is going to get curious and come looking for us."

I rubbed the back of my neck and rolled my shoulder trying to stretch the stress out of them. "We could go get him now, but the idea was not to announce myself to the Templars. If there is a fight, we don't even have rooms that we can confine him. I can't send him home yet since Cailan wants the refuge project to be his first 'royal' duty transitioning out of the Grey Warden. I haven't had a chance to get that started yet. Not to mention now Teyrn has defected."

"I say for tonight let's leave him where he is. He will come back here eventually. There is a safety with the Templars. As for Teyrn, he just missed the lad. I'll take him out to do his business, go, and check on our waif and her family. I am sure Enid will be overjoyed to see your mutt. I'll be back in an hour or so. They should be gone by then and we can figure something out."

It was logical and I agreed. But then I frowned I saw Alistair for a minute and my brain turned to mush and I needed someone else to tell me what to do. I needed to pull myself together and start acting like the Warden Commander.

"Is there a chance with your 'disguise' he won't…"

"What Alton, recognize me? We were the last three Wardens in Ferelden. I shared his bed for six months. I could have horns, grow wings and breathe fire and he'd know me. I think they both would. The Templar was …" I tried to come up with a polite explanation of Cullen's confession. "Assigned to watch me for two years at the tower. Very little I did got past him."

If Alton was going to respond he didn't have, an opportunity as it was then Varric decided to join us on the landing. The speculative look he gave us told me he might have overheard some of the conversation.

"Were you planning on leaving us?"

"I am but they are not. The hound needs to go outside to relieve himself and I have somewhere I need to be for an hour." Darragh said smoothly.

Varric studied the small group. Whatever they had been discussing wasn't pleasant but the looks on their faces. "Ash Warrior business I take it?"

"In a manner of speaking," Darragh replied with a slight grin. "What is it that you want to know dwarf."

"You're direct. I like that. You're an Ash Warrior but they are not. You all claim he is in charge but it's really the girl, who according to you is unimportant. Why the act?"

"How much did you overhear?" I ask.

"That wouldn't be a conformation would it?"

I laughed he was everything Bodahn said he was. "Your right of course but you already knew that. I would wager you were aware before we even joined for the drink. At least that is what your reputation would lead me to believe. But tell me what gave us away."

My question had been two-fold. One I wanted to know how much he knew and if I could trust him. The more he hedged the more wary I would be.

"I'm a dwarf. I might not have been born in Orzammar, but every dwarf knows about Ash Warriors. You're too young and pretty to be a criminal intent on redeeming yourself. And your bowman… no respecting follower of Luthias Dwarfson would use a bow.

Also, they flank you. Then there is the slight hesitation when you make the decision and they pretend it is theirs. Your costume is wrong. No warrior carries a staff and a sword. On top of that there is the direct refusal to identify you."

My grin widened and I said, "You should write detective novels. Wait you do. To be fair only Darragh said he was Ash Warrior. Alton just likes traveling because he is hiding from irate husbands whose wives throw themselves at him. And he is too much of a gentleman to refuse a lady. The staff is for walking."

I had trouble keeping a straight face when Darragh snorted. One because half of it was true and secondly because I said it aloud. "They didn't introduce me because I am not here. The Ferelden crown has tasked me to assess the needs of the refuges and start sending them home. Which is why I have bodyguards. Alton is the best bowman in all of Thedas and you will not find a more honorable and talented blade than Darragh."

Varric thought about it for several moments. It was plausible. "Why all the covert spy craft? And the story about being a warrior at Ostagar?"