Varric had invited Dak and Leyla to the Hanged Man, where he apparently conducted all his business. When they arrived, they found him pacing around a table in his room, and he immediately went straight down to business.

"So, here's the thing: we need to find a way into the Deep Roads," he said businesslike. "Bartrand can lead us to the right place once we're down there, but we need a good entrance."

"We've fought darkspawn, but we've never been to the Deep Roads," said Dak.

Varric leaned over the table. "Fortunately, I've received some new information. There's a Grey Warden in the city. If anyone knows how to get down there, it'll be him."

"Sounds like you have it all planned out, Varric," said Leyla.

Varric gave him a small bow. "And that, Sunshine, is why I'm here." He shrugged. "Supposedly, this Grey Warden came in with some other Midgardain refugees not long ago. A Lowtown woman named Lirene has been helping the Midgardains. We talk to her, and maybe we learn where he is. I'll keep after my contacts—see if I can drum up any other work."

They found Lirene's shop easily enough, considering that it was filled with many refugees. They made their way over to the desk, where a woman, whom they had to assume was Lirene, was busy working.

"If you're seeking aid, leave your name with my girl," she said without looking up. "We serve everyone here—no one came from Midgardians without trouble." She gave him and his companions another look. "But I can't give priority to anyone who's already found work and lodging."

"Is there a way we can assist these people?" Leyla asked.

"If you've coin to spare, we won't turn it down. Donations go in the box up front."

"We hear you know where I can find a Midgardian Grey Warden," said Dak bluntly.

"Only Midgardian Grey Warden I know of is sitting on the throne. We're out of the Blight's path now. Why would you need a Warden?"

A grey-haired woman spoke up. "The healer was one of them once, wasn't he? A Warden?"

"Well, he's not now. And busy enough without answering fool questions about it."

"Who are you protecting?" asked Dak.

Lirene gestured at the room. "You see what our people face in Huttsgalor. They have no jobs, no homes. Most can barely buy bread. The healer serves them without thought for coin. He's closed their wounds, delivered their children."

Aveline frowned. "And yet he needs to hide?"

"He's a good man. I won't lose him to the blighted templars."

Leyla blinked. "You mean he's a mage?"

"Would I stick my neck out for some purveyor of hensbane and leeches?" Lirene glared.

"Well, I slightly complicate things," said Dak.

"He doesn't want to be locked in the Gallows just for using the gifts the Maker gave him," said Lirene.

"Your healer is in no danger from us," Leyla assured.

"I suppose it isn't my secret to keep. Anders has certainly been free enough with his services. Refugees in Darktown know that to find the healer, they must look for the lit lantern. If you need anything, Anders will be within."

Dak and Leyla couldn't help but drop a sovereign each in the donation box. Aveline and Varric then follow their example.

When they stepped outside, they were met by several heavily armed men.

"Hey! We heard you in there. Asking about the healer," said the ringleader, narrowing his eyes at them. "We know what happens to mages in this town. And it ain't gonna happen to him."

Dak quickly stepped up to the plate. "You want him safe? Don't pick fights with other Midgardians while the templars are after us all."

The man blinked, then sheathed his blades. "Midgardians? But… you, your clothes." He shrugged. "I figured you for a Huttsgalorains. Sorry." He gave a small bow. "Maker bless the rule of our King Hiccup and Queen Astrid." The armed men walked away.

It took a few minutes to find the lit lantern. Leyla held her hand up to halt the others. A blond man was standing over a child, his fingers glowing with the white light of a healing spell while the child's parents looked on anxiously. The child gasped and sat up. Immediately, the woman threw her arms around him and began to sob. The healer staggered slightly, and the father went to help him. After a moment, the healer stood up straight and waved the man away. Nodding and giving their thanks, the family left.

They waited a moment before they entered. The healer immediately grabbed his staff and swirled around, looking at them menacingly.

"I have made this place a sanctum of healing and salvation. Why do you threaten it?"

"We're just here to talk," said Leyla gently.

"We're interested in getting into the Deep Roads," Varric added. "Rumour has it you were once a Grey Warden. Do you know the way?"

The healer relaxed only slightly. "Did the Wardens send you to bring me back?" He gestured. "I'm not going. Those bastards made me get rid of my cat." He shook his head. "Poor Sir Pounce-a-lot. He hated the Deep Roads."

Dak blinked. "You had a cat named Sir Pounce-a-lot? In the Deep Roads?"

A defensive look came over the healer's face. "He was a gift. A noble beast." He smiled fondly. "Almost got ripped in half by a genlock once. He swatted the bugger on the nose. Drew blood, too." He sighed. "The blighted Wardens said he 'made me too soft.' I had to give him to a friend in Trader's Bay."

"So you came to Huttsgalor just to escape the Wardens?" Leyla asked curiously

"You say that like it's a small thing." He shrugged. "Yes, I'm here because there's no Warden outpost, no darkspawn, and a whole host of refugees to blend in with." He looked away. "And some reasons of my own."

"I'm part of an expedition into the Deep Roads. Any information you have could save people's lives."

"I will die a happy man if I never think about the blighted Deep Roads again." He gestured dismissively. "You can't imagine what I've come through to get here. I'm not interested…" Anders gave him a considering look. "Although… a favour for a favour. Does that sound like a fair deal? You help me, I'll help you?"

Leyla expected something along those lines to get his cooperation. "Help my expedition reach the Deep Roads, and I'll do whatever you need."

Anders looked at her, surprised. "You don't ask for my terms? What if I were asking for the knight-commander's head on a spike?"

"Is that what you ask?" Leyla asked, raising an eyebrow.

It was clear by the way that he talked that he was no friend to the templars, but she doubted he was foolish enough to ask them to kill the knight-commander.

"You decide," he said. "I have a Warden map of the depths in this area. But there's a price. I came to Hittsgalor to aid a friend. A mage. A prisoner in the wretched Gallows. The templars learned of my plans to free him. Help me bring him safely past them, and you shall have your maps."

Leyla looked at Aveline and Dak, and it was clear they were unhappy. For obvious reasons, Dak wanted to avoid trouble with the templars, and Aveline would kill herself before breaking any laws.

She sighed. "Tell me about your friend."

"His name is Karl Thekla. He was sent here from Midgard when Huttsgalor's Circle required new talent. His last letter said the knight-commander was turning the Circle into a prison. Mages are locked in their cells, refused appearances at court, and made Tranquil for the slightest crimes. I told him I would come."

"Are these accusations true?" Leyla asked, startled.

Of course, they heard the rumours and then heard them too often to simply discount them out of hand.

"Ask any mage in Huttsgalor," Anders huffed. "Over a dozen were made Tranquil just this year. The more people you ask, the worse the rumours become."

"You want to make your friend an apostate?"

"That's such a weighted term." Anders shook his head and gestured. "Yes, Andraste said magic should serve man, not rule him. But I've yet to find a mage who wants to rule anything. It goes against no will of the Maker for mages to live as free as other men."

"Forcing mages into servitude is not the way to prevent the rise of another Imperium," Leyla agreed.

Anders looked quite taken aback. "That's not usually the response I get. Perhaps we will work together better than I expected."

Dak then stepped forward, narrowing his eyes at Anders. "For the record, I'm not comfortable with this. Attacking templars is going to draw attention."

"If we fight the templars, it is because they decide that anyone who befriends a mage deserves death without questioning."

"Doesn't fighting them prove their point? They don't need more reasons to hunt us."

"These are my terms," said Anders firmly. "If you want my aid with your expedition, meet me in the chantry tonight. I have sent word to Karl to be there. Maker willing, we will all leave free men."

They then left Anders to tend to his patients.

"Are we sure we want to get mixed up in this?" Dak asked.

"It's the only way to get those maps," said Varric.

"It's not like you're going to attack the Gallows directly," said Leyla.

"I doubt the knight-commander will take it so lightly," said Aveline. "I haven't met her, but her reputation is undeniable. She can be extreme, and I believe the only person who can calm her down is the Grand Cleric."

"If we don't get those maps, our expedition is going to end shortly before it begins," said Varric.

Dak sighed and looked at Aveline. "If we are going to do this you can't be a part of this, Aveline."

Aveline looked as if she wanted to argue, but she said nothing.

Later that night, they made their way to the chantry, and Anders was waiting for them just outside the doors.

"I saw Karl go inside a few minutes ago. No templars so far." He looked at Dak and Leyla. "Are you ready?"

"I didn't see anyone suspicious out here," said Leyla.

"Then let's do this fast before anyone shows up," said Dak.

Anders nodded in agreement. "All right. I'll handle the talking. You watch for templars."

Anders pushed open the door. "When we find Karl, just let me talk to him."

They made their way to the upper level and saw the soon-to-be Karl looking at the wall as if examining the tapestry.

"Anders," said Karl, but his voice was emotionless. "I know you too well. I knew you would never give up."

Leyla suddenly had a bad feeling about this, and when she looked at Anders, she saw that he had turned completely pale.

"What's wrong? Why are you talking like—" Anders cut off with a gasp as Karl turned around.

Leyla gasped as they saw a sunburst brand standing out freshly on Karl's forehead. "I was too rebellious. Like you. The templars knew I had to be… made an example of."

The brand was often placed upon those who had become tranquil. The tranquil were basically mages that had been sundered from the Fade, losing their magic but also losing their emotions in the process. It was generally only used on mages deemed too dangerous to participate in the Harrowing. This rite promoted an apprentice to a full-fledged Circle Mage. However, it had been used on apostates whenever they were captured.

"No," Anders said.

"How else will mages ever master themselves? You'll understand, Anders." Doors clicked open as templars began to emerge from their hiding places. "As soon as the templars teach you to control yourself." Karl gestured at Anders. "This is the apostate."

"No." Anders suddenly began to shake, and then blue light shown from his eyes as he reached for his staff. His voice changed, deepening and resonating. "You will never take another mage as you took him."

Leyla had no idea what was going on, but they had other problems at the moment. The templars were immediately attacked, but clearly, they had only been expecting Anders; they certainly weren't expecting to engage with another mage. Leyla blasted him with a bolt of lightning, and Dak quickly struck at templar before he had the chance to neutralise her abilities. Varric took advantage and began firing bolts down at them, and Anders unleashed several powerful spells which certainly did not look natural.

Karl looked dazed, as if he had come out of the dream. "I—Anders, what did you do?" he said, his voice now sounding completely normal. "It's like… you brought a piece of the Fade into this world." Karl shook his head. "I had already forgotten what that feels like."

Dak practically marched up to Anders. "What did you do? Not the Fade part—the angry glowing bit."

"It's like a gateway to the Fade inside you," said Karl, staring. "Glowing like a beacon."

"I have… some unique circumstances, yes. But, Karl, what happened? How did they get you?"

"The templars here are far more vigilant than in Midgard. They found a letter I was writing you…" Karl's voice was bleak. "You cannot imagine it, Anders. All the colour, all the music in the world, gone. I would gladly give up my magic, but this? I'll never be whole again." He held up a beseeching hand. "Please, kill me before I forget again! I don't know how you brought it back, but it's fading."

"Karl, no—"

Leyla found the entire situation horrible. It was like she was experiencing her worst nightmare. "I would rather die than be Tranquil. Help him." If Anders couldn't, he would.

"I got here too late," said Anders. "I'm sorry, Karl. I'm so sorry."

"Now," Karl said, practically begging. "It's fading…" His voice changed. "Why do you look at me like that?"

"Goodbye," Ander said and drove the knife up under Karl's ribcage. He turned to them. "We should leave before more templars come."

They eventually return to Anders' infirmary, and Dak clearly wanted to know what happened. Leyla also would like to know what happened with Anders.

"That wasn't normal magic you just did, was it?" she said.

Anders shook his head. "I… this is hard to explain. When I was in Trader's Bay, I met a spirit of Justice who was trapped outside the Fade. We became friends. And he recognised the injustice that mages in Thedas face every day."

"So, you have this spirit of justice living in your head?"

"It's not like that. He's gone now. He's a part of me." Anders' voice held a note of regret. "It's not like we can… have a conversation. I feel his thoughts as my own. Not even the greatest scholar could tell you where I end, and he begins."

Dak narrowed his eyes. "That really didn't look like a happy, benevolent spirit from where I was standing."

"Since when is justice happy?" Anders gestured. "Justice is righteous. Justice is hard." He leaned on the pillar. "But my anger… when I see templars now, things that have always outraged me, but I could never do anything about… He comes out. And he is no longer my friend, Justice. He is a force of vengeance. And he has no grasp of mercy."

Leyla looked at him sympatheticly. "This is obviously difficult for you."

Dak stared at her in disbelief. "For him? We'll be hunted for sure now."

"I thought I was helping my friend. He would have…" Anders shook his head. "Died, I guess. If that even means anything. And he wanted to help me. He knew what mages have suffered."

"Is there anything I can do for you?" Leyla asked.

Dak looked as if he wanted to argue, but he remained silent.

Anders smiled. "You're the first one I've ever told this. Thank you for not running away. My maps are yours. As am I if you wish me to join your expedition." He stood up straight. "I thought I was done with the Grey Wardens, but if you have any need of me… I will be waiting here."

"So that is how the Champions met Anders," said Cassandra. "And they knew he was an abomination right from the start."

"Well, he wasn't your average abomination. Most of them are a big mass of twisted flesh, and he maintained his humanity."

"So they sided with a man who had a deep hatred for the templars, believing them all to be sinister."

"In his defence, that was the impression we got from the majority of the templars here in Huttsgalor. Not to mention, back home, when he was conscripted into the Grey Wardens, the templars tried to take him even after being conscripted in front of King Hiccup."

"Granted, but he didn't help matters by becoming an abomination, and his actions only ostracised mages even further. Not to mention throwing the entire continent into chaos, and the Champions were at the root of it."

"It sounds to me like you've already made your judgement."

"No, I will reserve my judgment until I hear the whole story. Now continue."