Part 01: Tainted Hero
Chapter 1: Calm Before the Storm

Brina Ulriksdotten opened her eyes to the sound of a crackling fire. Her father, Ulrik Brynjolfsen, sat on the other side of the flames cross-legged and poked at the logs. His head was bald, and his long grey beard was full of braids. Tribal tattoos covered his arms and carried up onto his scalp. Most of the symbols held meanings denoting his status and wealth in the clan.

"Da?"

He didn't lift his eyes from the fire. "Oh, Cub. I didn't know you were awake." Ulrik's brow furrowed. Worry lines stretched across his forehead, and the crinkles around his eyes grew deeper with his thoughts.

Brina sat up on her elbow, keeping the warm furs around her. "I thought you were preparing for a hunt."

"Scouts have not yet returned. I sent out a second party to search for them."

Brina's stomach knotted. Something isn't right. "They haven't returned?"

Ulrik finally looked up at her, his eyes sad. "Last I knew, the trail ended somewhere in the Korcari Wilds."

"That is quite a way from here. Easily two days trek."

"Aye." He dropped the stick he held, looking back into the fire.

"Was there nothing closer?"

"We should know more by this eve. The scouts are to return by sundown, regardless of what they find." Ulrik stood and went to the table where he unrolled a map. He leaned heavily against the counter with his head down.

"And if they don't?"

Ulrik remained silent.

We will have to move, again. "We've only been in this place for ten moons." Brina sat all the way up in her cot.

"If Thane Snow-Eye says, 'Move,' then we move." Ulrik turned to look at her. "Cub, we can't stay if it isn't safe."

Brina sighed. "I know."

Silence stretched on. An unspoken word hung in the air, nightgangers. The attacks had grown more frequent the past few months. Are they the reason our scouts are missing?

Ulrik pulled her up from her cot and held her face in his hands. "You are so much like your Ma. You have her eyes; blue-green, like the leaves of the Firebloom. The rest of her is your personality. I'm afraid the rest of your looks you got from me." Ulrik's smile carried up into his honey-brown eyes.

"Aye, I'm as tall as you," Brina laughed.

"I certainly never expected that. I've been the tallest in the clan for so long; I'd forgotten what it was like to not look over the top of one's head. And no one can miss your mop of brown curly hair."

"Ma's golden hair always stood out, to me."

Ulrik embraced her. "You'll do just fine today."

A memory of her mother flashed in Brina's mind. The way her Ma's golden hair shone in the sunlight. The way her face lit up when she smiled. Her warm embrace. Brina's face stung.

She took a deep breath and smiled at her father before he headed through the door. Brina took it as an opportunity to ready herself for the day in privacy.

Outside the hut, villagers were already preparing for the day despite the darkened sky. Vendors arranged their stalls. Brina stopped in front of one such booth. A small woman unstacked baskets from her arms into various trays. She was bundled up in furs to fight the crisp morning air, but her hood had started to slip back revealing mouse-brown hair with visible grey streaks.

"Good morning, Hulda." Brina's breath fogged up around her face.

"Brina! So nice to see you. I knew you'd be by early today. How's the arm?"

Brina pulled up the sleeve on her left arm. From the tips of her fingers up to her shoulder, the skin was wrinkled and lumpy. Still a little pink. "Burnt, but useful. Aside from the appearance, it's almost like it was before, thanks to you."

"I'm only as good as the Lady allows." Hulda smiled and squeezed Brina's healthy shoulder.

"Of course." Brina quickly pulled her sleeve down before others could see.

"I have no doubt your spirit companion also helped. I heard you are preparing for your final trial: releasing the spirit back into the Land of Dreams."

"Aye. I hope the gods grant me strength. I'm to see the Augur at first light for final instruction and guidance."

"We are hoping for your success. I've never had to separate from a spirit before, but I'm sure you can do what needs to be done. Augur taught you well. Do you need anything in particular today? I've got a new shipment from the stone merchants." Hulda gestured to a large wooden box next to the stall. It was full of various plants separated into smaller containers.

"I need the usual. And some extra Felandaris. Augur's preparing for communion with the spirits today."

"Here you are, Apprentice. May you walk in light."

Brina handed Hulda several full water skins full of mead. "And be unafraid of the darkness."

"My thanks. Augur's Mead always has a fire to it. My mate may be gone, but this was always his favorite." Hulda opened one and deeply breathed in the scent. "Snoufleurs always make the best water skins."

"Aye. These are the ones my Da and I hunted at the last gathering."

"You honor me."

Brina went on her way, purchasing dried food and extra water pouches. I've heard this trial can last anywhere from hours to days, if successful. Some of the nerves in her arm twitched. Brina shook her arm and stretched her burned fingers.

The sky was turning pink in the distance, and people crowded the road for their morning shopping. Soon the air buzzed with chatter and gossip. Nearby, Ragnar Talltale and his sister Una gossiped. They were of an age with Brina. Ragnar did odd jobs for the Thane and was known for telling outlandish stories as if they were absolute truth. Suspiciously, his stories lacked witnesses aside from himself. His chin-length auburn hair and collar-bone length goatee tended to stick out at all angles. He was rather tall, though Brina could easily see over his head, and very scrawny. Una Svensdotten was very much his opposite. She was small, and a bit rounder, barely reaching the middle of Ragnar's chest. She kept her yellow hair tied back in a single braid.

As usual, Ragnar was quite animated while telling one of his stories, and Una was doing everything in her power not to shut him up forcibly.

"Did you hear?" Ragnar started in. "Some Lowlander is being granted an audience with our Thane."

"A Lowlander?" Una made a face and chuckled.

"Called himself a Grey Warden."

"I've heard of them. Harbingers of death and destruction, the Grey Wardens are. No good can come of this." Una began inspecting some fruit.

"Respected warriors, they are. The Grey Warden said they're recruiting."

"Respected warriors? Pah! Clearly, they never met the Avvar."

Ragnar puffed out his chest. "Of course not. We could show them what true warriors look like."

"What do they want? Just warriors? They expect loyalty, just like that?"

Ragnar lowered his voice to a whisper, "They are looking for one."

"One? Just one?"

"Not just any single one. The Apprentice."

Una dropped the fruit in her hand. "The Augur's Apprentice? Brina?"

Brina pretended not to hear them.

Ragnar pulled Una away, but he was terrible at whispering. "Shh. Not so loud."

"Why her?"

"I don't know. But I heard the Thane is going to host trials in the Warden's honor. To display the best warriors."

"You said we could show them what true warriors look like. We should compete." Una's eye glinted with anticipation.

"You said they were 'harbingers of death and destruction.'"

"Aye, but-"

Ragnar had a broad grin on his face. He put his hands on his hips. "So you do respect them! Don't deny it. There's no shame in that. You know, Grey Wardens only come out if there's a Blight coming."

"Lowlander problems. Stone-folk fight nightgangers all the time. The nightgangers never come this high up. Too cold. Besides, a few on the surface doesn't mean a Blight. I heard nightgangers sometimes raid the topside."

"But what if it is? The Warden seems convinced. I think Thane Snow-Eye is too."

The knots in Brina's stomach grew. She couldn't shake the uneasiness she felt. I should get on to Augur's hut. It's nearly first light.

Further down the road just outside the market stood a group of hunters talking intently. Ulrik stood in the front as a group of scouts ran toward them.

"Master Hunter! Master Hunter!" The leader of the scouts, Bjorn, stopped in front of Ulrik. He was panting. Did he run the whole way? He's terrified of something.

"You return? So soon?" Ulrik waited patiently.

Bjorn spoke between pants. "Aye. Something strange is happening."

"What is it?"

"The bears. They're gone. All of them."

"The bears are gone? It's near winter. Surely, that's not a surprise."

"The halla are gone too."

"And the fennec," a second scout, Dagmar, interrupted.

A third scout, Stoic, also spoke, "The rams, too."

"Even checked the wyvern nest. All gone," Bjorn said.

"Birds are leaving as well." Stoic scuffed his boot.

Brina went to her father's side. "Where- Where would they go?" She felt sick, worried she already knew the answer.

Dagmar pointed, "I saw a flock going north this morning."

"North? That's not so unusual." Ulrik looked hard at the scout. "You must be seeing things, boy."

"I know what I saw. What about the rest?"

Brina glanced at Ulrik. "We should speak with the Augur."

Ulrik sighed. "Agreed."

They began to depart toward the Augur's hut when Bjorn spoke again. "There's something else. There's a cave. A tunnel."

Ulrik shrugged. "There are caves everywhere."

"No, a new cave. It wasn't there before."

Ulrik crossed his arms. "You want to send a party in to investigate."

"Aye."

Dagmar tightened his grip on the dagger at his hip. "We need to speak to Thane Snow-Eye about this. You know it might be-"

Ulrik held up his hand and shook his head. "He's speaking with the Grey Warden. He'll see no one at this time. We'll bring it to his attention soon, but let's find out if there's a real problem first."

Ulrik's second, Svena, placed a hand on Ulrik's shoulder. "Master Hunter, the Warden left already."

"Where did he go?"

"I'm not sure. The Warden didn't leave the hold, but he's no longer with the Thane."

"Da? I will speak with the Augur. Maybe he will have insight." Brina pushed past the hunters and turned to a rocky mountain path. The weather had carved the rock into a natural staircase that led to a small flat area, just large enough to fit the Augur's crude hut.

Brina pushed open the door as the sun broke over the horizon. Inside, Brina's head brushed the ceiling. The air was thick from veilfire smoke in the hearth. Various herbs and plants hung from the ceiling and walls. Despite the green flame raging, the atmosphere was chilly and moist and smelt heavily of dirt.

The Augur sat on the other side of the fire. Whether he was asleep or meditating, Brina wasn't sure. He was old. Ancient, according to some. He claimed to have seen nearly fifteen hundred moons, though Brina had her doubts. She figured he'd seen close to one thousand. "Augur?"

He opened his eyes to gaze at her. "Ah, Brina." His voice had a slight rasp and was breathy.

Augur grunted as he stood. His back slouched from years of bending over a fire and his sparse hair fell to his shoulders. He'd been tall in his youth but was now one of the shortest in the clan. He wore thick wolf furs that covered his frail body. The head of the wolf he wore as a hood. The gnarled and twisted staff in his hand had the skull of a red wolf on top with chunks of lyrium crystals that glowed blue in the eye sockets. The staff had several vines and small roots at the end that wrapped around the skull, holding it in place. Augur gestured a thin, bony hand to the man who stood next to him. "Brina, I'd like you to meet Duncan, Warden-Commander of the Ferelden Grey Wardens."

Brina blinked at the stark contrast between the two men. The Grey Warden was average height for a lowlander, coming up to Brina's nose. The green flames reflected off Duncan's silver armor and mail, and the silvery strands in his thick black mane and beard. The griffin on his breastplate seemed to move on its own in the dancing light. His face crinkled around his mouth and eyes when he smiled.

Brina nodded her head. "Brina Ulriksdotten, Augur's apprentice."

He studied her for a long moment. "So. You're Brina. Very nice to meet you. I'm afraid I'm unfamiliar with proper Avvar greetings. This is my first time visiting one of your esteemed holds. We've had Avvar Wardens in the past, but by the time I met them, they had fully committed to being Wardens."

Lowlanders have such strange accents. "Past Avvar Wardens?"

"Yes. There was one I knew, Kell ap Morgan. He was once a Jarl. Wonderful tracker. He could sense different types of darkspawn."

"Darkspawn?"

"Yes, I forgot. You call them nightgangers, I believe."

"I'm afraid I'm not much of a tracker. That's what hunters are for, like my Da." Brina searched his face, trying to find any hint of his intentions. What does he want of me?

"No, but I've been told you've learned much from your spirit companion. And that you're quite adept at manipulating the elements."

"Aye. I've learned all my companion can teach me. I'm to send it back to the Land of Dreams."

"'Land of Dreams'? The Fade?"

"Aye, I believe that's what the lowlanders call it." Brina glanced at the Augur who merely nodded.

The Augur shifted the staff in his hands. "Brina must separate from the spirit before she can become a true shaman. If she cannot, she will face exile."

"In that case, I wish you well on your trial, Brina Ulriksdotten." Duncan brushed past her toward the door.

"Grey Warden – Duncan, was it? What happened to him? Kell ap Morgan?"

Duncan stopped in the doorway, then turned to look at her. "He and his steadfast war hound sacrificed themselves. I admit, I regretted leaving them. We went back to find them but only found his bow. Darkspawn are known for . . . Carrying away the dead. I also regret we could not give them a proper funeral befitting the gallant warrior he was."

"So, you are here for recruits." Maybe Ragnar was telling the truth, for once.

Duncan glanced at the Augur. "I'm seeking warriors and mages. Until recently, Grey Wardens were exiled from Ferelden. A few of us have returned home and seek recruits in preparation. The King of Ferelden calls all to his aid, northeast of here in a place called Ostagar. Do you know of it?"

"Aye, I know it. Why are you telling me?"

"I fear a Blight is coming."

Brina looked back at the Augur. "I've heard whispers . . . A new cave opened at the base of the mountain. And the animals are disappearing." Brina could feel fear building in the pit of her stomach. She struggled to push it down.

"Yes, I saw it on the way here. Has anything else strange happened?"

"Some of our scouts disappeared between here and the Korcari Wilds."

"Yes, your Thane told me. I suspect it's the darkspawn at work. A horde is gathering. But I'm sure your trial is challenging and will require all your focus. What is the phrase? May you walk in light?"

". . . And be unafraid of the darkness." He may not know the greetings, but he knows our farewells.

Duncan bowed and took his leave.

"Brina? What are your thoughts?"

"He seeks me to be a Grey Warden. Is that true?"

"Aye, it's true. But you are not yet ready. Your Spirit of Knowledge must go back first. Should you succeed today, we'll speak more of this matter once you've rested. You've brought the Felandaris. Rashvine Nettle. Amrita Vein. Fireblooms. Witherstalk. Dragonthorn. Black Lotus. Nugsear. Excellent. You'll make these into pastes. Mark yourself before you begin the burning. You'll need a fresh sacrifice."

"Spirit resistance . . . and aids for my energy and magic."

"Aye. The Fireblooms, Amrita Vein, and Felandaris will help keep your physical energy awake. Amrita Vein, Felandaris, Witherstalk, and Dragonthorn for Spirit Resistance. Rashvine Nettle, Amrita Vein, and Black Lotus for lyrium aid. And here is your vial of lyrium. Nugsear for the smoke. Do you understand what must be done?"

"Aye."

"Go to a secluded place. The hold knows you are not to be disturbed. I will commune with the spirits until you have completed the trial."