“I admit, I’m a bit tired from having to do this errand for the Knight Commander all day.  Though, to be honest, it would be easier to simply check the crates of the stuff that correspond to the dates during which the infestation, as you so aptly put it, occurred…” his eyes swept the small room skimming from crate to crate.  “I will have to at least check for the presence of lyrium on all of the cheese in case someone as intelligent as yourself were to have removed them from the correctly labeled crate.”  It wasn’t that he didn’t trust the man.  For all appearances, he took his business very seriously.  So did Orsino; leave no stone unturned, even in a wild goose chase.

She let out a light sigh as they passed by the twin statues and out of Kirkwall. Even if she was only on a ferry, it was nice to be outside of the limits of the city. After all, it wasn’t very often that it happened. Most of the time she was in the apartment, Anders’s clinic, the library or the shelter. Very rarely was she presented the opportunity to stretch her legs in a sense.

Bethany listened to the voice over the speaker as it stated facts and history about the area. A couple of the people around them were whispering their own conversations to each other, while others were listening intently. There was one older lady in particular who was staring hard at the pamphlet in her hands. When she wasn’t, she was sending glares toward a couple who were apparently being too noisy for her liking.

Her final question was like a sharp blow in the crisp air of the morning.  It brought him out of his thoughts as they drifted through the tour.  As a matter of fact, until the most recent leniency of Meredith, he had been forced to stay within the walls unless his talents were needed outside of them, and then only under heavy guard was he allowed to leave the confines of the Gallows.  But – she didn’t know that it was his constant prison, and as of late he had managed to get out from under the stifling pillow that was slowly suffocating him.

“I wish that I could get out of the city more than I am able to.”  He began before sucking in a breath and releasing a long drawn sigh.  “But, it seems that I do much more good inside the city than I would do outside.  Thus, I tend to spend most of my time trapped here.”  He waved his hand towards the silhouette of the city as the boat start to make its way down the shores commentating on the state of affairs outside the city walls; the irony was not missed.

She paused and her attention shifted when she heard the male elf’s voice close to her ear. There were always two sides, or more, to a story. Most tended to glorify the stories to suit their needs and make them look better.

Her eyes pulled away from the city when she asked what her least favorite part of the city was. Obviously, he knew what her first answer would have been. “I suppose it would be the amount of crime then. It’s never safe for me to just walk through Lowtown or Darktown by myself. Especially if it’s night. And if I do happen to be attacked… Well, trying to run or get help is probably the best option.” That was if she could outrun her pursuer. She couldn’t exactly throw fireballs at the attackers. Not unless she wanted to grab very unwanted attention.

No sooner had they entered the large shadow cast by the Gallows had her amber eyes turned up to the prison. She barely noticed her grip on the edge of the book in her lap tightening. She had never been as close to the Gallows as she was then. It made her uncomfortable. While she knew the boat wouldn’t exactly get up close and personal with the building, she liked being as far away from the place as possible.

Quietly, she forced her hands to let go of the book and folded them together before setting them down. While the history might have been interesting, the purpose for why it was built was not great. It would always be a kind of prison. Even though it was apparently now just “housing for mages in the Circle of Magi.”

“In this city, it is probably the best bet, but unless you have someone to run to get help from…” he trailed off as it was well known that people tended to let others alone to their pain.  There was enough of it to go around in this city, they didn’t need someone else’s problem on their shoulders as well as all the burdens they already carried.

When her muscles clenched beside him, it drew his attention first to her hands until they relaxed and then to her face to watch the lines of stress slowly fall as they glided past the looming shadow of the Gallows.  It had had the same effect on many a magi he had known as its reputation proceeded it throughout the lands.  He couldn’t help but chuckle sardonically at her words.

“This is the story that all the normal people want to hear.  The magi are safely housed in a secure place and being treated like normal people.  It keeps them happy just like keeping the elven segregated in their Alienage has the same effect.  Gives people peace of mind or some rot.”  The last bit nearly spit with contempt as it was more lies thrown onto the flame to keep things status quo as they always had been.

“I suppose my worst feeling about the city is that it rarely seems to change.  Everything continues as it once was and nothing seems to be new or inventive.  The old ideals are clung to as if they were law, and most of the time they are.  Unfortunately the times have changed and change beckons, knocking at the door.  The door, however, has been long since barred.”  He stated matter-of-factly with a sigh.

“No, this book is good. Thank you” she replied with a smile just before the speaker told everyone to sit down and stay within the boat. The volume was dizzying, but necessarily so. She watched as others sat down around them, getting ready for the ride.

Her eyes fell back onto the male elf when he asked her what her favorite thing about the city was. “Being able to acquire specific items is very interesting and a good aspect of the city” she agreed. Although, it would be even better if everything wasn’t so expensive. There were quite a number of items that her family couldn’t afford in Kirkwall that they could get in Lothering, and it wasn’t just because of the lack of money they possessed. Fresh items in particular were very expensive. She missed being able to eat good amounts of fresh vegetables and fruit.

She thought for a moment about what her favorite thing about Kirkwall was. “That’s a difficult question to answer…” There were many things she didn’t like about the city. The high danger of being attacked at any moment or being found out by Templars being at the top of the list.

The loudspeaker droned on about safety precautions while moving about the boat and where the life boats and flotation devices were in case of an emergency.  Afterwards, a different voice came on the coms talking about the history of the city: how it had been built by the Imperium, the slave trade, and the salvation of the Andrastenian rebellion against the magisters.  The old lore of the city was always intriguing information to those that didn’t know anything about the origination, though the City of Chains told its own tellings of each of those historical recounting.

“There is, of course, two sides to every story.  This is the historical recollection.  It tends to leave out all the gory details and,” he leaned in to whisper against her ear, “a fairer light to the Church while casting shadows upon the Imperium.”  He chuckled lightly as he pulled away from her ear allowing the cool breeze from the waters flow between them once again, which was nice as the sun was warming the air with each passing minute.

“Other than the obvious, what is your least favorite part of the city?”  He thought that question might be a little easier given the hesitation to his first question when a lull came from the voice over the speakers.  It went without saying that the heavy Templar presence in the city was the obvious least favorite part for any magical wielder regardless of whether they practiced or not.

Speaking of looming threats, the ship had made its way into the shadow of the Gallows as the tour guide began telling the history of the prison itself and the reason it was created, the slave trade.  If he were truly free, a shiver would have ran the length of his spine, but seeing as he was returning to the prison later that day, he simply let out a sigh.  After about ten minutes of lecture on the way the structure was built, it was glossed over as a housing district for those within the Circle of the Magi.

The majority of his personal belongings had already been packed up and moved into his and Elissa’s estate in Hightown, so little remained for the idiots to root through, trample and disrespect.

Still.

"But only one of them, if any." He nodded at the men who stood behind the mage. "Bit of a tight fit in the cellar, and I don’t need them bumbling around, knocking shit over, destroying my stock and then shrugging it off as if it’s my fault for making good use of little space. I hardly expect I’d be compensated for my losses. So pick your prized pony, and when you have, come on down."

Personally, he didn’t want any to accompany him, and at that moment, after a long day, it was an easy decision to make them all stand outside and wait for him to make his own decisions.  Sadly, Meredith’s rules indicated that at least one Templar had to be in agreement with the findings in order for them to be proclaimed sound.  She didn’t want him hiding away a lyrium smuggler under her nose, not that he would.  Reluctantly he turned to his entourage and said, “Gage, you’re with me.  Phillip guard the door.  And, Gage, if you’d be so kind as to humor me and stay above the cellar at least until I’ve done my reconnaissance that would be appreciated.”

Gage looked as if he was about to raise a protest before he caught wind of Orsino’s challenging stare.  Meredith had put him in charge, and thus, if his orders – requests were not listened to, there could be some dire consequences for those that came along with him.  Stepping through the doorway, he held his hand low enough for the mabari hand to get a whiff of his scent and thus understand his intentions before turning towards the cellar.

Not to mention, for Feynriel himself, his life or mind would simply be forfeit were he to come within the templars’ sphere of influence, and the First Enchanter clearly understood that.

“You don’t mean to speak ill of the cage that holds you under threat of death or Tranquility, for being what you are and for having been a victim?” he murmured, eyes incredulous, though his tone remained moderated.  “Maybe you should.” 

Mimicking the somniari with a slow shaking of his head from side to side that made him seem more drunken than anything, he felt a wave of relief wash through him as the words sank in.  “It is perhaps that my connection to the fade has been corrupted by the pride demon.  I had not considered that, though I have never been given the chance to deal with the problem before as it tends to end up being a case of ‘Death or Tranquility’.”  The final words leaving a sour expression on his face and taste in his mouth.   There was no room for leniency in the Gallows, at least according to the Templars.  Meredith could be persuaded to give him time on some cases, but not when it endangered the lives of others or her men.

“I would be grateful for all the help, and in time, I may be able to offer you some assistance – limited though it may be in this forum – should you require it.  You could say I would owe you a favor.”  Raising his head to look into the young eyes staring back at him.  “I do not give those out lightly.”  He assured him.  Not that he didn’t already owe him his sanity, or perhaps his life at this point already.  It was still something that not many would ever be privileged enough to hold in their possession.

“Do you have any experience in untangling damaged connections to the Fade or cleansing the taint from a demons impression on the folds that I use to access this venue?”  He wasn’t certain if the man standing opposite him would even understand what he was trying to get at.  It wasn’t as if the Fade was a well versed topic for even the highest of scholars in the Order of the Magi.  There were many uncertainties, which is why they could never argue the case against Tranquility well enough to get the practiced banned from usage.  If only more were known about it, then the barbaric act could be shown for what it truly was.  Being proactive was one thing, but being afraid of something that hasn’t come to pass yet was another entirely.

This was why he was the First Enchanter.  He wanted to influence the policies that were governing the magi and protect the freedoms that were dwindling into nothingness for those innocent of any crime aside being born with a gift.  Releasing a heavy, ragged sigh, he closed his eyes.  “Almost time for them to wake me.  I can tell.  I won’t be here much longer this night, but I look forward to your presence tomorrow, Somniari.”  This was the only bad thing about communicating through dreams and not in the waking world; sometimes you woke up at inopportune times and there was no guarantee that you could find your way back to the same place you left once you re-entered the fade.

“It’s nice to see you again as well” she greeted politely, her breathing returning to normal as she composed herself from having to fight her way through crowds. Noticing the book in the other’s hands, her eyes shifted down to watch as he handed it to her. She read the title as she weighed the book in her hands. It was definitely one that she had not had the pleasure of seeing before. However, she did tend to stay away from any books that could possibly connect her to having magical abilities. Especially when borrowing them from the library. Fiction was a much safer choice.

Before she could say anything about the book she heard the ferryman call for everyone to get on board. She held the book in one hand as she lifted up the other to pull some of her hair behind her ear to keep it out of her face. Her eyes glanced toward the offered arm before looking up at the male’s eyes and gently accepting it as they walked onto the boat. “Well, I did dress accordingly. I should be okay if we sit on the top level” she told him as headed toward the stairs that lead them up.

As he sat down next to her, he couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief himself; no one had noticed him or come to ask him any questions.  Sahl was still intact and Bethany would be none the wiser, at least for the time being.  Tapping on the cover of the book that had made its way into her lap as they sat, he grinned and waved a bit as if to indicate that she shouldn’t worry about it.

“The title of the book has been warded as I’m sure you can see.  So, unless you’re actively trying to see what the book is, you’ll not even notice the name.  Plus, it’s a book completely about potions and concoctions, so there really isn’t anything too damning in it.  You should be completely safe while it’s in your possession.”  He assured her trying to act nonchalantly about it.

“If you don’t like it, however, I do have another that I brought along that you’ve possibly seen before that wouldn’t be any risk to you at all.  Then again, I brought one that is much more so.”  He chuckled and winced as the loud speaker blared across the top of the ferry telling everyone to take their seats as the boat would be moving shortly, or at least to make certain to not be leaning over the edge of the guard rail.

The Docks were rather crowded and she found herself having to carefully weave her way through people. Or suddenly stop walking so that she wouldn’t get run over by someone in a hurry to reach their destination. She watched as some people made their way through others with ease. It was difficult for her to get used to crowds, though she wasn’t particularly uncomfortable or paranoid about them. The city just moved differently than Lothering. She assumed that she would get used to it eventually.

She carefully made her way to the area that she and Sahlin –or Sahl- had agreed upon. As people began to clear she looked forward and spotted the male elf. Not wanting to risk losing sight of him, she quickly closed the distance before anyone could walk in front of her.

“No, you’re by no means late.  It is good to see you again.”  His hands grasped loosely around the initial offering of his first book holding it up into her visual range just so.  “I was afraid that the book wouldn’t be enticing enough to get you to come see me once more.”  Looking her over without being intrusive he let out a small sigh and a light smile, “But, here you are.”

He slipped the book into her hands, the title clearly reading:  Agitations of Tevinter Alchemists.  There was a pause as he let her read over the title and then a slight twitch of his lips up into a small smirk in amusement.   Interrupting their moment of greeting, the ferryman bellowed the ‘All Aboard’ leaving him to offer him arm to his dare he believe friend.  “See, right on time to get a good seat for the ferry.”

With a tight sigh of discomfort, he eased himself off the floor where he’d been stretching his back out and crossed to the door. Amell drew it open ithout pause, doing nothing to hold Bastion back and instead allowing the large, drooling beast lumber out and shove his big, broad nose in the crotches of the party.

He nearly guffawed when the man asked about a strippergram, especially when the two Templars glared at him and grunted, “We’ve orders to –“

Orsino raised his hand interrupting their recanting of what they were supposed to be doing here which brought an even louder grunt of disdain, but he didn’t care.  The man at the door had caught his interest as he seemed like the type that might piss off his entourage, which he thought would be at least mildly entertaining as opposed to most that just went about subserviently allowing them to do whatever they needed to do since they were Templars.

“We’ve been assigned the task of inspecting your cheese for the magically tainted lyrium laced kind.”  Orsino offered with a quirked eyebrow.  “Perhaps you would allow us to see your cellar?”  What he expected was to be laughed at and the door slammed in his face.  Granted, the Templars at his back wouldn’t allow for that to happen regardless and he could prevent it if he wanted.  But, this was the last name on the list and he rather enjoyed seeing the fools guarding him off their feet.

“Yes, Amaranthine.  I could have come from somewhere else, I suppose, but that’s the first place I remember living.”  Bryony shrugged.  That he would think he recognized her was interesting, but not of any great note, most likely.  The First Enchanter was an elder, and had likely seen a great many people throughout his years, even if his life was lived in the Circle.

He closed his eyes and muttered a few words that were well practiced.  The magic immediately flowing around him to proofing the room so that no sound could be heard from outside its walls and any listening devices within the room would be silenced.  Even the door that he had left open closed of its own volition as he finished the words.

“I do not mean to scare you at all Mother, but what I am about to confess must be kept in confidence under no circumstances should you be able to utter a single word of it or my life would be in danger regardless of the fact that I have not done anything wrong.”  There was a visible bead of sweat running down his forehead as his features looked weary.  Another spasm of pain ran through his body causing his eyelids to flutter closed though his expression remained neutral.

“While I was down there being tortured by the demons,” his voice was dry and ragged despite all the control he was attempting to put into the statement, “I lost.  I gave in to their desires a moment too soon.  Just the second before Meredith’s voice echoed out across the room, I touched the forbidden magic and it is plaguing my body now like a poison.”  His gray-blue faded eyes looked over at the countenance of the mother.

“I have not even used the magic, but I gave up the fight.  The power calls to me nightly now that I have touched the essence of the magic and it eats at me from the inside.  One word and I am a dead man just from being pushed beyond my tolerance, beyond the threshold of my will, of my strength.  Sometimes I wonder if it would not have been better to have died there than have to live with the threat of my imminent death.”  He loosed a deep sigh; eyes dropping down to his hands.

“But, I have found that I have other magi to live for, to fight for their rights and freedoms and to teach them the right path to walk.  I also have my adopted daughter whom I may not have made it this long without driving me to continue my fight and not give in.  And, believe it or not, I think I have earned a deeper respect from the Knight Commander from this ordeal, but I dare not breath a word of this to her.” 

“I don’t mind boats.” Her eyes turned back to him when he mentioned something about a ferry. A boat that gave a sort of tour of the area? “No, I can’t say that I have. It doesn’t get too close to or stop at the gallows, does it? I try not to get too close to the gallows” she said, pausing for a quick moment. “If it truly just goes around the areas, then it actually might be interesting to see. Especially from the outside.” She couldn’t say that she looked around much at the city when they first arrived. There were a couple of glimpses, but she was more focused on getting into Kirkwall.

“You get a nice view of the Gallows from just about every angle, but this one does not stop at nor drop anyone off there.  For the most part it shows an outward glimpse of the city and a little of the coast, but what tour of Kirkwall would be complete without showing off the Gallows?”  He shrugged his shoulders.  “It may be a place full of negative connotation, but the stonework is quite excellent from the outside.”  A quiet chuckle passed from his throat.  The masonry was excellent throughout the structure, but there was no need to bring that up.

The urgent tingle of a new message arrived again turning his attention once more from the woman sitting across from him.  “So, it’s a date then?  If I recall, it runs daily from morn til dusk.  Preferably I like the tours more towards the night end of things as the sunsets tend to be a work of art all its own, but I am willing to make time whenever you are free.”  He glanced up from his work with a questioning look and a gentle smile.

“No pressure, of course.”  Reaching for a scrap of paper and a pencil that the library left lying around to write down reference numbers if you by chance looked one up from their computer system, he scribbled down a phone number before handing it to her.  “Whatever you decide, just call that number.  I can be reached day or night there.  And, should you ever get into trouble.  I’m just a phone call away.”

She nodded while thinking of places that he might be able to find the specific cat he was looking for. “You might have luck in certain pet stores. They are more likely to have certain breeds. You could also look in the papers or online for people who have any Aegean felines. However, I would suggest going to shelters to see if they have any. Adopting an animal that is in need of a home is better, especially since not all shelters can house the animals for long lengths of time.” Of course, it would be his decision. He might not find the specific breed he was looking of if he went to a shelter, even if it was the better option. It was also rare for shelters to have kittens, if he wanted a young cat instead of an adult.

Listening to the different possible places that they could meet again she shifted her weight in the seat, it was about time she began heading back to the apartment soon. “Honestly…I don’t up to Hightown that often” she told him. It was more dangerous for her up there. The idea of going above the plate and being able to see more sunlight for a while was pleasant, but she also knew it could be a very bad idea. Especially if she went by herself.

As she started listing off a few places where he could go to find a cat of the lineage he was seeking, he nodded along.  “It might be preferable for me to look for one in the shelters then as I have a soft spot for saving things that tend to have been labeled with an expiration date.  I will look around in the few we have in the city should I get approval from the landlord before searching elsewhere.”

He breathed a gentle sigh of relief when she turned down his offer of hightown.  It really wasn’t his favorite location even though his accident had occurred months before.  The locale was safe enough, but he steered clear of the area whenever possible.  There tended to be quite the crowd in the upper city parks, however, so he had offered it more for the public place with many witnesses as she might feel safer. 

“I concur.  Lowtown seems to be easy enough for both of us to access otherwise we’d not be here, yes?”  A soft chuckle parting his lips as he glanced back to his screen which had chimed once more vying for his attention.  “If I told you, then you wouldn’t be as surprised to see it when next we meet.  Plus, it gives you something to look forward to.”  He tsked at her teasingly.  “I promise it will be worth the wait, though.  So, how about we go to …” there was a brief pause in his sentence as he drifted into thought.

It was suspicious enough that he came to this library as often as he did for research and a change in atmosphere and scenery.   Soon he would be hopping around the libraries in each plate to make it seem more random, so suggesting they meet here again was a bad idea.  He was doing a guest lecture at the college with Meredith’s approval, but that was a no go either as it was not quite time for him to reveal that card to the woman sitting across from him.  Potion brewing was not really fascinating to watch, and as much as she liked animals, meeting in a pet shop seemed like a poor idea.

A light smile pulled at her lips when he changed the subject from magic and back onto animals once again. “Both. She loves people paying attention to her and loves to be on your lap. However, because of her size she has some difficulty fitting on smaller laps. That does not stop her from trying though. She also enjoys sleeping next to me when I’m sleeping.” She was lucky with Bastet’s personality. Bethany was able to watch the feline’s reactions when she was in the shelter, which helped a lot. Not to mention the cat took a liking to her, but not many others. “She can be very picky though, and when she feels threatened it can be quite terrifying. Her hiss is…more like a snake’s hiss than a feline’s. She’s a savannah cat, so she has more wild blood in her.”

She glanced at the book as he took it from her and shut it, setting it on the desk in front of him. She wondered if he would actually that the book or if he would end up putting it back on the shelf. Pulling her eyes away from the book, she set them back onto the male. “You would have to spend a bit of time with the cat. It might be difficult if you’re looking for a kitten, because their personality can change when they mature. It’s easier to understand an adult cat’s personality. However they might still act oddly if they’re in a stressful situation. Places like shelters can be very stressful for animals, especially if their owner just gave them up.” Time and time again she has seen animals become depressed at the shelter because they didn’t understand what was going on. She always tried her best to make each animal feel safe and comfortable.

“If you want a sociable cat you’re going to want to look for one that comes to you right away. That will also show you that they’re not afraid and are more adventurous than others. If you’re able to pet or even pick up the cat with little to no problem, then you might have a lap cat on your hands” she said with a smile.

“I am not surprised that the cat prefers to sleep with someone with as much beauty as yourself.”  He lightly smirked as he proffered her the flattering comment, “Though I am very certain she can be over protective of you as well.  From what I’ve read, cats tend to like to claim objects and people as their own and don’t really like others to touch, claim, or mess with their belongings, so to speak.  Is that about right?”  He asked. 

“I think I prefer a cat more of the Aegean landrace.  From what I have read they tend to be more friendly, though fierce in their own right, while tending to be widely spread to many households and just independent enough that they could survive being alone for prolonged periods of time if need be.”  He explained.  “Perhaps you may know of a place where I can find one after I’ve discussed it with my landlord.”  That title still didn’t seem to fit the bill for Meredith, but it was the best translation he had since he was trying to leave the Gallows and that life out of the conversation at hand.  He could think of nothing that would send the woman running faster or make her more uneasy around him.

“I would very much like to meet again at another time.  I know of a fairly reclusive park in the Hightown area that we could meet, or here again if you’d prefer.  Initially I was coming here to chat with a colleague as I don’t have the most reliable of internet resources within my dwelling.  Or, there is always one of the establishments around here if you’d rather have somewhere more…public.  I’d rather you feel comfortable and unthreatened by me.  For, as I said earlier, I do not mean you any harm.”

The young Mother seldom felt she was qualified to opine on issues pertaining to mages, but when the occasional initiate or even full cleric started talking about how much danger they were in at all times from even the mages in the Gallows, even she was comfortable telling them they were being foolish.

“There are some that can tune them out almost effortlessly, or so they’ve said.  I do not know how true that is.  On many occasions I have had to use quite a bit of effort to thwart demonic attempts.  It is not as foreboding as one might think though.”  He clarified for her with an arch of his brows.  “The demons try to see how much fight you’re willing to put up.  Most won’t even bother if you’ve got protections up in the fade.  By the time they’d manage to get anywhere, it’d be time to wake up assuming there’s nothing keeping you asleep.  So there is danger, but it is not constant.”

“People in poor health, mental health, or weakened states of being are at higher risk of being tempted or possessed as the case may be.  However, there are people that are willing to help those, and often time’s healers spend a great quantity of their time shielding those that are sick from the horrors of the fade.  It is something people tend to forget and take for granted.”  He sighed knowing that Bria had done everything she could for him, but it had not been nearly enough.  He owed much to the one that saved him from his nightmares.

At her inquiring statements referring to his questions about her adoption, he breathed out a quick breath and straightened his back.  “I only ask because you mentioned it.  Your face it reminds me of someone else, but I can’t quite place it at the moment.  But, you grew up in Amaranthine, you say, as far as you know?”  He shrugged his shoulders.  “It’s possible I’m seeing things.  I’m not in the best state of mind as you might guess coming out of this.  Otherwise, no offense mother, but I would not be here.  A demon disguised as a chantry mother does not lead one back to the chantry so quickly to seek aid.”

Though the comment was harsh, he kept a neutral expression.  He meant nothing against Bryony.  The situation was unfortunate, but he would have steered clear of the walls and Hightown if he had a choice in the matter.  Unfortunately, he needed the absolution and confession, or so he was beginning to realize.  His shoulders shivered ever so slightly as he felt the slight burning sensation crawl through his veins. 

“A cat might be a better option if you don’t have enough time. Felines tend to be more independent, though that does depend on the breed or the cat itself. Some cats are more sociable and require the same amount of attention mabari do” she told him, her eyes glancing away for a moment as she thought about what to say next. “I have a cat of my own that requires quite a bit of attention. She’s very sociable, but also choosy with who’s around her. However, she’s also rather large and very…dog-like. I suppose what kind of cat you get would depend on what your landlord would allow.”

It was surprisingly easier for her to talk about animals. The topic didn’t require her to watch what she said as much. Or worry about who might be around listening. “Oh, I apologize…” she said as she brought her eyes back to him. “I can’t say that I really excel at many of those topics.” She might have known about them and practice some of them, but she knew that she was nowhere near being an expert in any of them. However, Bethany did know one thing. Her father did always tell her that she was a fast learner. Especially if she was being taught something that she was interested in.

Her eyes turned down toward the book when it was handed back to her once again. She read the title of the potion before reading the ingredients and the first couple of steps. “This one isn’t that easy to get your hands on. I haven’t been able to try creating this one myself. However, I have seen it done once before.” Her father was rather fond of creating potions and practicing magic, especially when he was able to share it with his children. Bethany enjoyed and missed learning from her father. She never had a chance to try and create the Elixir of Heroism with him.

“I am not the best when it comes to brewing, but I believe I know someone I could go to if I were to need this exact potion to be created.  Though I have never seen it successfully crafted, I have seen it attempted several times without success, at least that’s what they said after it was quaffed.”  He chuckled again shaking his head.  “If I were to make this concoction and drink it down noting success, I might say that it didn’t work either.  It would be rather hard to tell the difference from watching.”

Drumming his fingers on the knee of his leg, he grinned pleasantly and asked, “So you have a cat the size of a small dog that is very sociable?  Is she a lap cat or does she prefer to just proudly sit at the center of attention?”  The books he had been reading regarding the animals had given him much knowledge on this topic of conversation even if he had relatively little practical experience with the animals themselves.  “I’ve been doing a little reading while considering which I might like to obtain.  As you can tell, I’m a bit of a bookworm.”

He retrieved the book from her lap again this time closing it and placing it upon the desk of his cubicle to be returned to the shelf later as he had a better copy of it in his private collection.  “I certainly think I’d like a playful cat, and one that doesn’t mind roaming about.  But, I think I’d like to have one that comes and sits in my lap when I’m thinking as well.  I don’t suppose there’s an easy way to tell which type of a cat they are before purchasing it?”  A part of him wanted to keep the topic light so that she would just continue sitting and chatting, another knew that it was getting to be time that his escort would show back up soon.

She watched as he flipped through the book in her hands and settled on another, the lyrium potion. “I can’t say that I have made many of these in recent times.” It was a potion she knew how to make and knew it was important given the fact that she was a mage. However, she felt she needed them less now than she did before arriving in Kirkwall. She rarely used her magic within the walls so there wasn’t any need for her to replenish the magic in her veins.

Bethany paused for a moment and turned to look up at the other when he asked what she did for a living. She definitely wasn’t going to tell him everything she did and where she worked. That could cause way more trouble than she asked for. Not that she was asking for any trouble.

There had been news of the Fereldan circle having a falling out with rumors of several (at least one to his knowledge) runaway magi.  This young woman sitting in front of him could be another that had fled that horrid tower.  He could barely look at the reports it was so gruesomely filled with photographs that emphasized what happened to magi that turned to blood magic.  Certainly that was an extreme scenario.

“I can’t say I’ve had the pleasure of many animal companions, though I am a fan of large mabari hounds.  I hear that just about every household in Fereldan has one, but alas, I have not found that I could dedicate enough of my time or attention to them to keep them satisfied.”  He chuckled politely knowing how true that was, and the fact that the Gallows would never permit him to have one.  They were guard dogs, what use would he have of one of those?  Just another obstacle they’d have to go through when the time came for them to accuse him of blood magic or worse as they had his predecessor.

The smile pasted onto his lips kept his thoughts hidden from her.  She need not know all the details floating through his head about old times or excuses for why pets were not allowed.  “I have thought about picking up a cat,” …one of the Aegean landrace… “But, I haven’t yet talked to my…landlord about it yet.”  It was something he would make certain to bring up at the next conversations they shared.

Looking back at the book, he grinned.  “You are very knowledgeable about potions.  Is there anything else you excel at, runeworking, wards, or incantations?”  The last few words breathed in a hushed whisper as to not allow anyone else to hear before gathering the book back and flipping to a new page, something tricky.  The page he turned to contained the Elixir of Heroism recipe.  It was rumored to bring age and experience to its consumer, but he’d never actually had one that worked.