"I would care about a stray cat," Merrill interjects, even as she scratches Purrelden under the chin in an apology. Anders will have to look at it, though she imagines that might lead to yelling. Not at her, at everyone else, for hurting his cat.

"And we did all sorts of stupid things back in Kirkwall involving being outnumbered. It worked out."

Not everyone sounds half as chipper when being called stupid. But the fact that they wanted to help Anders- well, they panicked. And there's a chance here to get their friends back without having to fight.

"He'd been possessed by a spirit of Justice before I met him. Justice had changed, was now Vengeance instead. We were actually able to pull Vengeance out of Anders, at his request -- something I'm sure you realize has huge implications for the future of anyone possessed, or even at risk of it." Like mages. "And he'd been on the run for years. He looked awful when I saw him again. He was so alone. Other mages hated him for what he'd done. Of course his message had changed. People like us changed him."

Her head tilts.

"You're changing him again now, as we speak, with this. So please. Let us see them." Let her have her friends back.