Varric walked through the streets of Hightown, on his way to the Hanged Man for a drink. A beautiful human woman nearly ran into him, but he dodged and caught her arm gracefully. "Now, now, is that any way for a noble to behave?"
"Please Serah, I-I'm not a noble. Just let me go."
Varric raised an eyebrow. "Who's after you? Coterie?"
"No, just please Serah let me go."
Varric shrugged and released his hold on her arm, watching her run off. He couldn't help thinking about her the rest of his walk to Lowtown, and resolved to start a new serial. As he walked into the Hanged Man, he waved at Corff for a drink, then walked to his regular table which afforded great listening to any juicy rumors. After drinking half his tankard, he heard the door open and close rather hastily. He stood and looked to see who'd come in in such a manner and saw her, the woman from Hightown. He glanced around and beckoned her over. She hurried to his suite and looked around, breathless. Varric sat down, motioning at a chair for her to do the same. "So you're either following me or you don't know how to lay low very well. Which one is it?"
"I...I don't know what you mean, Serah."
Varric laughed and motioned Norah over to order another drink. "Come now, let's not play games I'm a busy man. Well, dwarf, but still manly."
The woman looked unsure of herself, even beneath the hooded cloak she wore. "I...I am trying to leave Kirkwall."
"By going into Lowtown? Not the best idea Princess." Norah returned with the drink and Varric tasted it, grimacing. "Sodding...I swear she never gets my order right."
"Please, Serah. I am no princess."
Varric laughed. "Well what am I supposed to call you then? Runaway broad? No, doesn't have a good ring to it."
The woman's hands clenched. "My name is Bianca, Serah. And you would do well not to refer to me in that manner."
Varric raised an eyebrow, then noticed flickers of flame dancing from within her fists. His eyes widened. "Okay, okay, no need to burn the place down. It may not be the best drinks in the world but it's still pretty good." He sighed with relief as the woman calmed down, the flames dying. "So uh, Bianca. Hm. Interesting name. Does it come with an interesting face, or just a hood?"
"It comes. That is all."
Varric shrugged and finished off his drink. "Well then, Bianca, what'll you have? Watered down piss or whiskey?"
"I do not joke, Serah. I need to leave Kirkwall."
Varric cocked his head to the side. "I can well imagine why. But you won't get very far with an empty belly, and believe me you'll need something to wash down the stew they have here." He waved Norah over again. "Two pints and two bowls of stew. Tell Corff to put it on my tab." When Norah left, he returned his attention to Bianca and leaned back in his chair, studying her. "So, you're running from the templars."
Bianca's head shot up and she glared at him, her eyes a fierce icy blue within the darkness from her hood. "Are you always so loud, dwarf?"
Varric laughed, holding a hand up. "Please, call me Varric. And I don't know if you've heard the commotion in this place but I doubt anyone can hear us. Which might explain why Norah never gets my order right."
Bianca set her jaw, narrowing her eyes into a glare. "Yes, I am. What of it? You going to turn me in?"
"Oh please, my dear young lady, I have no intention of getting involved with Chantry matters. No, I just like to know a bit about the person I'm putting on my tab for the evening."
Bianca sighed with frustration but remained silent until Norah returned with their dinners. She raised an eyebrow at the stew. "What is that?"
Varric shrugged as he took a bite. "House specialty. Made from a different mystery meat each day." He took a drink.
Bianca hesitantly took a bite, quickly followed by a drink, which made her grimace even more. Varric laughed and they continued their dinner in silence. Afterward, Bianca took her hood off, showing a fair skinned face and long jet black hair. Her eyes were like ice chips even still. "I should thank you, Serah."
"Be my guest."
Bianca narrowed her eyes in agitation. "You should know you aided an apostate."
Varric half shrugged, finishing his drink. "Sweetheart, I'm the younger son of a dwarven merchant. An apostate is the least of my concerns."
Bianca was about to retort when there was a loud bang in the main room as the door flew open and against the wall. Bianca's eyes widened in fear and she stood up quickly.
Varric motioned toward his bed and Bianca ran to it, crawling under and hiding in the shadows. Varric stood when three templars came into his suite. "Ah, and to what do I owe this pleasure?"
"There is an apostate mage attempting to flee Kirkwall, do you know of her?"
Varric's brow furrowed. "Why would I know anything about that? I'm a dwarf, in case you can't tell."
"You're also well known for your, interesting stories. You must have ears about so tell us, do you know of her?"
Varric sighed. "Always go for the dwarf. I'd check Darktown: you'd have better luck there. No one comes to the Hanged Man to hide they come here to get drunk and lose money playing cards."
The templars rolled their eyes and moved on, leaving the Hanged Man presently. The commotion recommenced and Bianca crawled out from under Varric's bed, looking at him thankfully. Varric merely shrugged and took his crossbow off his back, polishing it. Bianca sat down, allowing herself to breathe finally.
"Where's your staff?" Varric didn't even glance up. "Mages have staffs, don't they? Where's yours?"
"I am not so stupid as to keep it where it may be seen by everyone."
"In other words you left it in the Gallows, didn't you?" Varric laughed.
Bianca glared at him. "Well, while I thank you for assisting me, Serah, I must now leave."
Varric held a hand up. "I wouldn't. I told those templars the truth: the best way out of Kirkwall is through Darktown. You're gonna wanna wait awhile before heading out."
"There has to be another way out."
Varric half shrugged. "There's always another way, but the question is, do you want to take it?"
Bianca narrowed her eyes. "What's the other way?"
