"Do I look like a Warden to you?"

No, she doesn't, and more to the point, Anders can't feel the Taint in her. "You don't have to look or be a Warden to work for them."

"Fair. But I'm not. Just working for myself and trying to support my-self."

Anders regards them for a moment, and then lets the spells disappear from his fingers. “I’ll give you the maps and happily, I’d be glad to be rid of them- all though...a favour for a favour?”

"-Depends on the favour, certainly."

“A friend of mine, Karl, escaped the wretched Gallows. I need someone who is ostensibly not a mage to go there and find out if they’re on his trail. After that, the maps are yours.”

Hawke considers him for a moment, and then looks over to her dwarf companion. "I think we can do that."

“I think that can be done by tonight,” the dwarf says confidently. 

“If you can do that, I’ll offer you my services as well.” The tone suggests he doubts they can. 

"With an offer like that, we definitely can," Hawke says with a faint smirk.

“Better keep your schedule free, Blondie. Hawke gets herself into all sorts of trouble.”

"I get myself back out of it too. For the record."

“Hawke said, lying through her teeth,” Varric says cheekily. 

"Lies and slander," Hawke says cheerfully. "We'll be back with news from the Gallows."

She turns to leave.

Varric salutes Anders, and saunters after Hawke. 

“One of the stranger encounters we’ve had,” Anders says to Ilska, gripping her shoulder comfortingly. 

"Y-You're gonna- leave?"

“Not for good, I promise. They might need a healer to make sure they’re ready for this doomed expedition.”

Cia slips up beside them, leans against Anders' side. "You better come back," ey says, trying for fierce, and sounding more lost.

“Hey, hey now. I’m not going anywhere yet. Or at all! Maybe they’ll realise how foolish this is and put an end to it. Even Wardens don’t like the Deep Roads.”

He hugs em back. “Besides. Gotta be here for when Karl comes home.”

"Yeah," ey agrees. "He'll be upset if you're not."

Ilska steps close enough that she's nearly involved in the hug.

Anders opens up one arm a bit wider, giving her the option if she wants it. 

She slides under his arm, wraps her own arms around him and Cia.

Anders holds both of his kids close, safe in his arms.