This mission would have been a tricky situation for him even without his own entanglements with the Qunari hanging over his head. He can at least appreciate the irony: him, here working to broker a closer relationship with the Qunari for the Inquisition when they'd likely be very happy to see him dead.

Which was all the more reason to keep his own enjoyment to himself. There's a limit to the trust he can place in Araceli. He's aware of the many factions weighing on her. As much as she might enjoy Vane's company and as well as John gets on with her, he can't assume she'd chose their interests over her own.

And it makes everything simpler. Considering the problem at hand, it's actually a relief to consider a tangle of problems removed from the pressure of Nascere's affairs.

"I'm not certain we can't manage to keep everyone happy."

Or relatively happy. John tips the cup, watching the liquid slosh before he takes a sip and continues.

"Suppose we could convince Nereza to let Armat serve the rest of his sentence out at Kirkwall. As long as Armat is confined to the city, she doesn't need to know one way or another how he's spending his time."

Or if he's kept in the city at all. John isn't above an outright lie, so long as Armat is smart enough to carry it off.