And later that day, there's a tap on the door, and Hawke steps back into their clinic.

Anders is healing the last patient of the day, focused on setting bones back into place.

Hawke watches him, one hand tapping idly at the sheathe strapped to her thigh. It's not an impatient movement, she seems at least somewhat interested in his healing abilities.

Anders pulls the last bone into place, feeling his mana stretched raw, his energy scraping the bottom of the barrel. “Have we got any lyrium left?”

Ilska appears at his elbow with a bottle. "Running low," she warns quietly.

“We’ll figure it out,” he reassures Ilska, drinking from the flask deeply. 

He then notices Hawke standing by the door. He nods at her, and gestures towards the back of the clinic. “You’ll be fine,” he says to his patient, smiling, before heading to the back himself. 

Hawke follows after him. "I realise I didn't introduce myself earlier," she says. "Talia Hawke."

“Anders. Would say nice to meet you, but that’s yet to be determined,” he says, with a disarming smile. 

She gives that faint smirk again. "You wanted to know about your friend, and whether the Templars were still after him?"

“Yes. Is there any news?”

"As far as the Templars are concerned? Karl Thekla died trying to make his way to Sundermount. They're surprisingly certain of this fact for not having a body."

His heart plummets, and a strange weightlessness comes to him, like a kite with its strings cut. Karl...no...

And then he hears the rest of Talia’s words and his world realigns. “They...they’ve been tricked?”

"I'd say so, yes," she confirms.

“He’s made it. And they’re off his trail. I- Maker, that’s a relief to hear!” Anders is laughing and he feels a much nicer feeling of weightlessness the worry gone from his body. 

“Thank you. Thank you so much.”

"You're welcome," she assures him.

“I owe you the maps. Give me a moment, I’ll go and find them.” Anders disappears into one of the rooms. 

Ilska walks in at that point, eyes narrowed at Hawke.

Who looks back impassively.

Anders returns with the maps. "Here. They're not complete, but they show a decent section."

"I appreciate this," Talia says, holding out a hand.

He hands them over. "If you ever need a healer, I'm your man."

"Don't suppose I can convince you to join us?"

Ilska hisses unhappily.

Anders knows why Hawke's asked. He's a Warden, and a healer. What better combination for the Deep Roads? 

"I have duties here, but if you have need of me, I can't say no."

"You can," Ilska mutters.