Dak wanted to visit Merrill to see how she was coping with the alienage. When she saw him, she nearly jumped and rushed over to him.

"This city is amazing!" she said excitedly. "Do you know, I saw someone get mugged? Right outside! It was fascinating!" She just shook her head. "Everything happens here all at once! How does anybody keep it all straight?"

Dak shrugged. "I don't think everyone does. Except Varric. And he's properly full of it."

"Really?" Merrill blinked. "Isn't that… sad?"

She then took a seat and shook her head. "It's so busy here. So many things just get… lost."

"Do you miss the Freefolk?" he asked, sitting down next to her.

Merrill sighed. "I miss Harhren Paivel's stories—the creaking of the aravels in the breeze. The city is so busy and confusing. And the elves here are not like my clan. But I'll get used to Huttsgalor in time."

Dak gave her a sympathetic look. "Are you feeling lost here, Merrill?"

She nodded. "A bit. But… I'll adjust." She then smiled at him. "I'm glad you came by; I needed someone to talk to."

Dak inconvenienced Merrill to come outside with him for a breath of fresh air when they ran into Leyla. Apparently, Meeran had sent another letter for them, this time telling them that a merchant was looking for someone with certain skills.

They soon encountered an elven woman who, like Merrill, had Freefolk tattooed on her face. They noted that she was talking to a templar, and they were close enough to eavesdrop on their conversation.

"I am sorry for your loss, Mistress. But I can offer your son mercy only if he turns himself in."

"I'm trying to find him, but—" The woman was practically sobbing.

"The templars cannot tolerate apostates." The templar's tone betrayed his words. His words were calm and gentle, and he placed a comforting hand on her shoulder before he left.

Dak looked at Leyla and whispered, "This will be Mother if we're not careful."

They looked back at the poor woman who was breaking down in tears.

"It sounds like your son is in trouble," said Leyla gently. "If anything I can do?"

"You… you heard all that and still would help? An apostate?"

She was hesitant but noticed Merrill, who gave her an encouraging smile. "… I am Arianni. My boy, Feynriel… he's all I have, all my family. When I learned he had magic, I could not bear to send him to the Circle." Tears started flowing again. "But his connection to the Fade… it gives him nightmares, dreams of demons, speaking in his mind. I would rather lose him to the Circle than to himself."

She began to explain the nightmares he'd been having, and when he heard that she contacted Thrask, he ran away. She also mentioned that she was once Freefolk but fell in love with an Antivan merchant by the name of Vincento, but when she was with her child, both her clan and Vincento cast her aside. All things considered, Vincento was likely the better option. Though it seemed Thrask was a good man, at least.

They found Vincento near his stall in front of the Hanged Man. At first, the man denied even having a son. Leyla called a small amount of fire to his hand, then asked him again. Almost immediately, Vincento changed his tune and suggested they talk to a former templar named Samson.

Samson, at least, was easy enough to find. The smell alone could lead anyone right to him. It became abundantly clear that he was suffering from lyrium withdrawal; Dak remembered his father mentioned it happened if templars didn't get their hands on lyrium.

He mentioned that he directed the boy and another girl to a man called Reiner. Apparently, he only helped to escape mages if they paid him in coin; no doubt we can get his hands on lyrium because he mentioned that the man might have kidnapped them. They quickly gathered Fenris and Aveline before heading into the docks.

They arrived too late to help the girl but found no trace of Feynriel. Aveline found a shipping manifest that mentioned another man's name and a location in Darktown. They also discovered the girl was Thrask's daughter because she had a letter addressed to him.

They made their way into Darktown and found the man they were looking for. Apparently, he was quite pleased to see them, though for quite different reasons.

"Why, look here, boys. Volunteers!" he smirked. "Clap 'em in irons, and let's see what the Esnals will pay for them."

Dak looked at Fenris. "Make him talk."

Fenris gave a small smile as he stepped forward. "I can do that." Blue light surrounded him as he stuck a hand through the slaver's chest, then moved it around a bit.

The man fell to the ground, gasping and choking. "Andraste's great flaming ass. How did you do that?" He shook his head, then quickly began to talk. "Never mind. I-I've stashed the boy in a cave. A smuggler hideout on the Wounded Coast. Esnals will be by to finish the deal today. Now… c-can I go?"

Dak narrowed his eyes. "I let you live, and I condemn countless innocents into slavery."

He then drew his sword and sliced off the head of the slave. Leyla then quickly slammed her staff into the ground, freezing the legs of the other slaves, making them easy pickings for Fenris and Aveline.

"If we keep going this way, there won't be any slaves left in Huttsgalor," said Dak as he sheathed his sword.

"That would be a very good thing," said Fenris.

Leyla then picked up a map she found. "Looks like he was telling the truth. They were taken into some hideout in the Wounded Coast, and this map will lead straight to them."

"How about you go on ahead while I stay with Aveline and Fenris to mop up any remaining slavers," Dak suggested.

"Good idea, I'll pick up Anders, Merrill and Isabela on the way," said Leyla.

Leyla did just that, and they made their way up towards the Wounded Coast. Naturally, they had a fight through several dozens of slavers, but they kept on cutting through until they found Feynriel. Unfortunately, Feynriel had a knife to his throat.

"Take one more step, and the boy dies," he threatened.

"This is as close as I get," Leyla assured him and looked at Isabela.

Isabela reached for one of her knives slowly. Then, quick as a flash, she flung it and impaled the man's throat, and he fell to the ground dead.

At once, the other slavers retaliated, but facing against three mages, they were outmatched. Once they were all dead, Feynriel ran down the steps towards them, looking quite furious.

"You would have let him kill me!" he snapped. "He had a sword at my throat, and you just… I mean, thank you, but… What if you were wrong?"

"You were too valuable for him to kill," Leyla assured.

"Is that my choice? Prisoner or slave?" he snapped. "Who are you? Are you working for the templars?"

Clearly doing all the chaos, the boy had failed to see her perform any magic, but given the circumstances, she couldn't exactly blame him. "Your mother sent me."

"Hrmph. Hardly a difference." Feynriel crossed his arms. "I can't believe her. My whole life, it was all, 'I'll love you and protect you.' Then I have some bad dreams, and it's 'off to the templars'."

"I'm here to help you, Feynriel."

"Why? You don't even know me."

Leyla held out his hand and called up her magic. "I am you."

"I guess you are." Feynriel's entire body seemed to relax. "You know, you're the first mage I've ever met. Most are locked up like rats. Would…" He hesitated before continuing. "Is there any chance you'd help me reach the Freefolk? That's where I was trying to go. See if they would take me in. I'm as much Freefolk as human."

"You'd be alone among the Freefolk. Even more a Freefolk would be here."

"Compare to being held in a prison or made Tranquil? I'll risk being lonely," he then gave him a pleading look. "Look, I know it's different in other kingdoms, but here… no one helps Circle mages. Anything the templars don't like, you get the brand. The Freefolk, they've had magic forever. They could teach me. I won't be a danger, I swear."

"It will be your humanity that marks you among the people, not your magic," said Merrill. "But I think they will take you."

"Keeper trains him, keeps him safe from demons, no one gets locked up," said Anders. "Sounds like a winning plan."

"They probably could teach him," said Isabela. "Whether they would is another matter entirely."

Leyla honestly believed that the Freefolk was the best option and agreed to help him get to the Keeper.

Dak and Leyla let Arianni know what had befallen her son. She was pleased by the news and insisted on rewarding them with an antique Freefolk ring. Afterwards, they returned to the Gallows and gave Thrask the letter from his daughter promising not to inform the templars that he had neglected his duty to the Order.

While they were there, Cullen met up with them, and he seemed strangely happy.

"I have told the knight-commander of your service," he said.

"Oh, more attention. That's just grand," Dak muttered under his breath.

"She commends your quick thinking and has agreed to keep the lad Keran around for observation," Cullen informed them.

"We've heard a lot about the knight-commander. What's she really like?" Leyla asked.

"She is not an easy taskmaster. But it is not an easy task. I would not have liked her when I was younger. I thought mages deserved a softer touch." There was a haunted look in the man's eyes. "But Meredith is never fooled by a sweet face. She always sees the demon behind it."

"You sound Midgardian. How did you end up here?" Dak asked.

Cullen sighed. "I was in the Circle Tower in Midgard when Uldred summoned his demons. I was held in a cage for… I can't even say. Weeks? Months? It was one unending nightmare. I watched… what those mages did, what they became. I would gladly give my life to avoid seeing that again."

Leyla had heard the rumours, but mages had also suffered. "You have to admit, the templars have bought some of this hatred on themselves."

Cullen sighed. "That is the popular school of thought, no?" He then turned and looked at the statues of former slaves. "It used to be that templars were welcomed wherever they went—for defending people from dark magics. Now, the townsfolk are as likely to slam their doors as offer us a bed. The image of the poor, chained apprentice is a powerful one. And one the mages are more than willing to exploit."

Leyla decided it was unwise to push further, so they left.

They then approached the merchant Hubert, who needed their help with the Bone Pit. He had hired several Midgardians to mind the place, but they accidentally entered the dragon's nest. Dak and Leyla quickly killed all the dragons; as a reward, he decided to give them a partnership in ownership.

They were then approached by Magistrate Vanard, who had heard about them through the Red Iron, and asked for their help in order to recapture a prisoner. Apparently, he was hauled off in a cave, and they wanted to retrieve him before he was killed by giant spiders or something.

So Aveline, Merrill and Varric went along with them and made their way to the cave entrance, where several guardsmen were waiting.

"We've been sent for the man you've cornered here in the ruins," said Dak to the commanding officer.

"Ah. So you're the reinforcements the magistrate promised," said the commander. "The man you're looking for, he's holed up in the ruins. Though I doubt he's still in one piece."

"That bastard's to be brought in alive after all he's done?" a voice yelled. They quickly spun around to find a very angry elf making his way down the slope. "Just because it isn't you and your pretty little shemlen children he's after…"

It soon became apparent that this job was not going to be as simple as it originated.

"Please, calm down and tell me what happened," said Leyla calmly.

"The man you're after, he targets elves!" the elf yelled furiously, pointing at the cave's entrance. "He dragged my daughter into the ruins and killed her. I want him dead!" He then looked down to his feet in despair. "My girl, Lia, she wasn't the first victim. Over the years, he's taken dozens of our children, and not once has he paid for his crimes!"

"Would you mind telling us who you are?" Dak asked.

"My name is Elren; I'm a merchant in the city," he said. He then looked at them with a begging look. "Please, no one else cares that our children are being slaughtered like beasts.

Dak clenched his fists; how could anyone allow such a thing. "I'll tear his throat out myself."

Elren gave him an appealing look. "Thank you, serah. You have no idea what this means."

Aveline frowned. "You couldn't turn to the guards?"

"For all my damned coin, I'm still only an elf to these shemlen," he spat. "There'll be no justice for my girl in the court of Huttsgalor."

Leyla then turned to the guardsman. "What do you say about this?" she asked.

"Yes, what do you have to say?" said Aveline, narrowing her eyes.

"They won't go in after him," Elren glared. "They're stalling, trying to give the murderous bastard a chance to get away."

"Oy now, elf," said the guardsman. "Like we said before, you're bleeding mad if you think we'll be going against the magistrate's orders."

Translation, they were in the magistrate's pocket, and if they didn't do what he said, they wouldn't get paid. Dak looked at Aveline, who nodded, knowing what they had to do.

"This murderer cannot be allowed to walk free," said Dak to Elren.

"Then that bastard will finally get what he deserves. Thank you."

The guardsman was not too pleased with this decision. "Not wise, stranger. You tried to take justice into your own hands; the magistrate will have your head."

Aveline narrowed her eyes. "Only if it's reported."

"I must do what is right," said Dak firmly.

"And I stand with my brother in this," said Leyla.

They then began to make their way into the ruins, which were completely crawling with giant spiders. Fortunately, they were much of a problem, and navigating the ruins was easy enough.

Then they came across a small elven girl lying on the ground with a frightened look on her face. She looked at them fearfully. "Who are you? Please, can you get me out of here? I just want to go home."

"Don't be afraid, da'len. Everything is going to be all right," Merrill assured.

"Lia?" Dak guessed and was slightly surprised. "Your father told us you were dead!"

Lia looked up. "My father? Is he safe? Kelder said he'd hurt my family if I don't come with him…"

Dak had to assume that Kelder was the murderer, but for the life of him, he couldn't understand why the magistrate wanted him alive. Given the number of children he had killed, he should have been executed a while ago, nor does it explain why he had to pay off the guardmen outside.

Leyla quickly began to examine her. "I don't see any injuries. Are you all right?"

Lia looked to the ground tearfully. "He hit me, told me I was nothing; I begging to stop hurting me. I didn't think he would, but out of nowhere, he pushed me away and just… started crying." She then looked up into his eyes. "Don't you see? He didn't mean to hurt me! He told me! There are demons; they make him do these horrible things!"

Dak grasped the bridge of his nose and looked at the others, who were also shaking their heads in disbelief. "I'll have to remember to use that. 'A demon made me do it!'"

"There are a lot of cruel people out there, princess. Completely demon-free," Varric said kindly.

Lia shook her head. "But… it's true! How else could he do something like this? Please…"

Dak knew she was young and didn't understand, but she would in time. "I'm sorry, Lia. It's too dangerous to let Kelder live."

"But it's not his fault! It's not!" she said, shaking ahead furiously.

Leyla helped her up and gestured to the passageway behind them. "Run to the entrance; you'll find your father there."

Lia didn't look at them and ran down the passageway.

They continued to make their way through, fighting through even more giant spiders, until they eventually found a young man leaning against a stone pillar. It didn't take long to figure out that this had to be Kelder.

He looked at them, slightly disappointed. "I knew my father would eventually send someone. I was hoping the beasts down here would get to me first.

Dak frowned. "The magistrate sent us; we've never even met your father."

Kelder sighed as he pulled himself up. "He didn't tell you, did he? The magistrate is my father. He tried so hard to keep me—and what I've done—hidden away."

Now, it was all starting to make sense.

"I'm disgusted by the both of them," Aveline muttered.

Leyla had to agree. "The magistrate is supposed to protect the people of the city, and that includes the elves."

Kelder fumbled with his fingers. "Father is a good man. He tried to help, to stop me. But he can't… no one can." He then turned his back on them. "That elf girl. She had no right to be so beautiful, so perfect. The demons said she needed to be taught a lesson, like all the others." He then turned and looked at them with a slightly furious expression. "The Circle was supposed to help me, but they lied! They said there were no demons and that I was mad. This isn't my fault."

Leyla couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Let me get this straight. You torture and murder elven children for being too beautiful?"

"While blaming demons that aren't even there," Dak spat. "He's just mad."

"I… I didn't want to hurt them. They forced me! The demons don't like it when they cry."

"If the Circle suspected a demon at work, they wouldn't risk setting you loose in the city," said Leyla furiously.

"No! They lied!" said Kelder, shaking his head.

"Excuse after excuse. Can we just kill him!" said Dak.

"I can't stop. I've tried too many times. Please, you have to kill me. There's no other way," he begged.

"There! See? He wants to die. Problem solved."

"Just tell my father I'm sorry… for everything."

Dak then stepped forward. "If nothing short of killing you will stop this, then so be it. Goodbye, Kelder."

"Some people are simply broken," said Aveline.

Dak drew out his knife and sliced Kelder's throat.

When they returned, Elren was relieved to see his daughter safe, and Kelder was dead. Leyla watched as Lia looked at them; she hoped she would someday understand why they had to do it.

The lieutenant wasn't too pleased and walked off with the rest of his guards.

"Deplorable," said Aveline. "If it came to the guards, then we could have saved a lot more elven children."

"At least there won't be any more killings," said Dak.

"I doubt the magistrate will be too happy," said Leyla.

"There's nothing he can do, or else he would have the publicly announced that he allowed and murdered walk free," said Aveline.

"I didn't realise that such depravity resides within Huttsgalor," said Cassandra, shaking her head in disbelief. "Slavers? A magistrate that ignored the deaths of innocent elven children, just so he can protect his son."

"As you can plainly see, the Champions were symbols of justice when hearing Huttsgalor," said Varric with a small smile.

"Perhaps at the beginning, but considering what happened later, things had obviously changed."

"Both Dak and Leyla did what they thought was right, but there was no way they could have predicted the chaos that happened later on; no one could."

"I will grant you that no one saw what happened coming, but we still need to know what transpired that led to the events and like it or not, the Champions were at the root of the chaos."

"Then I shall continue my next part of the story and hope that it brings new evidence to light."