I made a mistake of the order of Iron Bull's romance. I forgot to place his personal mission before the romancing, but I fixed that now.


"I don't know what you think you're doing."

"I'm being clucked at by a hen, evidently."

"Don't play the fool with me, young man."

"If I wanted to play the fool, I could be rather more convincing, I assure you."

"Your glib tongue does you no credit."

"You'd be surprised at the credit my tongue gets me, Your Reverence."

Maxwell walked up the stairs to hear Mother Giselle and Dorian bickering. Dorian's tone and the waggle of his eyebrows with his last remark had the normally placid Mother Giselle looking like she was about to slap the smile right off his face. Giselle started to respond, and then caught sight of Maxwell. "Oh, I…"

Maxwell walked up to stand next to Dorian. "What's going on here?"

"It seems the revered mother is concerned about my 'undue influence' over you."

Mother Giselle lifted her chin. "It is just concern. Your Worship, you must know how this looks."

Dorian folded his arms. "You might need to spell it out, my dear."

"This man is of Tevinter. His presence at your side, the rumors alone…"

Maker have mercy. Might as well get everything out in the open. "What's wrong with him being from Tevinter? Specifically?"

"I'm fully aware that not everyone from the Imperium is the same." Mother Giselle fidgeted slightly.

"How kind of you to notice. Yet still you bow to the opinion of the masses?" Dorian waved one hand.

"The opinion of the masses is based on centuries of evidence. What would you have me tell them?"

"The truth?" Dorian raised an eyebrow at her.

"The truth is I do not know you, and neither do they. Thus these rumours will continue."

Maxwell clasped his hands behind his back and made his voice firm. "There's no cause for concern, Your Reverence." He met Mother Giselle's eyes levelly.

"With all due respect, you underestimate the effect this man has on the people's good opinion."

Maxwell let anger enter him voice. "Do the people know how he's helped the Inquisition?"

"I…" Mother Giselle withered a little. "See. I meant no disrespect, Inquisitor, only to ask after this man's intentions. If you feel he is without ulterior motive, then I humbly beg forgiveness of you both." She gave a small curtsy, and left.

Surprise entered Dorian's voice as he watched her go. "Well, that's something."

"She didn't get to you, did she?" He put a hand on Dorian's shoulder.

"No, it takes more to get to me than thinly veiled accusations."

"You don't think she'll do anything?"

"Do what? Yours is the good opinion I care about, not hers. I should ask…" He turned towards him. "Do the rumours bother you?"

He wasn't entirely sure what the rumours were exactly. "I wish they wouldn't disparage you. They don't know you."

"They know you even less than they know me. Perhaps it's odd to say, but…" He shifted his weight from one foot to the other. "I think of you as a friend, Inquisitor. I have precious few friends. I didn't think to find one here."

"I—"

"Don't speak. I detest confessions, and I'd like to get this over with. Allow me to say I'll stand beside you—against Corypheus, my countrymen, or spurious rumour—so long as you'll have me."

Maxwell nodded, unsure what else to say.


Erdic was just going over what they discovered in the Deep Roads with Theron.

"A Titan," said Maxwell. "I suppose that explains how lyrium is able to get the Blight."

"I'd also explain how Corypheus is immune to it," Erdic sighed. "Anyway, Varric's contacts have produced more locations for red lyrium stashes we beginning to destroy them."

"Good and Sereda will no doubt try and convince Orzammar to give us more aid," said Theron.

"I still can't believe that I've met both living Paragons," said Erdic shaking his head.

"They are certainly something else," said Theron. "Anyhow how is your wife?"

"Oh, she's fine, a little moody but that's to be expected," said Erdic.

"Tell me are you hoping for a boy or girl?"

"Don't care as along as it's healthy," said Erdic. "Have you seen your little girl?"

"A few times, and she's beautiful," said Theron close his eyes and deep thought. "I'm going to make sure that she at least knows who her father is."

"You mean you never met yours," said Erdic looking up.

"I never met either of my parents, my father was killed by bandits and my mother was overcame by grief and left me," said Theron close his eyes.

"I'm sorry to hear that," said Erdic.

"Don't be, I've come to live with this."


Solas was sitting at his table, staring at a tea cup as though it had personally offended him in some grievous manner.

"Something wrong with your tea?" Ellana asked.

"It is tea. I detest the stuff." He set the cup down. "But this morning, I need to shake the dreams from my mind. I may also need a favour."

"You just have to ask." She sat on the edge of the table.

He rose, and began pacing. "One of my oldest friends has been captured by mages, forced into slavery. I heard the cry for help as I slept."

She blinked. "When your friend was captured, how did he… she…"

"It."

"It?"

"My friend is a spirit of wisdom. Unlike the spirits clamouring to enter our world through the rifts, it was dwelling quite happily in the Fade. It was summoned against its will, and wants my help to gain its freedom and return to the Fade."

"I thought spirits wanted to find their way into this world."

"Some do, certainly, just as many Orlesian peasants wish they could journey to exotic Rivain. But not everyone wants to go to Rivain. My friend is an explorer, seeking lost wisdom and reflecting it. It would happily discuss philosophy with you, but it had no wish to come here physically."

"Do you have any idea what the mages want with your friend?" She raised an eyebrow.

"No." He gestured. "It knows a great deal of lore and history, but a mage could learn that simply by speaking to it in the Fade. It is possible that they seek information it does not wish to give and intend to torture it."

Her fist clenched. "All right. Let's go get your friend."

Relief crossed his features. "Thank you. I got a sense of my friend's location before I awoke. I will mark it on our map."

Ellana nodded, and went to go fetch the others.


Scout Harding met them at the forward camp and gave them a brief overview of the Dales. Maxwell went with Cassandra and Iron Bull and several Inquisition soldiers to clear the nearby area of demons, while Ellana went with Solas, Cole, and Blackwall to find the imprisoned spirit. She caught sight of a Dalish encampment as they came over a hill, and made a mental note of its location.

"Thank you for this, Ellana." Solas's voice reached her ears as they came around an outcropping of rocks. "We are not far from where my friend was summoned."

"Everything here is blurry. It wants to forget, but now the rocks are solid." Cole kept pace as Blackwall brought up the rear of their little group.

A body lay on the ground in a pool of dried blood. "One of the mages." Solas bent to take a closer look. "Killed by arrows, it would seem."

"Bandits, most likely." Blackwall put a hand to his sword as he looked around.

Ellana continued forward, and slowed when she saw more bodies ahead. Solas caught up to her, and moved to examine the still forms. "These aren't mages. The bodies are burned, and these claw marks…" He went still. "No. No, no, no."

She swallowed. The bodies before them had been killed by a demon.


Ellana could feel the power in the summoning stones as they strained to hold a pride demon at bay. "My friend." Solas stopped in his tracks as he stared at the scene before them.

"The mages turned your friend into a demon." Her knuckles were white on her staff.

He looked down at his hands. "Yes."

She looked over her shoulder at where they'd found the bodies. "You said it was a spirit of wisdom, not a fighter."

"A spirit becomes a demon when denied its original purpose."

As had nearly happened to Cole. "So they summoned it for something so opposed to its own nature that it was corrupted. Fighting?" She saw figures moving towards them. Figures in mage robes.

"Let us ask them," said Solas angrily.

"A mage." The first of the mages to approach actually looked relieved to see them. "You're not with the bandits?" He smiled. "Do you have any lyrium potions? Most of us are exhausted. We've been fighting that demon…"

"You summoned that demon." For the normally quiet man, the slightly raised voice seemed more like a shout. "Except it was a spirit of wisdom at the time." Solas gestured at the mage. "You made it kill. You twisted it against its purpose."

"I…"The mage lifted his hands. "I…" He swallowed. "I understand how it might be confusing to someone who has not studied demons, but after you help us, I can…"

"We're not here to help you." Solas narrowed his eyes.

"Word of advice?" Ellana glared. "I'd hold off on explaining how demons work to my friend here."

"Listen to me! I was one of the foremost experts in the Kirkwall Circle—"

"Shut up." Solas gestured angrily. "You summoned it to protect you from the bandits."

"I—yes." The mage shuffled his feet.

"You bound it to obedience, then commanded it to kill. That is when it turned." Solas turned to her. "The summoning circle. We break it, we break the binding. No orders to kill, no conflict with its nature, no demon."

"What?" The mage waved his hands. "The binding is the only thing keeping the demon from killing us! Whatever it was before, it is a monster now!"

"Guardian. Please."

It was Solas. If anyone had a chance to help the spirit, he did. "I've studied rituals like this." If she warped the Veil around the summoning circles, she should be able to weaken them enough that a simple strike or two would break them. "I should be able to disrupt the binding quickly."

"Thank you." Solas unlimbered his staff as they moved forward.

She put up a barrier around her companions, nodded, and focused her magic. She poured her energy into the defensive spells, preventing the demon from doing harm to her friends as they shattered the stones. Blackwall's sword destroyed the last, and the demon collapsed.


Solas went to his friend's side, kneeling before a figure that now looked to be a woman formed from Fadestuff. "Lethallin. Ir abelas."

"Tel'abelas. Enasal. Ir tel'him." It's green eyes glowed as it looked back at him. "Ma melava halani. Mala suledin nadas. Ma ghilana mir din'an."

"Ma nuvenin." Ellana watched as Solas gathered his magic. His gestured were gentle as he cast the spell, and the spirit began to fade away. It smiled as it died. "Dareth shiral."

Ellana closed her eyes. "I heard what it said. It was right. You did help it."

"Now I must endure."

Ellana placed a hand on his shoulder. "Let me know if I can help." His eyes went to where the mages were standing. "All that remains now is them." Solas began walking towards them.

"Thank you." The mage actually looked pleased. "We would not have risked a summoning, but the roads are too dangerous to travel unprotected."

"You tortured and killed my friend."

The mages slowly backed away from him. "We didn't know it was just a spirit! The book said it could help us!"

"Solas…" Ellana pleaded.

Solas stopped in his tracks, but his eyes remained focused on the mages. "Never again." He didn't turn to face as he walked away. "I need some time alone. I will meet you back at Skyhold."

Ellana nodded and allowed him to leave.


Iron Bull and Varric were keeping score as they cleared the ramparts of undead. Maxwell uses skills to sneak behind the arcane horror that kept raising the dead, and finally plunged his daggers into its back. Dorian then broke down the barrier on the pit and lit the pile of corpses with a blast of his magic.

Cassandra blew the horn to signal that the ramparts were clear before they moved on to the next.


They caught up with the Venatori mage at the third set of ramparts. He refused to surrender and Dorian set him on fire.

Already, Orlesian forces had reclaimed the other ramparts. A Captain Rosselin told him of the beleagured fort, and they continued in. They killed more undead on the bridge, and finished off another arcane horror.

The soldiers in the fort were mentally grateful for their arrival for they had been fighting the undead for weeks. Apparently they were Duke Gaspard's men and the informed him that the undead hadn't appeared until a group of deserters called the Freedman of the Dales appeared.

Maxwell then headed towards the broken bridge and found that Inquisition forces were already rebuilding. He then made their way over to the citadel and came across more undead. What was worse the citadel's defences appear to have been activated, killing anything in sight.

It took some doing but they were able to both burn the corpses that apparently the Freedman of the Dales had piled up and deactivated the defences. The commander in charge was extremely grateful and he was given the unpleasant pleasure to inform him that one of her men had been killed in one of the ramparts.

Maxwell then decided it was best to try and locate Ellana and the others. He had a strong feeling that he would find them in the Dalish camp that Scout Harding reported and indeed they were there, apart from Solas.


The Keeper stepped to the front to meet them. "These are not good times to come unbidden before the People. Especially here, where we remember the destruction of our home at the hands of humans. My patience is thin, with all that has befallen. However, your companion has brought much goodwill to us and as such will tolerate your presence."

He bowed. "I met one of your hunters. He's continuing to look for a safe route."

The Keeper blinked. "He trusted you to pass the message on? That speaks well of you."

"What has befallen your clan?"

"The Orlesian war has hindered our progress through the Dirth. The armies cause rockslides. They dig ditches that trip the halla and destroy the aravels, making passage impossible." He sighed. "Precisely when the clan needs him most, my First, Taven, defies my wishes and mounts an excursion to the Emerald Graves." He gestures. "And now I've learned that the grounds of Var Bellanaris are infested by angry spirits from the Beyond."

"I can deal with that for you," Maxwell assured.

"My clan and I would be deeply grateful if you could." He inclined his head. "And be mindful of the resting places of our dead. Var Bellanaris is sacred ground."


After killing the demons, he arranged for supplies to be brought in from the forward camp. Some searching found the body of a missing young man, and they brought his belongings, as well as the talisman he'd been trying to find back to his sister.

Ellana managed to herd the golden halla to the camp. The halla master gasped when the golden halla joined the herd. "Look, already she makes herself known to the others. She knows she's meant to be here. Thank you, lethallan. I will never be able to express my gratitude."

"I'm just glad I could help."

The Keeper told them of sigils that could be found, strange glyphs that could be revealed with veilfire.

When they left the Exalted Plains, the Inquisition had a new member. An eager young Dalish man named Loranil.


When they returned to Skyhold there was no sign of Solas and mitral could tell that Ellana was worried. He wandered into the garden and found Cullen and Dorian sitting across from each other over a chess board. The battle appeared to be bloody and merciless.

"Gloat all you like. I have this one."

"Are you sassing me, Commander? I didn't know you had it in you." Dorian leaned back in his seat, smirking at Cullen.

"Why do I even—" He saw him. "Inquisitor." Cullen started to rise.

Dorian immediately leaned forward. "Leaving, are you? Does this mean I win?"

Cullen narrowed his eyes, and sat back down, challenge written all over his face. "Are you two playing nice?"

Dorian's lips twitched upwards. "I'm always nice." He moved a piece. "You need to come to terms with my inevitable victory. You'll feel much better."

His general moved one of his pieces, and then sat back with a smug expression. "Really? Because I just won. And I feel fine."

"Don't get smug." Dorian shook his head, then rose. "There will be no living with you."

"I should return to my duties as well…" Cullen looked up at him, then gestured to the seat Dorian had vacated. "Unless you would care for a game?"

He sat down. "Prepare the board, Commander."

He began resetting the pieces. "As a child, I played this with my sister. She would get this stuck-up grin whenever she won—which was all the time. My brother and I practices for hours. The look on her face when I finally won." His expression sobered. "Between serving with the templars and the Inquisition, I haven't seen them in years. I wonder if she still plays."

They sat a while, sharing stories of their siblings. He told him about the prank that he pulled on Evelyn when they were children. He smiled. "This may be the longest we've gone without discussing the Inquisition—or related matters." He moved his piece. "To be honest, I appreciate the distraction."

"We've been through enough to drop the formalities and simply talk," said Maxwell. He then raised an eyebrow at Cullen. "Especially since you and my sister have been seen quite a lot of each other."

Cullen turns slightly pink. "I suppose we have."

They played a while longer, until he managed to corner his king. He inclined his head. "I believe this one is yours. Well played. We shall have to try again sometime."


Maxwell then went to check on Josephine and found her completely flushed.

"Inquisitor, I must speak with you."

Maxwell nodded, and walked over to Josephine's desk. "What is it?"

"I…" Josephine fidgeted a bit, wringing her hands. "Must explain something first about the Montilyet's fortunes."

"I remember you said your family had been forbidden from trading in Orlais."

Josephine nodded. "It devastated our finances. The Montilyets have, in fact, been in debt for over a hundred years."

"Debt or no, you appear to be surviving," Maxwell noted.

"But is it enough! A disaster could wipe us out completely." Josephine smoothed her skirts. "For generations we've done everything to keep creditors at bay. Sold our lands to stave off interest. It's just…" She paced. "It is infuriating to see my family still reduced to this. I'm to become head of our house. If I sell off any more of our land, my family will become destitute. That cannot be my legacy to them."

"Most people worry about their next meal, never mind an estate." He touched Josephine's arm.

"I'm not blind! But I worry for my family." She sighed. "My foolish sister Yvette with her daydreams, my brother trying to rebuild our fleet with their own hands…" She lifted her hands. "Is it wrong to hope they never know hardship?"

Maxwell nodded in sympathy. "Is there anything I can do?"

"I'd almost solved our problems. For a while. I negotiated a chance to reinstate the Montilyets as landed traders in Orlais. We could rebuild with that. But when I dispatched paperwork to Val Royeaux…" She sighed. "I've just learned my carriers were murdered. And the documents restoring my family's trading status destroyed."

"Who hates the Montilyets enough to do that?"

"Leliana made inquiries that bore success. Comte Boisvert, a nobleman in Val Royeaux, claims to know who killed my messengers. He has a request: that you come when I meet him, so he's seen 'publicly conferring' with you."

Maxwell nodded. "What will being seen with me gain the comte?"

"The comte will drop hints at parties he's to meet with an important visitor. Allies and rivals will take note. One he's met you, there will be speculation. The comte will subtly spin reports to his advantage." She gave Maxwell a pleading look. "He will use us, but if he knows who killed my people, I ask that we indulge him."

"I hope the comte isn't making up information just to be seen with me," said Maxwell crossing his arms.

"I will take full responsibility if that's the case, Inquisitor," Josephine assured. "I must know who killed my couriers just to harm my family."


"Inquisitor. I…" Leliana looked down at her feet. "I have been thinking. You remember everything now, yes? The explosion at Haven. The Fade. Escaping the Breach? In your report, you said Justinia was with you and the guard. But only you and the guard emerged in the end. Why? Why were before of you the only survivor?"

Maxwell closed his eyes. "She knew was either her or us, and she wanted us to live."

Leliana nodded. "Of course. Of course she did. That's just like." Leliana folded her hands. "Her message to me: 'I failed you too.' I'm not sure I understand what that means." She looked up at Maxwell. "Did she say anything else? Anything at all? Please, if you remember…"

"I'm sorry, Leliana. That was it."

Leliana rose. "There are no answers in the Fade. Only illusions. A warped mirror." She walked towards the shrine set up in an alcove of the rookery. "Justinia has never failed me. I was her Left Hand. Now she is dead. I failed her."

Maxwell turned to walk away, and saw Theron standing there, watching them. He then went down the steps, Maxwell wished that the two of them would actually patch things up.


Ellana was walking down the steps to the when she saw Solas walk in the gate. She went to meet him.

"Ellana."

"How are you, Solas?"

"It hurts. It always does, but I will survive."

She laid her hand on his shoulder. "Thank you for coming back."

"You were a true friend. You did everything you could to help." He managed a small smile. "I could hardly abandon you now."

They walked a while in silence. "Where did you go?"

"I found a quiet spot and went to sleep. I visited the place in the Fade where my friend used to be. It's empty, but there are stirrings of energy in the Void. Someday something new may grow there."

"What happens when a spirit dies?" she asked curiously.

"It isn't the same as for mortals. The energy of spirits returns to the Fade. If the idea giving the spirit form is strong, or if the memory has shaped other spirits, it may someday rise again."

"You're saying your friend might come back?"

He shook his head sadly. "No, not really. A spirit's natural state is peaceful semi-existence. It is rare to be able to reflect reality. Something similar may reform one day, but it might have a different personality. It would likely not remember me."

Ellana hugged him, and he rested his head on her shoulder for a moment. "The next time you have to mourn, you don't need to be alone."

"It's been so long since I could trust someone."

"I know."

Solas pulled away and looked into her eyes. "I'll work on it. And thank you."


"Report."

"Some of our scouts saw smoke rising from Val Gamord." Cullen indicated the location on the map. "Those who investigated have not returned. I'd like to send in a force to investigate. It's also an opportunity to have our forces work together with the Orlesians."

Maxwell nodded. "See it done."

"Sera had some information from her Red Jennies up in Tantervale. I'd like to follow up." Josephine gestured with her pen. "Their information has been useful at times."

"You and Sera can play."

Leliana pointed at the map. "Sebastian Vael would like the Inquisition to help him with his reconstruction efforts on Kriwkall." She gestured. "I say we ignore this request, Coryphues and Kirkwall has remained standing for this long."

"No, red lyrium may present and give us an opportunity to rebuilding the city. Our soldiers can assist in its removal," said Cullen.

"Not to mention there's a Kirkwaller in your presence," said Varric.

"We'll aid Krikwall." Maxwell glanced around. "Anything else?"

"A problem, Inquisitor." Josephine pointed with her pen. "The Marquis of Serault took my emissary hunting. Neither returned."

"Leliana, get your people on it immediately."


Maxwell saw Cullen standing on the ramparts, and walked over to him. He looked considerably more peaceful and rested than he had a few days ago. He smiled when he caught sight of him. "I wanted to thank you…" He then looked away in embarrassment. "When your sister came to see me…" He swallowed, his stance awkward. "If there's anything…" He exhaled and rubbed the back of his neck. "This sounded much better in my head."

"Evelyn told me how bad you were. I trust you're feeling better?" He stood next to him, leaning on the recently repaired stonework of the ramparts.

"I…" He turned back towards the view. "Yes."

"Is it always that bad?"

"The pain comes and goes. Sometimes I feel as if I'm back there." He rested his hands on the hilt of his sword. "I should not have pushed myself so far that day."

He laid a hand on his shoulder. "I'm just glad you're all right."

He smiled at him. "I am." He gazed out over the valley. "I've never told anyone what truly happened to me at Ferelden's Circle. I was…" He sighed. "Not myself after that. I was angry. For years, that anger blinded me. I'm not proud of the man that made me. The way I saw mages…" He turned towards him. "I'm not sure I would have cared about you, and the thought of that sickens me." He then looked down into the valley. "Now I can put some distance between myself and everything that happened. It's a start."

"The past isn't always pleasant," said Maxwell. "Sometimes you have to let go and move on."

Cullen nodded. "I can't forget what happened. But it let me hear. I can make that means something. Anyway, I didn't want to trouble you further. You've enough to worry about. How you holding up?"

"I've met good people here. Knowing they have my back—it helps."

Cullen smiled. "You certainly keep interesting company." He then chuckled. "I suppose I do as well."


Varric caught up with him before he'd gotten far inside the great hall. He waved something at him. It took his a moment to realize what it was. "You finished it?"

"I did."

"Let's go find Cassandra."


Cassandra was by the training dummies as usual. "What have you done now?" She glared when she saw Varric following Maxwell.

"I get it, Seeker. You're still sore after our spat."

"I am not a child, Varric." She folded her arms. "Do not suggest I'm without reason."

Varric bowed, holding the book out as if it were a sacrifice. "A peace offering: the next chapter of Swords & Shields. I hear you're a fan."

She slowly turned towards Maxwell. Maxwell fought desperately to keep his face straight. Cassandra's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "This is your doing."

"Oh, yes. Do you really think I'd miss this?" he smirked.

"Well, if you're not interested, you're not interested. Still needs editing, anyhow." Varric drew the book back and started to turn away.

"Wait!" Cassandra held up her hands.

"You're probably wondering what happened to the knight-captain after the last chapter."

Cassandra's mouth fell open. "Nothing should happen to her. She was falsely accused!"

"Well, it turns out the guardsman—"

"Don't tell me!" Cassandra strode forward and practically snatched the book out of Varric's hand.

"This is the part where you thank the Inquisitor. I don't normally give sneak peeks, after all."

"I…" Cassandra turned towards him. "Thank you." The Seeker's voice was warm.

"Varric's the one you should be thanking."

Varric gave a formal bow. "I am but a humble servant to my loyal readers."

Cassandra caressed the book. "I wonder if I have time to read the first part?"

"Don't forget to tell all your friends!" Varric started walking away. "If you have any." He sighed happily. "Completely worth it."

Maxwell looked at Cassandra. "So, that book you were reading…"

"Ugh. Yes? What of it?" she groaned.

"So under that taciturn shell beats a true romantic heart."

"Why must it be an accusation?" she said narrowing her eyes. "Romance is not sole province of differing ladies in frilly dresses. It is passion. It is been swept away by the pursuit of an ideal. What is not to like about that?"

"Don't get me wrong. I like that side of you," he said smiling.

Cassandra then glared at him. "I don't swoon."

"I meant the passion."

Cassandra's face turned pink slightly. "Ah. Well, that's… not so bad, then."


Adaar was in her quarters with Iron Bull, she wanted to discuss what had happened between them a few days ago.

"What's going on, boss?" Iron Bull asked.

She then looked at him. "We need to talk about what happened between us."

"Oh, that," said Iron Bull dismissively. "Sure. What's on your mind?"

"You are," she said seductively. "And I'd like you on the rest of me, too."

Iron Bull smiled. "I thought I read you right. Ben-Hassrath training, remember?" he said when he noticed Adaar's blank face. "Grew up learning to manipulate people. When it's a hostile target, you give them what they want." He then sat down chair. "But when it's someone you care about, you give them what they need."

Adaar simply smiled. "Oh, I have a need."

"And I can meet that need. But first, ground rules, just so everyone's clear. I will never hurt you without your permission. You will always be safe. If you're ever uncomfortable, if you want me to stop, you say 'Katoh,' and it's over. No questions asked."

"That sounds reasonable."

"You don't need to be afraid…" He then got to his feet. "Unless you want to."

"Take me."

"Can do."