As soon as Anri felt he was completely out of people's earshot, he activated a sending-crystal call to Dorian.

  "Amatus, you can't stop missing me can you, is everything alright?" Dorian asked.

  "Am I interrupting something important?" Anri detected some shuffling of papers and static background noises.

  "If by important you're referring to me being 40 pages into some trash opinion of Tevinter Maleficarum, then sure." Dorian tossed aside the report he had been reading without a care. He eased back into his plush leather chair within his private reading booth of the Imperial Senate's grand and lavish library.

  Anri nodded. "Per chance, have you heard of any strange recent happenings within The Silent Plains?"

  Dorian frowned. "Is this some new pillow talk you want to practice with me? If so, you need to work in some arousing adjectives."

  "Have you or haven't you?"

  Dorian's furrowed brows were so knitted together it was stirring on a headache. "Anri what trouble are you in?"

  Anri told him about the situation at Hasmal. It was the type of trouble Dorian hoped Anri avoided while traveling the long distance to see him.

  "I don't know if it's related, but I heard some odd chatter within the Magisterium recently. Some magisters were whispering, rather loudly mind you, about an expedition Magister Kalias was making near the Nevarran border. Some seemingly harmless piece of gossip that had Maevaris's ears perk up."

  "Why?"

  "He's a nasty sort who doesn't hide the fact that he uses blood magic on his slaves. Of course all magisters openly scoff at his presence, but the man has a secret fan club who keeps him off the templar kill lists. I suspect the club is comprised of Venatori. According to Mae, he's the example of angelic depravity with bloody hands. Someone she'd happily turn into a bonfire."

  Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  Anri clicked his tongue, feeling heightened concern that the kidnapped people weren't mere slave transactions.

  "If the person responsible for these missing people is Magister Kalias, then you can't handle this alone. He's a blood mage of high-level mastery. Dealing in a place like Hasmal, he's bound to have skilled mercenaries and mages with him. How else would people be lured away without a trace and in such a short time?"

  "I don't know if he's involved. I've only been asked to find out about the people. I should be fine."

  "Anri, listen to me. Tens to hundreds of people going, poof, without a trace is not the same as looking for a lost mabari. Nine times out of ten it's by the hand of a blood mage. If that blood mage is Kalias, you don't have the means to stop him on your own!"

  Anri bit his lip as he felt Dorian's words ring true, but he shook his head. He figured he might be able to resource some of the templars if need be until he got word of Hawke and the other Shadow Sect agents being in the area. He calmed his nerves with slow breathing and smiled as he reassured Dorian that he would be fine.

  "I don't believe you. If you die, I'll find out who killed you and kill them repeatedly before slapping your ashes." There was a quiver to Dorian's voice: he wasn't hiding his concern.

  "Hawke and Iron Bull are making their way to Hasmal. I'll meet up with them when I hear they're in the area. I promise not to run off and do something silly beforehand."

  Dorian sighed. If Iron Bull was with Anri, then it should be fine but he still felt doubtful.

  "Never forget that I'm desperate to feel your touch again, so I'm not about to die beforehand. I love you." Anri closed the sending crystal locket to end the call.

  Dorian's heart raced with fear for his love. Even if Anri was with Hawke and Iron Bull, if Kalias was responsible, then it was likely they'd face a small army with mages. He hurried out of his private booth, focused on sending a message to his personal agents stationed near Hasmal.

  In his room, Anri made his plans to investigate the town first. Should he need temporary backup, he would talk to Brycen about having a templar assigned. He hoped Hawke and the others would arrive soon.

  The next day, as he was making his way out of the spire and into the main courtyard, Lysette approached him with determination in her strides.

  "Knight-Commander tells me you're going to look for Mattron, if so I would like to accompany you, Your Worship."