Leyla went to visit Anders in his clinic and discovered Isabela was there.

"… don't come running to me next time you pick up one of these diseases," said Anders.

"Isn't that point of magic?" Isabela asked with a hand on her hip. She then walked past Leyla with a strange smile on her face.

"I don't want to know," she said, shaking his head.

Anders looked up when Leyla walked over. "Things just keep getting worse. I had templars practically on my doorstep the other night."

"The templars are hunting you?"

"Not me specifically. They were just checking the refugee camps. But it's not like this place is a secret. It's only a matter of time."

"I can't say you've been keeping a low profile," Leyla advised.

"The knight-commander is out of control. Even her own people have been talking about it. The curfews. The midnight raids on mages' families. Everyone I know is forced into hiding so they won't be made Tranquil."

Leyla gave Anders a concerned look. "Is that…" She lowered her voice slightly. "Making it harder for you? With Justice?"

"In the Fade, there is no 'time'." Anders leaned on the crate he used as a desk. "Emotion rules everything. Justice doesn't know how to sit idle until the right moment to strike." He shook his head. "And I can't say I have any greater patience. I fear what my anger has made of my friend."

"What's the worst that can happen? You turn into an abomination and start…" She sighed. "Never mind. Bad joke."

"My control is fraying. I cannot hold back Justice—or whatever creature he has become—much longer. I have not attacked the templars openly. I've helped the mages here as best I can. But this impasse cannot last." He straightened and stared at Leyla for a moment. "You're at as much risk as I am. That's what I worry. What if your money and position aren't enough? What if the knight-commander turns on you?" Anders shook his head. "Everything I've done to control this… I don't care. I would drown us in blood to keep you safe."

Leyla grew deeply concerned with Anders and worried he might do something rash. Dak was already distrustful of him because of him being possessed.

She placed a hand on Anders' shoulder. "I won't lose you to this."

Anders smiled. "Then come with me. This is your fight, too. One day, the world must see us as people, not just mages. Help me make that happen."

Dak had received a note from Sebastian, the man they had helped three years ago with the mercenaries that killed his family; he asked to meet both him and Leyla in the Chantry.

When they arrived, they discovered Sebastian was involved in a heated discussion with Grand Cleric Elthina. "I thought it would end here," Sebastian was saying. "Young master and mistress Hawke destroyed Flint Company. None remain. Yet…" He sighed. "Now that I know who sent them, it's harder to see their deaths as justice."

"Death is never justice," Elthina said.

"I—" Sebastian turned towards them. "Dak. Leyla. We were just talking about you two."

"Saying good things, I hope?" Dak said.

"Dak asked diplomatically," Varric added.

"You know, I hate it when you do that." Dak glared at the dwarf.

Varric's face was unapologetic. "Dak muttered in an angry aside to the dwarf…"

"If, ah, you two have a moment?" Sebastian shifted his weight uncomfortably. He waited until they were looking at him. "I've learned who hired Flint Company—the Harimanns, a noble family of Huttsgalorl. They were my parents' allies. It's hard to believe they betrayed us like this."

Dak recognised the name; he was the noble who was nearly assassinated for helping Midgard. "I think we met Lord Harimann."

"Lord Harimann used to be a good man, but he became rather strange in his dotage. He died last year. His daughter took over the family. Lady Johane Harimann. They say she's become quite reclusive of late."

"Any idea why they turned on you?" Leyla asked.

"Money? Power? It's hard to say. Lady Harimann was always jealous of my family for being royalty when hers were mere nobility. But I can't imagine that pushing her into outright murder."

"Is there any peaceful way to resolve this?" Leyla asked hopefully.

Elthina folded her arms and nodded. "If you treat the Harimanns like you did those mercenaries, you could start a war. Go carefully, Sebastian."

Sebastian nodded. "I must speak with Lady Harimann and find out what drove her to this madness." He glanced briefly at them. "But I am the last of my line. I should not go alone and make myself a target."

Dak nodded. "If we're standing beside you, that should make them think twice."

Sebastian bowed. "Again, your interest in my plight humbles me."

Sebastian led them to the estate, but something was off. Firstly, the door was wide open and second, Leyla could sense a weakness in the Veil.

"That's strange. The door is wide open." Sebastian shook his head. "And not a single guard posted. This is not the Lady Harimann I remember…"

Carefully, they moved through the estate but did not encounter any name of guard or servant. That's when they came across a young girl, and judging from her clothes, she was no doubt Lady Harimann's daughter. She was completely red-faced and swaying around in front of the keg filled with wine.

"More! You ladies, son of a bitch! What's taking so long?" she yelled drunkenly at a keg.

"Flora?" Sebastian stared.

She didn't appear to be aware of their presence and continued drunkenly yelling at the keg.

"Why does no one in this house care what I want? More wine! Or I swear I will drown you in the dregs!"

"That sounds familiar," said Varric. "I don't envy anyone in this household tomorrow morning."

Sebastian just shook his head complexed. "She doesn't even see us. This is no normal wine."

Seeing that she wasn't in danger, they explored the house and eventually came across Lady Harimann's son. However, he was acting even more strangely than Flora. He was standing right in front of a vat of melted gold with an elven servant pointing a knife at a serving girl.

"More logs! It must be molten!" he looked at the servant with the knife. "You! More coins. I want every scrap of gold in this house!"

"P-Please, messere…" she begged.

"There's nothing to fear. You'll be beautiful." He then looked at his servant. "Pour it over her!"

"Don't!" Sebastian yelled. "You'll kill her!" However, just like his sister, he didn't acknowledge their presence. "He can't hear me."

The elven servant did, and when he tried to stop them, Sebastian punched him across the face, and the girl took the opportunity to escape.

"Perhaps I should be the one," the young lord contemplated.

"We must end this madness," said Sebastian.

Leyla couldn't agree more and believed that it was wise to use an ice spell to freeze the molten gold.

They continued their investigation and found Lady Harimann's husband, and he was… well, engaged. He was naked and sitting on the edge of the bed while a naked elven-serving girl was sucking his length.

"Oh… lower… lower…" he said blissfully.

"I beg your pardon, Leyla. I did not mean to expose you to such things." Sebastian shook his head.

"What are they even doing?" said Merrill, whose face was completely pink. "Mythal'enaste!"

"No! The feather! Use the feather!" She then stopped, and he lifted her chin so that she could look into his eyes. "Where have you been all my life? Today, I am more than a man! Come! Felicitate me!"

He then placed her on his lap, and she began to move her hips up and down. Lord Harimann moaned loudly and grasped hold of her breasts, giving them a firm squeeze.

"He has no idea we're here," said Sebastian, looking at them. "I've known Ruxton Harimann my whole life. He's a complete prude!"

"Mid-life crisis?" Varric offered.

"Where's your brother? Let's ask him to join us…"

That's when they decided to leave the room.

"Okay, something weird is definitely going on here," said Dak.

"You think?" said Varric.

"But what could possibly be going on? They're not acting like their normal selves," said Sebastian. "They don't even see us; it's like we don't exist."

"When we entered the house, I sensed faint magic; it's possible that the Veil is very thin here," said Leyla.

Sebastian looked at her. "You think a demon is behind this?"

Leyla shrugged. "I cannot say, but we've encountered three Harimanns; that means there's still one counted for."

Sebastian nodded. "Then we need to locate Lady Harimann and find some answers."

"Then let's head to the basement, I sense the magic is stronger there," said Leyla.

They began making their way to the cellars and found all three Harimanns were waiting when they made it downstairs. "Turn back. There is nothing here for you."

"You shall not enter," said Flora. All three Harimanns fell to the ground as though someone had cut the strings holding them up. Shades began to form, coming out of the walls.

Leyla quickly responded by spraying them with ice to hold them in their tracks. Dak and the others then quickly jumped in, taking them down.

They then discovered a whole series of ancient ruins right beneath the mansion. Judging from the architecture, it was very likely they were once Ensalan. As they made their way deeper into the labyrinth, Leyla could tell that the Veil was extremely thin, almost like breathing the Fade.

They kept on proceeding until they finally found Lady Harimann standing in front of the altar and appearing to be conversing with a desire demon.

"Starkhaven will not submit," she said frustratingly. "I put that idiot Goran Vael into the prince's seat, but the other families won't heed him. I must marry him to Flora and solidify our hold. But I need more power."

"I've given you much." The desire demon's voice was almost a purr. "Your desires run deep. You've already traded your husband and your children. What more can you offer?"

"What bargain have you made?" Dak roared.

"Who is this? Who are you? How did you get here?" Lady Harimann's eyes narrowed at them, then widened when she saw Sebastian. "Sebastian…?"

"You were my mother's friend. How could you murder her?" Sebastian put his hand on his bow.

"Such an ugly word," the desire demon said. "I prefer 'removed the only obstacle between her and her dreams.'"

Sebastian glared at the demon. "This was your idea."

The demon smiled. "I could create such desires if I wished. But it's far easier to nurture those that already exist. The desire for power is easy to find. You and your friend both possess it, do you not? You both wish to rise."

"Not if it meant selling out my family," Dak glared.

The demon focused her eyes on Sebastian. "How loyal were your friends to you? Everyone has a price. Everyone wants something."

"Do not listen to her," said Leyla.

"Oh, such a pious soul, masking so much ambition. Are you so different from my lady? You yearn for the same lands, the same power…"

"I am the rightful heir! She is a usurper and murderer." Sebastian shook his head.

The demon moved towards him just slightly. "You swore to put aside worldly goods and ambitions. But they couldn't stop you from wanting them."

Leyla could tell that the desire demon was getting her claws into Sebastian, and she was certainly persuasive. She instantly placed herself between the demon and Sebastian, pointing her staff directly at her.

"We will hear no more from you," she said. She then slammed her staff into the ground, unleashing a burst of lightning.

That was the signal for everyone else to jump in. Both Dak and Fenris drew their blades and attacked the shades that had suddenly appeared. Everyone else concentrated their efforts on Lady Harimann, who apparently had been given certain magical abilities, no doubt thanks to the demon. It was a hard fight, but they eventually became victorious. Sebastian looked as if this was a hollow victory.

"Let us return to the Chantry," he said, his face tired. "I must pray for Lady Harimann's soul."

Flora met them as they left the underground ruins. "Sebastian. I am so, so…" She sighed. "Sorry is such an inadequate word. When I think what Mother made us do…" She shuddered. "What those creatures made us do…"

"We were friends, Flora," said Sebastian, shaking his head.

"It was like a cloud came down on me. All I could feel or think was what the demon allowed." Tears started to fall from her eyes.

"Don't blame your mother," said Leyla. "The desire demon made this happen."

Dak wish that had been true, but it wasn't. From everything he had heard about Lady Harimann, it was clear that she desired the throne in Starkhaven. The demon merely amplified her desire, making her greedy and power-hungry.

Flora nodded slowly. "I doubt many people will be so forgiving." She turned her gaze to Sebastian. "If it takes every last coin my family owns, I will make reparations to everyone we've wronged. Starting with you, Sebastian. We weren't the only ones vying for Starkhaven. If you face more opposition, you have my support."

Sebastian sighed. "It will not make up for what happened."

"No." She shook her head. "That's true."

"I will tell you when I need you." Sebastian glanced back at him, and then they left the house.

They soon returned to the Chantry, and Sebastian leaned over the railings, looking down upon the foyer. Clearly, he was still reeling from what had happened in the death of Lady Harimann did not have the calming effect he had hoped.

"I had hoped prayer might cleanse me of the desire demon's touch," he said. "But I still hear her voice so clearly. I feel like I've bathed in filth that will never come off."

Dak leaned on the rail next to him. "You acted honourably. Why are you ashamed?"

"The demon didn't lie. I used to be bitterly jealous of my brother. I wanted to be prince. Now, everything he had is mine. And he lies in ashes. I keep asking myself, 'Do I want this because it's right, or simply to have what I never thought I could?'"

"It is the wisdom not to want power that lets you use it wisely," said Leyla gently. Their father had said that many times during training.

"You didn't feel what that demon stirred in me. It cannot be right to lead any army to Starkhaven with such doubt in my heart." Sebastian managed a smile. "I owe you two more than I can say. I will offer my service to you here before I move on."

Dak smiled. "If you want to help me, do it because we're friends. There's no debt between us."

"You have a good soul, Dak," said Sebastian, putting a hand on his shoulder. "It was truly the Maker who led you to me."

Leyla looked at Sebastian awkwardly. "And you're willing to work with me? An apostate?"

"The Chantry teaches us that magic is used to serve man, not rule over," said Sebastian. "You may be a noblewoman now, but I've seen you use your powers to help people as the Maker no doubt intended."

"Be sure you tell the templars that if they ever come knocking."

And they all laughed.

Dak went to check on Fenris and found that Isabela was lounging in a chair sitting across from him.

"So the seneschal's tax collector won't be coming around again like you asked," she informed him. "Funny story."

Fenris glanced up at Dak, then nodded to Isabela. "I'll pass, but thank you for the help."

"Spoilsport. Why you want to squat up here in Hightown is beyond me."

"I like the view," Fenris said.

Isabela gave a coy smile as she looked at him. "So do I."

Dak shook his head as she left and then claimed her chair. Fenris leaned back in his own chair.

"Three years," he said. "There's still no sign of Danarius. I'm beginning to wonder if he's finally given up."

"This is his mansion, isn't it?" Dak frowned as he looked around. Fenris had really only bothered to make a couple rooms in the place liveable. "He must know you're here."

"Would you be surprised to learn that it isn't, in fact, his mansion?" Fenris shrugged. "It belongs to an Ensalan merchant, one who has evidently given up on the place. Perhaps he is dead. Perhaps Danarius killed him. Either way, if Danarius is aware of my presence, he has done nothing."

Dak frowned. "Isn't this what you wanted?"

"Yes, but…" He stopped and looked at him. "Tell me: what do you do when you stop running?"

Dak shrugged. "You start over. Isn't that what you want?"

Fenris sighed. "I don't know how." He then rubbed his temple. "My first memory is receiving these markings, the lyrium being branded into my flesh. The agony wiped away everything. Whatever life I had before I became a slave… it's lost." He drained his glass, then rose. "I shouldn't trouble you with this. My problems are not yours."

Dak just shook his head and smiled. "Your problems are my problems."

"Unlucky you," Fenris sighed.

"So the Champions did help Sebastian become Prince of Starkhaven," said Cassandra.

"Actually, he was in two minds whether he wanted the throne or not. In the end, circumstance pretty much forced his hand. Can't say I blame him after what happened here. If I had the opportunity, I would have done the exact same thing."

"Given their friendship, are the champions taking refuge in Starkhaven?" Cassandra enquired.

"Not to my knowledge, but I'm certain you've already checked whether they are there or not."

Cassandra's silence gave him the answer he needed.

"Then continue," she said at last.