"If you mentioned I was chasing you over goats and wheat, any Ferelden in Kirkwall would think something else was going on," she said slyly. "At least I would take the blame with you. You wouldn't be alone in your shame."

She snorted. "Oh, yes, diamondback. Varric's teaching him and he's surprisingly really good at it. He's going to put me to shame soon enough." How her dwarven friend was even teaching him never ceased to astound her.

"You know, you were in my house before. In Gamlen's, really, but the point remains the same. You were there and he didn't chase you out." And he'd been there to collect her sister, of all things. Wretched dog. She hadn't even thought about it before then. She always supposed it was because Bethany hadn't been afraid and hadn't put up a fight, but Mabari were good judges of character. Her brows furrowed as she took another sip of her ale. That was a thought that would stay with her until she ever found the chance to formally introduce her dog to him.