[ Bastien gives him the one from his own mouth delivered directly to Byerly's lips with familiarity rather than flirtation before he begins preparing a second one.

Whether it's really cowardice or something more conniving, he couldn't say. Either way, it's not comforting. ]

I've thought before, [ and perhaps said, in passing, ] we ought to just decide what it is we're here for and who is welcome. Officially, I mean. We joined the Inquisition, not Riftwatch, you know? Whole seas of Templars and elves and Andrastian peasants. We separated so we could operate a little more freely and not be party to an Exalted March on civilians. But we never decided to be different in any other particular way. We never said Templars were not welcome—or Chevaliers—or anyone. We've never said we are here to pursue freedom for the mages. Everyone wraps their other interests up inside the goal of stopping Corypheus to smuggle them in. And maybe they are right, you know? Maybe we only win against Corypheus if we have the mages, and maybe we only keep them if we put resources into opposing Circles. We absolutely need the rifters.

I don't know. I know there are benefits to being able to disclaim support of this or that, when we need money from people. If we decide to be controversial Kirkwall might change its mind about letting us use the Gallows. But it could be worth it. Everyone could decide for themselves whether this is the organization they really want to serve, and the people who stay would know they are in the same chapter, at least, if not on the same page.