That evening, Dina wore the blue gemstone earrings. She stood in the doorway of the inn, dressed in her freshly washed, velvet-green gown. The other courtesans had already moved away from her, each quickly finding their own clients, while Dina searched the crowd for a head of blond hair and the tanned skin.

But Zevran was nowhere to be seen. She glanced back, hoping he might be sitting on one of the benches in front of the inn—where the beggars usually sat—but unfortunately or perhaps fortunately, he was not among them.

He promised to find me if I was here. Dina looked around once more, disheartened, in vain. But then she suddenly flinched, as someone grabbed her waist from behind, tickling her. She turned around to meet Zevran's mischievous gaze in the darkness, as he looked deeply into her eyes, grinned, and placed a finger over his lips "Sssh...!"

Dina took a deep breath to calm herself from the shock, then glanced back at the nearby Zevran with shining eyes. "You frightened me!" she whispered in reproach. "Why are you out here in the dark?"

"Oh, forgive me, my lady. I can make it up to you, if you let me."

Dina smiled forgivingly, but Zevran took a step forward and peeked into the inn. "We have an impossible mission ahead of us. More impossible than stealing gold from Thedmuld's dwarves! And just as dangerous!"

Dina looked at him skeptically. She couldn't tell if Zevran was joking or speaking seriously.

"Do you see that table over there, with two men and two women sitting at it? Third from the left in the corner."

Dina timidly huddled next to Zevran in the darkness and suspiciously blinked at the people mentioned. "I see it. Who are they? Are they very dangerous?"

"Oh, indescribably! My friends."

Dina straightened up, dropped her shoulders, and cast a questioning glance at Zevran, but he didn't take his eyes off the group at the table.

"We need to get past the benches, up the stairs, across the gallery, and straight to my room without them noticing us."

Dina nodded slightly, embarrassed. "I see. I mustn't be seen."

Only now did Zevran look at Dina, complete confusion on his face. "You, my beauty? Certainly not! I mustn't be seen!"

"Why?"

"Because they're working! At this hour!" Zevran grimaced. "They are also my colleagues. That woman on the edge, with the short black hair, she's the ringleader. Her name is Morrighan. I've never seen her smile. Dangerous sort, she is. Her mother was a famous witch, capable of conjuring fire with her bare hands. It's only a matter of time before her daughter picks up the habit of scorching our behinds if we do anything wrong. Do you see the parchments in front of her? I knew she wouldn't leave the others to have fun, not even at a time like this. I hope she's not checking the budget. Ah, I see now, she's discussing the route with them."

"Are you going somewhere?"

"We're just passing through Perubia. We have to move on within days, a rather dangerous gang is trailing us. A consequence of our last adventure. They're having a hard time swallowing their defeat. It's only a matter of time before they team up with the Veilers. Or the Guifols. Doesn't matter."

"So they're following you? What happened?"

Zevran jerked his chin forward. "Do you see that burly, dopey-looking knight there beside Morrighan? That's Alistair, son of the petty king from the neighbouring county, and also the heir to the throne. But after his father died, his enemies drove him out of his castle, so now he travels with us. We had a run-in with one of his adversaries' bands. His father was a Veiler, but Alistair wants to remain neutral, which I completely understand. I like the lad, despite him being a bit of a stuffed shirt. He doesn't get jokes. Life with him is still more than humorous, because he regularly lands himself in awkward situations without me having to do anything about it. He and I are like fire and water."

Dina scrutinised the short, brown-haired, broad-shouldered knight, who even at that moment was dressed in armour-plated clothing, as if he were attending a grand banquet in a castle.

"Next to him, that pretty, carrot-haired girl is Leliana, of a similar sort to Alistair. I don't know why they haven't snatched each other up yet. She only looks fragile at first glance, but she's as strong as a wild boar and handles a sword with great skill. She escaped from a convent when it was set on fire by... the Guifols? Or the Veilers. I can't remember who. Leliana knows, she'll write it down in verse."

"And that short, red-headed dwarf is Oghren, oh yes, that's Oghren!" Zevran laughed. "Stupid and drunken, like all dwarves. And as you can see, he doesn't even reach my waist. A true gem of a man!"

Although Zevran spoke about him with disparaging words, Dina could hear from his tone that he was quite fond of Oghren, who, half-collapsed on the table, was listening to the black-haired woman, then straightened up, only to let out a huge belch, and promptly let his head drop back down. Dina realised he was probably the one whose voice she first heard when she was was waiting for Zevran yesterday.

"So, that's them," the man turned seriously towards Dina. "A ragtag bunch they may seem, but believe me, when it comes to battle, they know no mercy. Just as they won't now...!" he sighed, then took Dina's hand and, whistling, looking up at the ceiling, he began walking inside, weaving through the tables. Dina, with small but hurried steps, tiptoed after him.

"Ah, Zevran! Where the hell have you been?!" The shout of the short-haired, black-haired woman was loud enough to be heard even over the noise of the inn.

Next to her, Alistair, in his armour, glanced shyly towards the newcomers, his cup clinking softly on the wooden table, a thick white line of milk above his lip. "Well, there you are! Come over here!" he waved childishly.

"Oh, damn, I knew we couldn't get away...!" Zevran muttered, forcing a smile at his companions before turning to Dina, secretly motioning for her to quickly head in the other direction. Dina was about to comply, but then Morrighan swiftly strode towards them, her dark cloak billowing behind her, the laces of her high boots slapping against the wooden floor like a whip. The woman grabbed Zevran by the scruff of the neck, turning him to face her. "Not so fast!"

The elf turned to her, showing all his thirty-six teeth. "Morrighan, a lovely evening to you too, how beautiful and fresh you still are, just like a...!"

"Come along!" The woman dragged Zevran to the table in a manner that brooked no argument, leaving Dina no choice but to follow. The group stared at them as one.

"If you let go of me, Morrighan, I'll introduce you to Di..."

The woman released Zevran, but immediately cut him off. "We know! She's on the parchment! Isn't that right, Zevran?"

"Oh... I thought you wouldn't notice for months. But the sun hasn't even set, and it's already out."

"Don't treat me like an idiot, Zev!"

Dina didn't understand what they were talking about. She just smiled and nodded to everyone, then sat down closely beside Zevran. Not long after, a tankard of ale was placed in front of her.

"Come now, don't be so strict, Morrighan," Leliana said, smiling kindly at Dina. "You're welcome among us."

Zevran quickly took the lead again before anyone could say anything, listing his friends' names. "...and this here is Dina, as you can see, a true princess, the fairest of all women, a radiant priestess of the most marvellous art," Zevran declared, to which Dina could only blink rapidly and smile in embarrassment. She had never been introduced like this before.

"A princess?" Alistair asked, still with the milk stripe above his lip. "Are you truly a princess? From which county?"

Zevran made a face. "Alistair, this county doesn't border your little kingdom, arranged marriages aren't useful like this, I'm afraid."

Dina was about to confess the truth with a remorseful face, but Morrighan's curious looks were quickly followed by a question. "I'm more interested in what kind of priestly knowledge you possess. Are you skilled in healing? We could use a healer in the group."

This question caught Dina even more off guard than the previous one, leaving her gaping in confusion.

Leliana was the only one who managed to discern the truth from Zevran's ode. "The most marvellous art?" she asked skeptically. "So you're actually a wh...?"

"Leliana, I reckon you two would get along brilliantly!" Zevran interjected reprovingly.

Oghren then raised his head again, squinting blearily up at her from beside Dina's shoulder. "Uuuhuhuuuh... what a kitty!" he muttered, rubbing his eyes.

"Oghren, mind your tongue, the young lady's with me." Zevran declared, wrapping an arm around the girl.

"Be careful with this one, pretty lady," slurred the drunk dwarf, attempting to point towards the elf, though it was a struggle. "He's a wicked, womanising bastard."

"Oh, Oghren, I don't deny any of that, but let's be honest, all three of those apply to you as well. Oh, except for one crucial difference—you get far fewer women."

"You talk too much, Zevran."

"Better go back to sleep, then you won't hear it."

The dwarf grumbled, growled, and seemed to decide to take Zevran's advice, dropping his head back onto the table with a thud.

Morrighan was still staring at Zevran, expecting an explanation. He smiled widely again. "Please, I meant to tell you, but I had to act fast. I made a great deal! Look at Dina! I bought her!"

"What?! And you're proud of that?" Morrighan was so shocked that her shout drew the attention of a few other guests.

Dina was about to protest that this couldn't be right. According to the arrangement between Harod and the inn, she was supposed to be with Zevran for free.

But the blond man just kept grinning. "Oh, Morrighan, of course I am! Dina's an artist, she writes, sings, dances—she could charm any nobleman, and they'd pay fortunes to hear her sing. I bought her so we could listen to her tonight before we set off."

"But Zevran, I don't..." the girl objected cautiously.

"Oh, please, don't be shy!" the man encouraged, touching her hand. "Don't worry, you're not with the local lord now. If you don't want to sing tonight, you don't have to. Just sit back and relax. And when you're ready, tell us a story. Even your own. We'll listen."

Dina nodded, not wanting to argue with him, and besides, she didn't know what to say—she was still confused. So, she just quietly listened to the group she had suddenly joined.

After a while, Leliana, who was sitting beside her, turned to her with a smile.

"Don't worry, I think you'll enjoy being with us."

Dina smiled back, nodded, and managed to mutter a quiet "yes." She didn't start explaining. Leliana, however, seemed kind and engaged her in conversation while Morrighan was still poking at the parchment, complaining to Zevran. Dina didn't catch everything, as Leliana was talking to her, and she wasn't fully processing each word.

"...how on earth did you think this...?"

She noticed Zevran scratching his head innocently. "Morrighan, believe me, if I hadn't gone over there, then... I had to act quickly, and..."

A shout suddenly came from the counter. "Ma'am in black! Your order's ready, you can come get it!"

Morrighan nodded towards the innkeeper with her chin. "Leliana, Alistair, and Dina, would you mind fetching the dinner?"

When the other two stood up from the table—Oghren, meanwhile, was snoring loudly—Dina followed them. But before that, she cast a worried glance at Zevran, who responded with a reassuring smile. While waiting at the counter, Dina listened intently to the knight and the former nun.

"What do you think happened?" Leliana looked back briefly.

"It seemed to me like there was an issue with the budget. Zevran must have spent too much!" Alistair speculated.

Dina, in a timid voice, couldn't help but ask, "Um... is Zevran the type who often spends more than he should?"

Leliana frowned. "Not at all. Quite the opposite, in fact. He could survive on thin air."

"That's true, Zevran really isn't the type to waste money. But then how do you explain Morrighan's demands for an explanation?" The knight raised his eyebrows, and somewhat his tone as well, with a hint of jealousy. "He must have spent it on something expensive. Or worse, on prostitutes!" The knight nodded apologetically and very humbly towards Dina. "I don't mean respectable artists like you. I mean real, scruffy whores! Ugh!"

Dina said nothing, just blinked rapidly as she accepted the apologetic gesture.

Leliana, however, burst into hearty laughter, so much so that Alistair had to ask again.

"Why are you laughing? Everyone knows he's had a few in his bed!"

"That might be true," Leliana stifled the last of her laughter, "but I can't imagine Zevran ever paying for a single one!" She laughed again, causing the knight to pull a face.

At this point, the innkeeper placed the freshly roasted dishes and a few drinks in front of them, and they carried them back to the table. Dina was handed a dish of saffron and ginger roasted meat, and the aroma made her mouth water.

As they returned, she could already hear Oghren's gravelly voice from afar—he seemed to have woken up.

"I get you, mate. I was just like that in my younger days."

Zevran flashed a flattering smile at Morrighan. "You'll see, soon I'll be the one filling the communal purse."

The woman grimaced. "How, exactly?"

"The next time we're attacked, I'll bag one whose purse is overflowing with gold."

"What foresight, what careful and assured planning!"

Dina quietly sat back down next to Zevran, who smiled at her. The plates were placed on the table, Morrighan grumbled a bit more, but the others slowly began eating. Leliana finally wiped off Alistair's milk moustache with a napkin, while the large knight closed his eyes and pushed his chin forward for her.

Suddenly, Zevran snapped. "Hey, didn't you order anything for us?"

Morrighan shrugged. "You weren't here."

"Well, that's nice! In that case, we're off...!" he said, grabbing Dina's hand.

"Wait, you haven't even heard the itinerary!" Morrighan protested.

"I know it by heart. We leave the city, then it's grass, trees, flowers, forests, sometimes rivers... It's always the same!"

"Hah, hilarious. I'm dying."

"Besides, Morrighan, the team always goes where you want, whether we agree with you or not." Zevran pulled a face that made it look like he was paying her a compliment.

"You'd better go, then, before I slap you!"

Zevran sprang up and smiled at Dina. "Come, my dear. So, those were my friends. Aren't they sweet?" He gave Morrighan one last playful jab before grinning, bidding them farewell, and hurriedly ordering food for the two of them to be sent to the room. Then he led Dina up to the gallery and into his room, quickly closing the door and leaning against it.

"Whew! We dodged the boring briefing!" he sighed, then smiled at Dina as she stepped closer.

The room was lit only by the bluish-white moonlight. Dina lit the three-branched candelabra. The yellowish glow spread throughout the room, giving it a warm, cosy atmosphere, and Zevran's face mirrored that with a growing smile as he watched the girl standing before him. But she remained serious.

"Zevran?" she called out, her voice kind but firm.

"I'm yours." Zevran teased again.

The girl smiled, but her eyes stayed serious.

"Just now, Morrighan..."

She wasn't sure how to phrase it since, in truth, Zevran's team finances were none of her business.

The man perhaps saw there was no point in continuing to joke. He pushed off from the door, his mouth drawn into a thoughtful line, his gaze slowly drifting to the ceiling. When his eyes returned to her, the mischief had vanished from his face. He stepped closer to her.

"There's no need to worry. If you must know, each of us has a share of the team's common funds that we can withdraw at any time. I haven't touched mine for quite a while, but now something urgent and important came up that was worth it." Here he smiled and stepped intimately closer, gently touching the tip of the girl's nose with his finger. "Morrighan might complain that I didn't warn her beforehand, but I'm just spontaneous like that." He shrugged, clearly unfazed by the leader's words.

Dina accepted the answer, nodding in agreement.

"Aren't you hungry? My stomach's growling. The only downside to escaping Morrighan is that we have to wait for dinner. When will the food get here?" Zevran looked at the door with a hint of indignation. Then he turned back to Dina, now with a sweeping smile, and, if possible, stepped even closer to her.

"But there are things I crave more than food," he said, glancing down at her lips, making no attempt to hide his intentions. Although the girl smiled excitedly, she placed her palm on Zevran's chest and gently pushed him back.

"You said you wouldn't touch me unless I wanted you to."

"And that's still true. But let me remind you, my dear Dina, that it's you who's touching me at the moment."

Dina glanced at Zevran's triumphant grin and realized that indeed, both her hands were resting on his chest. She quickly pulled them away, turned with feigned indignation, and walked out onto the balcony. Zevran followed her with a mischievous expression.

"You're hard to understand. If you wanted my body, you could have taken it yesterday," she said, speaking to the setting sun.

Zevran arrived behind her. "That's actually... true."

"But you did nothing yesterday. And won't anything tonight."

Dina's voice was thoughtful, but Zevran suddenly clutched his head and pretended to collapse in despair. Or perhaps he wasn't pretending at all. "Not tonight either? Ahh! You're surely trying to kill me, queen of beauty! You've planned in advance to leave your poor admirer hanging again?"

Dina turned to him, unable to suppress a brief but hearty laugh. "I didn't plan anything."

"Excellent! Then there's still a chance I can seduce you!"

At that moment, Dina was overwhelmed by strange feelings. Zevran's flattering words pleased her, still questions lingered in her mind. "See? You're courting me, introducing me to your friends like some kind of artist, yet I'm just a courtesan."

The man fell silent. Raising an eyebrow, he gazed at Dina thoughtfully for a while. "Are you?"

The girl averted her gaze. She couldn't find the words to respond, and perhaps Zevran wasn't expecting an answer anyway.

"Sometimes you don't need to receive anything to feel good. Your happiness is a gift to me, Dina. If you allow me, I'll give you what I have. And I'll only take as much as you offer willingly. That's how simple I am."

The girl tried not to show that his words had truly touched her.

"Is that enough of an answer to satisfy your nagging, inner questions?"

Dina shook her head slightly. "Somewhat."

Zevran feigned indignation. "Only somewhat? Then next time, I'll make sure my answer is, shall we say, thoroughly satisfying," he grinned, emphasizing the last words, perhaps not accidentally.

Dina couldn't help but smile. "What's behind your words again?"

"Sex," he replied with an endlessly natural tone, with an innocent face.

Dina shook her head. "Is that where you always end up?"

"In most cases, yes. But don't worry, because even when I don't, that's still what I'm thinking about."

Dina laughed, just shaking her head, thinking how Zevran was a loveably foolish character, someone easy to like, and how easy it would be to hug him now, simply out of affection, attraction. She raised her hand even as she laughed, but then clenched it into a fist in mid-air and withdrew it. She wasn't even aware of it, acting on instinct, still smiling when from Zevran's direction came a...

"Ah-ah-ah!"

The sound was kind but firmly commanding, and Dina looked up at its owner with interest. "What is it?"

"Don't do that, neither to yourself nor to me. And besides, that's cheating."

She didn't understand at first. "But...?"

"The restriction applies to me, not to you. If you want to touch me, go ahead."

Dina's mouth fell open. Of course, she'd touched men before, but never like this.

"I just..."

"Just do what you wanted to. Let's pretend that you're leading and I'm following."

She scrutinized the light-brown eyes. Zevran stood before her with patient expectation, almost motionless. She could imagine others wanting to touch him, but that a man, and Zevran in particular, would crave her touch? The thought, however, was both exciting and uplifting.

It took her a moment to realise what that stopped gesture had been. She stepped closer, her fingers brushing Zevran's chest. Then her whole hand pressed against him, and she clutched his shoulder. Rising onto her tiptoes, her arms encircled his neck, and she rested her head on him.

She hugged Zevran. How strange it was that she was the one hugging him, not the other way around, and how liberating it felt to be able to do such a thing. She immediately felt the embracing arms on her back and heard the man's contented growl. This made her smile.

"Zevran," she whispered.

"Yeees?"

But Dina didn't want to say anything; she just smiled with her eyes closed and tightened the embrace.

A strange feeling overcame her: she felt safe. She hadn't felt like this in a long time. She would have least expected it from the embrace of a client. But Zevran was playing a beautifully seductive tune on the strings of her heart. Dina opened her eyes and realised that Zevran really was trying to seduce her. And he was doing it so well.

She smiled and lifted her gaze. Zevran's face bore an expression of satisfaction as he kindly gazed over Dina's face when suddenly there was a knock at the door.

"Sir, I've brought the dinner!"

"Finally!" Zevran exclaimed with exasperated joy, released Dina, and headed for the door. The girl watched as the man hid one of his scimitars behind his back before opening the door to the innkeeper. It wasn't necessary, though; he took the tray brought to them with a smile, and the weapon was returned to its place.

The atmosphere on the balcony carried the calming fragrance of the nearby forest. Aromatic roast beef, various pickings on the side, and two mugs of almond beer were laid out on the round table on the balcony, bathed in the red glow of the setting sun.

"Hmmm, what a flavour!" Zevran inhaled deeply as Dina watched him draw the chair under himself and begin to eat.

They didn't talk much during dinner, mainly because Zevran devoured the food on his plate within a few minutes. Dina smiled at him; even this kind of greed seemed endearing to her. Then she nibbled a bit as well, pulling apart the meat strands while her gaze involuntarily wandered towards the inn's garden and the forest beyond. A huge oak tree stood not far from the building, underneath it the inn's fence, and within that a small back gate that stood out clearly in the twilight.

Zevran swallowed the last bite, licked the delicious gravy off his index finger, and then his gaze landed on Dina. He observed the girl for a while, as if trying to figure out what was going on in her mind. Then he glanced back at the gate, then back at Dina. Finally, he suddenly slapped his knee as if he were eager to leave. "Now that we've eaten, perhaps it would be nice to take a little walk, what do you think?" He nodded towards the yard. "Perhaps over that way."

Dina's eyes jumped between him and the gate that represented freedom in surprise. "How? But... I'm not allowed to leave the building, and..."

Zevran sprang up and turned. "And what will happen then?" he grinned back at her.

The girl couldn't reply. "But... but... Zevran, what on earth are you doing?!"

Zevran kicked off his boots, sat on the wide stone ledge of the balcony, swung one leg over it, though he leaned back to reach for the almond beer. "I'm drinking," he said as if there was nothing more natural, then stood up and, with a small jump, landed on the neighbouring balcony. Dina could do nothing but clasp her hands over her mouth. Zevran's arm reached out to her.

"Come."

Dina hesitantly looked at the hand extended to her.

"Come. We're just going for a little walk."

Dina took off her shoes, leaned forward, and took Zevran's hand, who helped her over and, of course, didn't move an inch when she jumped across and landed in his arms. Instead, he flashed her a cheeky smile. Then he turned away and led her across the balcony. Dina curiously peeked into the room, checking if anyone could see them, but there was no time to worry; Zevran was already seated on the opposite ledge and climbing onto one of the oak tree's branches. Dina nervously followed him with her eyes.

"It can hold both of us, see?" Zevran assured her, bouncing a little as he peeked out from under one branch. His bare feet stood securely on the tree's bark.

The girl clenched her teeth and followed. Zevran moved closer to the trunk, climbing lower and lower on the branches, then jumped down beside the gate onto the wide top of the wall and then onto the clearing.

Dina landed beside him and looked around. In a way, she was free; she could have run away, but she just stood there blinking. At the edge of the Perubian forest, at the town's end, they stood. The lights of the inn reached faintly that far, though after a bit of walking, only the forest's complete darkness awaited them.

Zevran contentedly dusted off his hands and looked proudly at Dina standing beside him, then set off ahead.

However, Dina did not follow. The earth nestled between her bare toes. Familiar sensations. As if she were a child again; she almost saw herself stumbling and dirty, walking along the dirt road at the forest's edge, holding a little boy's hand. She silently watched as the barefoot Zevran turned back.

"Aren't you coming? I saw during the day there's a grassy area over here; we could find it!"

Dina lowered her head and took a few steps forward, circling around Zevran, who obligingly turned towards her. The girl put several steps between them, then pointed at him defiantly. Tension crept into her voice. "Stay there!"

Zevran obeyed without a word.

"Aren't you afraid I'll run away?"

A slight smile tugged at the corner of Zevran's mouth.

For a moment, neither of them spoke. The darkness of the forest painted their faces, their pupils dilated as they stared at each other. Finally, Dina, panting softly, admitted the truth to herself.

"You'd catch me..."

"Yes. If I ran after you, I'd catch you."

It wasn't a difficult conclusion to reach. Dina was almost a head shorter than Zevran, and she herself was delicate, slender in build. In comparison, Zevran was lean and strong, with long, muscular legs.

"But you don't have to run. You can simply walk away from me. I won't hold you back."

"Harod will make you pay the fee of my life!"

Zevran shrugged nonchalantly. "I couldn't care less. What fee? Does he own your life? I don't care at all what your pimp thinks, dear Dina. And I say you shouldn't either. If you have friends, family you can return to instead of the bitter life as a courtesan, then go now. You're free."

Dina blinked up at him with a slight hint of emotion.

She turned, staring fearfully into the darkness. Then she turned back to Zevran.

"I no longer have a family. I have no one. My future is just as dark as this night."

She took a step towards Zevran with her head bowed.

Zevran walked over to her and sighed with regret. "Oh, Dina, my dear..." He raised his hand but, keeping to the girl's request, he wanted to pull it back again, however, Dina caught it in mid-air and drew it to her face. Zevran stroked her cheek.

"I want to go with you. To that grassy area."

Zevran continued to gently stroke her for a while, then finally smiled at her slightly. Then, without letting go of her hand, he led her away.