"I could force it but it would be... attention-getting," Metella murmurs.

To the woman in the room, "I don't suppose you know where this mage might be found?"

"At a guess? With Howe in the dungeon."

"Won't that be fun," mutters Elissa.

"All right," she says, at a more conversational volume. "Then I guess we're going hunting. See you soon."

"Good luck."

Rumor has it there is a secret passage from the arl's chambers directly to the dungeons. Many of the arls of Denerim have been... eccentric.

That's one word for it.

Secret passage, here they come.

Here is the arl's room.

Desk, bed, wardrobes, bookshelves along one wall.

Secret passage? Secret passage.

And now it is an open secret passage!

Steps descending down. Free of dust and well-lit.

Elissa takes the lead. Down they go.

They come to a room with a few small cells. Only one is occupied, by a young man covered in bruises. He looks up dully when they enter.

"Hello," says Elissa. "I don't actually know who you are or why you're here but you're in Rendon Howe's dungeon so I'm going to rescue you on principle."

"My... my name is Oswyn. I'm Bann Sighard's son."

She glances at Metella, then at Clare.

The cell unlocks itself.

The boy's bruises begin to heal.

"I- ahh! I was just having a drink, and then I woke up here."

"Do you have any idea why Arl Howe might have wanted to harm you or your family?"

"One of my friends, he was at Ostagar, with Loghain. He told me that Loghain ordered the retreat before the King was lost. And then he disappeared. I was trying to find him."

"Well, that fits perfectly with what I know of Arl Howe," says Elissa. "Will you be all right getting out of here by yourself? There's a secret passage back that way that leads through the arl's rooms. If you need help, I think we can spare the time."

"I think I can make it."

"Good luck. And my regards to your father."

"Yes." Shaky smile. "Thank you."

And off he goes.

Onward!

There's screaming coming from this room off to the side.