Elissa toyed with the food on her plate, sickened by the mere thought of placing a morsel in her mouth. Her stomach churned too hard for her to contemplate eating. She wanted to flee the dining hall and hide in her chambers. It had been a long, draining day and the thought of her bed was extremely tempting, although she doubted she would be able to sleep if she tried. One thought circled endlessly around her mind, driving away all chance of rest.

Fergus's letter was gone.

When she had returned to her bedchamber the box still lay open where she had left it, but the letter was nowhere in sight. She had searched everywhere but after turning out the contents of every drawer was forced to accept that it was gone. Through a wave of panic she struggled to think rationally. The most important thing was to figure out who had taken it. Not a servant, certainly. They might spy for wealthy patrons but the punishment for stealing from a noble was too severe for most to contemplate it. Later, when Loghain returned, she became convinced that he wasn't the culprit either. There was no change in his attitude towards her, and she was almost certain he would tackle the issue head on if he knew what she had discovered. That meant the thief must be a resident of the palace, in all likelihood a noble. But which one? There were dozens here and she had no idea how to find the culprit amongst them.

The fork slipped from her numb fingers and she winced as it clattered noisily against the plate. Without looking she could feel the weight of Loghain's gaze upon her, hardly surprising given her haggard expression. She made no move to reassure him. At the moment she couldn't bring herself to care whether he was worried; she had more important things to think about.

In the wrong hands (and in the palace that applied to almost everybody) that letter could cause untold damage. To Loghain, Anora, her parents. Even Cailan would not escaped unscathed even though he had sent a disgraced Eamon from the palace for seeking to supplant Anora. She wasn't feeling particularly charitable towards any of them and was tempted to let them drown in the mess they had created. But the sense of duty instilled in her since birth won out over her petty desire for revenge. Not that her motives were entirely altruistic. She stood to lose a lot of face if this scandal came out: the proud daughter of the Couslands married to keep her out of the king's sight should he develop a wandering eye. She could well imagine the titters of the queen's ladies, and it left a bitter taste in her mouth.

She reached for her goblet of wine, almost knocking it over in her haste. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Loghain rise and someone else take his place, but she paid no attention until the queen murmured in her ear. "You still look ill, Elissa. Are you sure you should be out of bed?"

"I assure you, your Majesty, I am quite well."

"If you are certain," said Anora dubiously. "I was worried when you could not attend me earlier. I sent Lady Adelaide to inquire after your health, but she said you were not in your chambers."

Elissa hurried to disguise her cynical smile, wondering whether Anora suspected her of having secret trysts with Cailan. "I thought that fresh air might..." she trailed off as Anora's words sank in. "Might refresh me," she finished hurriedly. "Lady Adelaide, you say? Would you be so kind as to point her out for me? I have a terrible memory for faces."

Anora gave her a small smile. "It is hard to keep track of everyone, but you will develop a skill for it in time." She discretely pointed to a woman seated at one of the lower tables. Elissa vaguely recognised her from the queen's presence chamber. Her face was framed by a tumble of dark curls, her green eyes watchful. She was one of the women who had worked hard to ingratiate herself with the powerful and influential teyrna. Of course she would leap at the chance to speak to Elissa privately and it was entirely plausible that, finding her absent, she would pick up the letter left in plain sight.

"I-I recall her now," stammered Elissa. "I believe you were right earlier, your Majesty. I think that bed is the best place for me at the moment."

Anora nodded approval. "I am glad you have seen sense. It is quite clear you are not fit to be on your feet. Go to, Elissa, and don't concern yourself with my father. I will tell him where you have gone."

Elissa murmured her thanks, relieved that she would not have to make excuses to Loghain. She forced herself to leave at a sedate pace, conscious of how peculiar she must look leaving so early in the evening. In the corridor her pace quickened and she had to resist the urge to bite her nails, a nervous habit her mother had broken her of years ago. Adelaide was the thief, she was sure of it, but she had no idea how to proceed. Under no circumstances could she confront her directly, the potential for disaster was too great. The most logical step would be to search her room while she was occupied, but she hadn't the slightest clue where it was or an excuse for being there should she be caught.

Luck had favoured her when Anora mentioned Adelaide, and it struck again as she almost walked into the servant who had delivered Fergus's letter. "You!" she cried delightedly. The woman flinched as if expecting a reprimand and Elissa rushed to reassure her. "I'm sorry for startling you, I am just so happy to see you. Your name?"

"Meryl, my Lady," she mumbled.

"Meryl. Do you recall that I said I may have work for you in the future? Well, though it is sooner than I anticipated, I have a job for you if you wish to earn some gold."

"Gold?"

"Yes, you will be rewarded in sovereigns."

"What must I do, my Lady?"

"You know of a noble called Lady Adelaide?" Meryl nodded. "Good. She has stolen some of my family correspondence and it must be returned to me. I need you to search her room for it."

Meryl began to shake her head, eyes wide. "My Lady, it is too dangerous! If anyone caught me thieving..."

"Five sovereigns," said Elissa hastily. "And you will not be caught. Lady Adelaide will be in the dining hall for at least another hour."

Meryl caught her bottom lip between her teeth, eyes darting around the corridor as if searching for spies. "Five sovereigns?"

"I swear it."

She nodded hesitantly and Elissa released a breath she hadn't realised she had been holding. "Thank you, Meryl. The letter is addressed to Lissy and signed from my brother, Fergus. Come to my chambers tomorrow morning to bring me what you find. Now you must make haste. Go."

Breakfast came and went without sign of Meryl. Elissa stayed in her chambers, sending word to Anora that she was too weak to attend her, and tried to distract herself with a series of books. Her mind would not would not focus, her eyes constantly slipping from the text to stare at the door. What if Meryl had been discovered and thrown out of the palace? What if she had betrayed Elissa to Lady Adelaide? She had almost made up her mind to go in search of her when the time the tentative knock at the door came. She rushed to answer it but, remembering she was supposed to be ill, forced herself to walk slowly. Her breath rushed out in a sigh of relief as she saw her visitor was Meryl.

She ushered her in. "Did you find it?" she asked excitedly, but her heart sank as she took in Meryl's pale, unhappy face. "Ah. You didn't."

"I searched the whole room, my Lady, I swear," she said in a rush. "It wasn't there."

"It's not your fault. You did what I asked of you," said Elissa, trying to keep the disappointment out of her voice. She rummaged in her drawer and drew out a leather pouch, holding it out to Meryl. As she sat heavily in a chair she was barely conscious of the woman's babbled thanks. She needed to plan her next move but didn't know where to turn. The obvious culprit was apparently innocent and, unless luck struck again, there were no clues to lead her to the true thief. She had almost forgotten about Meryl until the servant began to speak hesitantly.

"Do you think she might keep it on her?"

"Hmm?" said Elissa, stirring from her thought. "Oh, it's certainly a possibility." In Adelaide's position she would not feel safe even with the letter locked away. She would want to keep it with her at all times, hidden against her skin. "But that would make retrieving it almost impossible." There was no subtle way of asking Adelaide to disrobe.

Meryl hesitated, nervously wetting her lips with the tip of her tongue, before venturing, "Not impossible, my Lady."

Elissa's head perked up at the servant's tone, and she watched her closely. "Do you know something that might help me?"

"I think so. Lady Adelaide likes to visit The Pearl."

"The Pearl?"

"It's..." Meryl's cheeks turned a deep shade of pink. "Well, it's a brothel, my Lady."

"Oh. Now that is interesting."

"Everyone knows," Meryl rushed on. "All the servants do, anyway. She visits on the same day each week, always after most of the nobles have gone to bed. If you send someone there tonight, maybe they could find a way to get the letter while she is... busy."

"Meryl, I could kiss you! The Maker smiled on me when I met you." She went to the lockbox where she kept ready money and drew out another two sovereigns, which she forced into an agape Meryl's hand. "Where is this place? Could you give me directions?"

After Meryl had dictated directions and was shown out, Elissa began to prepare. She felt peculiarly good. Not exactly happy, but exhilarated. Inactivity didn't suit her. The crisis was far from over but at least now she could play an active role in resolving it. She would not send an agent on her behalf, as Meryl had suggested, but would go herself. There was no time to hire someone and she wouldn't trust this task to anyone else even if she had weeks to prepare. As at Gwaren when she had been faced with the threat of Dolan, she rose to the challenge.

The rest of the day was spent in preparation for her night time excursion. Her armour (for she knew better than to stray outside the palace alone with only silk for protection) was retrieved from her trunk and hidden behind a chest of drawers. The last thing she wanted was for a squeaking hinge to wake Loghain and give her away. Meryl's directions were pored over until she knew them by heart. Most importantly, a bulging pouch of gold was hidden in a secret pocket of her cloak.

She had been excused from her duties to give her time to recuperate, which turned out to be both a blessing and a curse. Making polite conversation over dinner would have been beyond her, but she desperately wanted to roam the grounds to rid herself of some of the nervous energy that plagued her. Once her preparations were complete time slowed to a crawl. After a servant had cleared away her almost untouched dinner, she undressed and climbed into bed. It would probably be hours before Loghain returned, but she didn't want him to come back early and catch her off guard.

As midnight approached she heard the door open and burrowed deeper into the sheets, forcing herself to take deep, even breaths. Loghain moved around the room with his customary quietness, the only sound a soft rustling as he shed his clothes. Silence descended and she was suddenly sure of being watched. When Loghain's hand alighted on her brow she almost flinched but managed to stay still. He pressed the back of his fingers against her forehead, perhaps checking her temperature, and pushed an errant lock of hair out of her face. When she showed no sign of stirring his hand disappeared and a moment later she felt the mattress dip under his weight.

It felt like hours passed before his breathing deepened and she was as certain as she could be that he was asleep. Cautiously, she slid out of bed and fetched her armour from its hiding place. It took her twice as long as it usually would to dress as the slightest noise from the bed made her freeze. When the last buckle was fastened she slid her daggers into their sheaths, double checked that the gold was where she had left it and fastened her cloak around her shoulders.

Conobar rose from what was fast becoming his customary place by the fire and slunk over to her, head hanging low. He didn't make a sound but his disapproval was palpable. As far as he was concerned, his mistress shouldn't be abroad at night without him at her side. She gave him a stern look and he shifted unhappily from paw to paw. Relenting, she crouched and stroked him. "We talked about this," she whispered. "You have to stay here. It will look suspicious – well, more suspicious – if he wakes up and finds both of us gone."

He whined in the back of his throat but sat down and regarded her with an almost comical look of longsuffering. Smiling, she ruffled his ears gently and slipped out of the room.

Leaving through the main doors where everyone could see her seemed unwise, so she opted to walk through the kitchens. There were very few people there so late, and those who were still awake were too exhausted from a long day of work to pay her much attention. Outside of the palace district she was uncertain of herself. She remembered little from her first trip to Denerim and she had certainly never visited an establishment like The Pearl. Fortunately Meryl's directions turned out to be accurate and, after a couple of false turns, she came to the building that had been described to her.

There was no chance for hesitation at the threshold. The door swung open, avoiding hitting her by less than an inch, and one of The Pearl's patrons stumbled into her. She regained her balance, waving away the man's hands as he tried to help her. "I'm sorry, miss," he mumbled.

"Think nothing of it."

His head jerked up at the sound of her voice, eyes searching her face in the shadows cast by her hood. Elissa didn't notice his close attention, brushing past him into the building. Inside it was surprisingly welcoming, pleasantly warm after the chilly autumn air and furnished with simple wooden chairs. She glanced around, searching for someone who might be in charge. There were a few of what she assumed were customers, sitting alone rather than in groups, and two women behind the bar. Deciding that she wouldn't get anywhere just standing there, she approached one of them.

"Excuse me, are you the..." she bit her lip, searching for the appropriate word. "Proprietor?"

The woman grinned. "That I am, sweetheart. What can I get for you tonight? A drink? A man? Or perhaps a woman?"

"Erm... no. Thank you. I have a somewhat unorthodox request."

"We cater to all tastes here."

"Not that kind of - Never mind. Perhaps we could sit down and talk it over?"

The woman took a step back and ran her eyes over Elissa, taking in the expensive cut of her cloak and high quality armour. Clearly deciding she was worth the time, she held out her hand for Elissa to shake. "Sanga," she introduced herself perfunctorily. "Would you prefer to speak privately?"

"Please," she said gratefully.

Sanga nodded and crooked a finger at her, beckoning her to follow. She led Elissa to an empty room behind the bar and left her there, reappearing after a few moments with wine and glasses. Taking a cautious sip, Elissa was forced to stifle an appreciative moan. This was better than the vinegar that had been served to her at some noble houses. More importantly, Sanga's willingness to part with the expensive alcohol showed that she was taking her seriously. The proprietor took a generous mouthful, perhaps wishing to show that the wine had not been tampered with, and then set the glass aside. "This unusual request..."

"Ah." Elissa copied her hostess and relinquished her wine with a mute look of regret. "It concerns one of your regular clients, a noble called Lady Adelaide. I have reason to believe she has stolen documents concealed in her clothes. This seems like an excellent place to retrieve them."

Immediately Sanga shook her head, crossing her arms firmly over her chest. "I don't meddle in politics."

"It is not a question of politics, more of a personal matter." It wasn't entirely a lie; it was intensely personal for Elissa. "Besides, I wouldn't expect you to assist me without reward." She dug into her pocket and threw a bulging pouch onto the table.

Sanga reached for it and casually peered inside. She couldn't quite disguise the quick upward flick of her eyebrows; twenty sovereigns was no sum to sniff at. Even so, she sat back in her seat, folding her hands in her lap. "That is indeed generous, but you must understand that the lady represents a long term investment. She could be a valuable customer for decades to come, but she'll be less inclined to spend her coin here if she thinks we're a house of pickpockets."

"I can give you more than money."

"Oh?" Sanga looked at her with undisguised scepticism.

"I can offer you protection. I am powerful, far more so than Lady Adelaide. Surely you must encounter trouble from time to time?"

Sanga nodded. "The authorities like to see how far they can push us, particularly when it comes to taxes."

"I could make life much easier for you."

"And how will I appeal to you for help when I don't know your name?"

Elissa bit down on a grin. It was a clumsy attempt to discover her identity and, she guessed from Sanga's half smile, not a serious one. She avoided it smoothly. "I will set up an intermediary, of course."

Sanga made a show of considering the offer but Elissa was almost certain she had already made up her mind to accept it. Her eyes were fixed too firmly on the pouch of gold though her hands remained almost demurely folded in her lap. Finally she grabbed the gold and it disappeared into her dress. "If I don't hear from this intermediary soon, I'll start asking embarrassing questions at the palace," she warned.

Cold terror gripped her at the thought that Sanga had somehow discovered who she was, but she told herself not to be ridiculous. Her own boast of power had made it obvious that she lived at the palace. Hoping that none of her panic had shown on her face, she forced herself to reply with calm assurance, "They will contact you within a week."

"Good enough." Sanga rose. "I'm looking for documents, you say?"

"A letter."

"Wait here." At the door she paused and, smirking, glanced over her shoulder at Elissa. "Are you sure you wouldn't like some entertainment while you wait?"

"I'm quite certain, thank you."

"As you wish."

The moment the door swung shut Elissa buried her face in her hands and wondered whether she was making a mistake. A one off, anonymous payment to a brothel was one thing, but a lasting arrangement could do her serious harm. Adding to the problem was she had no one to act as the promised intermediary. The few names she knew in the city were connected to her family or Loghain, and couldn't be trusted not to relay news to their masters. But what other choice did she have? This was the best, if not the only, chance she had of retrieving the letter.

As the minutes crawled by she shifted uncomfortably in her seat. This was not what she had expected in a brothel. Where were the plush velvet sofas from the stories? There was nothing sensual or inviting about the hard wooden bench she sat on. Despite her discomfort, and the anxiety that continued to gnaw at her, as the candle steadily burned down her eyelids began to grow heavy. Several times she lost the battle to keep them open and her head lolled forwards, the sudden movement jolting her unpleasantly awake. If she balled up her cloak she could make a half decent pillow. It was a tempting thought but she reluctantly dismissed it. This was not a wise place to lower her guard.

The candle had burned down a full mark by the time Sanga returned. From her pocket she produced a crumpled piece of paper and held it out to Elissa, who had to restrain herself from snatching it. She could tell just from a glance that it was her letter; Fergus's writing was unmistakeable. Still, she had to read it twice before she could allow herself to believe it. "Thank you," she said sincerely.

Sanga's smile held a hint of genuine warmth. "We aim to please." Her eyes took on a steely glint though her voice remained light. "I'll expect to hear from you soon."

"Of course. Now if you will excuse me, I think I will finally be able to rest easy."

Standing aside to let her pass, Sanga chuckled softly. "Sleep soundly, sweetheart."

Elissa rushed out of the brothel, letter clutched triumphantly in her hand. The moment she reached the palace she would rip up the wretched thing and burn the pieces. Perhaps tomorrow she would single out Lady Adelaide for special attention, and smile sweetly as the courtier stared at her and wondered whether this young newcomer had been the one to outmanoeuvre her. The idea made her chuckle darkly, but her laughter turned into a yelp as she was grabbed by the arm and yanked into a dark alley. Her captor released their grip immediately, leaving her to stumble into a wall. She whirled around so that her back was against the cold brick and unsheathed her dagger, holding it low out of the sight of any assailants. Eyes straining, she probed the darkness for signs of movement.

"If you are going to visit a brothel, Elissa, you should be more discrete."

Loghain. Her legs turned weak with relief and she sagged against the wall. It took a few seconds for his words to sink in and that, coupled with the knowledge of the letter crumpled in her fist, set her heart pounding again.

"Is this what you have been doing?" he continued coldly. "Have you been using you illness," his voice dripped with sarcasm, "as an excuse to cavort with whores?"

"How did you know I was here?" she demanded. "Did you send someone to spy on me or were you planning to – how did you put it? – cavort with whores?"

"One of my men saw you going in and reported back to me."

"Convenient," she sneered.

He loomed over her, his usually cool eyes burning with fury. "You dare to question my honesty?"

For all that he was much larger than her, she did not back away. "I have no need to question it, Loghain Mac Tir, I already know you for a liar and a schemer." Her voice was dangerously calm and she struggled to control the violent trembling that shook her small frame. The strain of the last fortnight – the tension of waiting for Fergus's answers, the confirmation of her worst suspicion and the theft of the dreadful letter – had exhausted her and wracked her nerves. Standing in a filthy alley listening to her husband accuse her of dallying with whores was pushing her past the limits of her patience. The violent swirl of emotions was fast narrowing into one feeling: anger. Her hands twitched, itching with the barely restrained urge to strike Loghain. She was Elissa of Highever and Gwaren, bent her knee only to royalty, and Maker help the man who treated her with anything less than the respect she deserved.

"I am here to clean up the mess you have made. I am here to protect you! Not to mention your daughter and my parents. I don't know why, Maker knows none of you deserve it." Her voice was growing steadily louder. A small voice in her mind begged her to stop. This was not the way to resolve problems, she did not shriek like a wildcat, but she was too far gone to listen to reason. "You're all liars, pretending to care about people while you play with their lives for your own ends. I should have let the scandal have you!"

His frown had grown steadily deeper as she talked, and he was watching her with a look that quite clearly said she had taken leave of her senses. "I don't know-"

"Don't," she hissed. "I don't want to hear another lie from you." She thrust the crumpled letter against his chest. "If you are as ignorant as you claim, perhaps this will enlighten you."

Without waiting for a response she turned on her heel to return to the palace, leaving him standing alone in the alley.