He nearly chokes on his sherry at the last, laughter in his throat as he manages to swallow the liquid after all. "A whiff of untainted blood. Things you can safely say and I cannot, Maker."

Anders reaches over and squeezes Nate's hand, shaking his head. Talk of blood from a mage, even a mage healer, is dangerous territory even at the best of times.

"But I'll be the first to admit having friends helps with perspective. She's offered to... advise me, more or less, the next time I feel the need to speak with most people with crystals. She's training in diplomacy and such, and I'm lacking in it."