"Spend enough time listening to Isabela and you might actually never want to indulge." Her smile sharpened. "I think she makes some of it up, though."

It was true enough. Her father had been nothing less than an idol to her, her own personal hero, and she'd never be able to see him or Bethany in a bad light. She loved them too much. Anders and Merrill were another kind of family now too, three years later, even if she didn't agree with everything they did. "Even with all of his blood magic, he couldn't even change my mother. Not really. I wouldn't do her any credit if I suddenly hated the people she loved because of one man." It would be easier if she could.

She shook her head. "We haven't spoken about it. I sent her a letter and I never received a reply. I didn't expect one." Bethany couldn't send things out whenever she wished, after all. But Hawke wouldn't blame her if she didn't want to mention it at all. She suspected it was because her sister blamed her just as much as Hawke blamed herself.