Epilogue

"Andraste's arse cheeks, you do go on."

"You don't like it?"

Isabela raised an eyebrow.

"What?"

"I sound like a stupid little girl who didn't know what she was doing."

"You didn't know what you were doing."

"Yes but your readers don't need to know that." She sat back in her chair giving me a look somewhere between annoyance and amusement. "She doesn't sound like pirate captain material."

"Naishe wasn't."

Isabela almost winced. She hated hearing the name.

I tried to give her a reassuring smile. "Everyone likes a humble origin story."

"I don't. Besides, you stopped before all the fun bits."

My lip quirked upwards. "Namely, your fun bits and mine."

That perked her up. She'd used a line like that on me many years ago. I was glad to see that she remembered. Watching Isabela laugh really is the most exquisite thing. She rocks her head back letting all that raven hair that wasn't tied down cascade down her shoulders. The sound was throaty, from the gut. Always genuine.

"Now, about the pictures…"

"No."

"I didn't even-"

"You are not illustrating my story."

Isabela at back and rolled her eyes, "Spoilsport."

We sat there in silence for a few moments.

"It's brave of you to lay yourself bare like this." I regretted my phrasing immediately.

"You know I never tire of laying myself bare, sweet thing."

It was my turn to roll me eyes, "You're terrible."

"You sound like Aveline."

"Perhaps I should ask her to write a chapter." I repressed a smirk as much as I could.

"I'll pass on every chapter title being some variation on 'poxy tart'."

"Add her as a character?"

"Only if it's smut."

"Maybe that's my next book. The adventure and romance of a criminal and her guardswoman."

"I think Varric's already patented that." Isabela winked.

I smiled, trying not to let the sadness show in my eyes. There wouldn't be much reason for Isabela to hang around now.

She must have picked up on my thoughts. "So, that's that."

"That's that." I closed my notebook at long last. "Hard to believe it's only been a couple of weeks.

"Feels like a lifetime." She finished the final dregs of ale and set her cup down. "Well, this has been fun. But I have a crew who much be going stir crazy by now." She stood and pulled her longcoat over her shoulders.

"You don't want to get started on the sequel?"

Isabela chuckled. "Nice try, sweetheart. But you're not that cute. Let me know when the book's become a bestseller and we'll talk."

I sighed. "Deal."

"What did we say? Sixty percent of the profits?"

"Fifteen."

"Sixty-five? Aww you are generous."

I rolled my eyes and stood to watch her go.

There was a pause before she pulled me into a hug. I squeezed her tightly, the smell of her hair bringing back happy memories.

We broke apart and she gave me a little salute. "See you around."

"Safe sailing."

When she turned her back on me, I turned too. I hated watching her leave.

The tavern door squeaked on its hinges and I heard her call out.

"And you're sure you included how devastatingly attractive I am?"