No Templar guards, and a fellow Spirit Healer who clearly doesn't want them. It's enough of a relief for Anders to attempt a weak joke, one of very few he's made in years.

"Dreadful? If this is an attempt at flirting, your technique leaves something to be desired." He puts up no protest at the guiding hand or the direction she takes, though. "If you'd opened with tea and stew, it would be stronger. Perhaps I should teach a different sort of class for your students. How to flirt, now that you're actually allowed to and the Templars can't beat you for it."

He's still on his guard, but even so he can't prevent the tiny flutter of hope at what he's starting to see and hear around the place. The freedom is limited. It's endangered. But there's some here, the start of lives, and if enough mages get to experience it they won't go back. They can't possibly go back.

"But first, yes. Please. Stew and tea sound excellent, and if you'd like you don't even have to look at me."