Dearest Father,

I received a rather disturbing letter from Hubert today, the one I am in business with over the mines at the Bone Pit. He said he found a lead on the cargo thefts that have plagued us lately. Hubert was always more into the money aspect of our partnership than I was. I just wanted to give some of the men from Ferelden a safe paying job. But these thefts have upset Hubert for nearly a year, and now we know who is behind the mess.

A man named Sabin was leaking information to our unknown thieves. Hubert said Sabin always bragged about knowing me in Ferelden, and even when we confronted the man, he insisted he knew our entire family. An interesting feat, considering Mother's family is from Kirkwall and you were originally in Kirkwall's Circle. In fact Father, we know so very little about your family. Why is that?

Anyway, Hubert's methods for extracting information from Sabin weren't pleasant. I dismissed Hubert and his intimidating ways and appealed to Sabin with a little more compassion. His family is still starving, struggling to make ends meet. I told him I would take care of him and his family if he told us everything he knew. He told us of an ambush tonight, so we're going to check it out. Hubert hired on the Coterie as well to assist. Interesting, as I always thought the Coterie hated me. I guess we'll see how much of a help they really are.

Hawke couldn't help the sigh that escaped her lips as Fenris and Anders began one of their many verbal arguments. Fenris was taunting Anders over his recent incident with Ser Alrik, and how Justice surfaced with Anders' lack of control. Heated words became threats, and eventually Hawke turned to scold the two. "This is why I can't have you two out together," she said. "Can't you just be civil to each other for one day?"

"I don't see why you brought him in the first place," Fenris responded.

"Maybe because she appreciates my assistance," Anders argued back.

Hawke stopped walking and faced them both. Answering Fenris, she said, "I brought you both because Anders can't sit in his dirty, dusty clinic all day, and you can't sit in your filthy, decrepit mansion all day. The two of you are hermits, never seeing the light of day unless I drag you into it. We're going to have a nice pleasant evening of ambushes and slaughter, and you're both going to like it. Now please, if you can't get along, just don't talk to one another!"

When she turned to continue walking, Isabela chuckling at her side, Anders and Fenris could do nothing but follow in silence. It was rare for Hawke to show her frustration, and both men suspected there was more worrying their leader than some ambush.

Lilley, the member of the Coterie Hubert had hired, was waiting for them at the ambush site. She informed Hawke that they were too late, the thieves had already succeeded. Several corpses littered the area, and there was no sign of the goods. "Well, this was a waste of time," Hawke said, trying not to think about the lives that were lost here because of something she was invested in.

"Not a complete waste," Isabela said as she began looting the area. "This one," she kicked the body closest to her. "This one belongs to you Lilley, doesn't he?"

Lilley crossed the sanded area to get a closer look. "Interesting," she said as she knelt down for a closer inspection. "He's not one of mine, but he is Coterie. One of Brekker's men."

Hawke tensed at the admission. "So the Coterie are the one's robbing us, and you're what, here to make sure we didn't find out?"

"Don't be a fool," Lilley said. "I wouldn't admit knowing him if that were true. Hubert has always been good on his payments, so the Coterie are under orders not to touch him or you. But Brekker...he tends to have more balls than sense. He would go against orders for personal gain, that's just like him."

"We need to stop these attacks," Hawke said. "I can not have any more of my men die."

"Consider it done," Lilley stated. "Meet me in Darktown in an hour. I'll go get us a lead on Brekker, and then we'll strike while he's counting his coin. He won't get away with this."

After Lilley took off back to Kirkwall, Isabela continued to loot the area. "So we have an hour to kill? I can think of something the four of us could do..."

Hawke, Fenris, and Anders glared at the pirate before they began dealing with the mess Brekker's men left behind. After everything that could be salvaged was, Anders and Hawke lit the pyres they'd created for the fallen men. The very least she could do was send them to the Maker like this, instead of leaving their corpses to rot.

Dearest Father,

The day did not end as I had planned, but we managed to stop Brekker and his band of thieves. When we arrived in Darktown, we found Lilley dead. Apparently she got too close to Brekker, and he was aware of why she was looking for him, so he had her killed. I informed one of Lilley's companions, who led the way to Brekker's hideout. He was easy enough to find, hiding out in the sewers below Darktown.

I almost had a difficult time speaking with Brekker, for the uncanny way he sounded exactly like Anders when he spoke! As the man insulted me for being from Ferelden, I kept looking between him and Anders, as if my mage friend were making the insults himself. Odd how some people sound alike in this city. Fenris and Samson, Sebastian and Bran, now Anders and Brekker? I wonder if they are all somehow related?

Anyway, I tried to warn Brekker, give him a way out alive, and asked him to leave my shipments alone. But all he could do was threaten me, complain that us Fereldens just can't do Kirkwall a favor and die, so the fight was on. Unfortunately, Brekker and his men didn't make it out alive.

I let Hubert know that there would be no more problems with our shipments, but he informed me of yet another problem. Told me the miners had stopped working again, something about a pest infestation. Again I wonder sometimes why I took on this extra burden? I assured Hubert I would go to the Bone Pit in the morning. For now, some much needed sleep is in order.

As Hawke watched the letter burn in the fireplace, a knock at the front door startled her. It was well past midnight; whoever it was better have a good explanation for such a late night visit. Bodahn had already retired for the evening, so Hawke went to the door to see just who had the audacity to come calling at such a late hour.

The very last person she had expected was standing before her, an apologetic expression gracing his handsome face. "I'm sorry Hawke, I know it's late."

"It's fine Sebastian," she said, opening the door wider for him to enter the estate. "Is everything alright?"

"No," he said, continuing on into the living room.

Hawke felt her heart pounding in her chest. She hadn't seen him in days, and now he was here, and obviously upset about something. She followed him into the living room. "Tell me," she said softly. "What is it?"

Sebastian turned to look at her. "I must speak with you," he said. "About us."