I’m just passing through. The words put Cole a little more at ease. There was still something there in the air, something that clung to the mage, hanging on his back and feeding off him like a parasite. Whatever it was had been good once, but it had twisted into something else, something dangerous, dark, and tainted. It was what Cole feared most about himself. He fiddled with his fingers and dropped his gaze. He took the opportunity to study the mage’s robes, noting how worn and dirty they were. The stranger had no doubt come a long way. Cole was torn between his natural instinct to reach out, to help, and wanting to get as far away from the mage as possible. What he was sensing was bigger, stronger than himself. That usually wouldn’t deter him, but for the first time since he’d left Rhys and the White Spire, he felt afraid and uncertain. He didn’t like it. Silence stretched between them and it seemed as if Cole weren’t going to answer.
“No.” He finally replied. “Even if you did, you would not remember.“ He was hesitant to answer with who he was, so there was a brief pause before he continued. "I’m Cole. I can help.” The last words were habit and left his lips before he could stop them. He winced, closed his eyes briefly as he gathered himself. He could help. He straightened a little, the thought giving him the resolve he needed, and tried to tamp down the negative things tumbling around inside of him. “Who is the friend you are looking for?” The sooner they found this mage’s friend, the sooner he could leave and take this wrongness with him. That mental reminder bolstered him a bit more. He took a few tentative steps towards the mage.
Anders really couldn't get a read on the kid, so much so that he felt downright nervous. There was something, something he couldn't pinpoint, that put every sense on high-alert. There was a warning sign, something he sensed more than saw, but as soon as he seemed nearly able to grasp it, the thought slipped through his fingers.
He didn't respond at once. He wasn't sure if it was his own uneasiness that stretched across the silence or Cole's. Maybe both. The boy may well have been able to help. He struck Anders as someone who may be privy to information, whether others realized it or not. Now, whether he was actually willing seemed another situation entirely. The offer sounded more like impulse than empathy. He hadn't missed the wince they were delivered with, though by the time he did respond, it seemed to slip his mind.
"...Varric," he almost admitted that it was Hawke he was tracking, but something in the back of his mind had him changing his approach. He feared being too obvious, coming on too strong. If the boy really didn't know who he was- And Anders wasn't entirely convinced of this- it might just be enough to make things click. The Champion's personal life hadn't done such a great job of staying personal, after all.
"he's uhm...I've heard he's here. He sent a letter..." not to Anders, of course, but he'd seen it. He'd fought tooth and nail over it. And here he was to tell him exactly what he thought, now that Hawke had failed to send word for so long, "I really need to speak with him. Privately."