Rootless

By Nikolaj Büchert´

Terry glanced across Lake Calenhad; he was supposed to meet his contact here. He could feel a presence nearing him from behind. He fastened his grip on the sword he used as standing support, ready to strike should he need to.

"Terry McKerr?" Terry loosened his grip and turned around only to discover that the black-haired man behind him had launched a thrust with his own sword towards him. Terry avoided the blow and quickly grabbed both his weapons to counter the move.

"Who are you?" Terry swung his axe so he got a hold of the mans dagger, they dueled with their free hands, both containign longswords.
So swift that Terry couldn't follow, this man was very skilled, perhaps even more than Terry himself.

He lost his control of the mans dagger and they both took a step backwards.

Just as Terry were about to charge again the man launched out a flat hand signaling him to stop the fight.

They both sheathed their weapons. "My name is Duncan. I am the leader of the Grey Wardens here in Ferelden."

Terry scanned the man with his eyes. Pretty tall, black hair like Terry himself and a fuzzy beard. Tanned skin and a light armor in form of a robe with some light metal protection.

"A Warden?" He wasn't sure if he should believe him, but who else could be as skilled as himself in the art of dual wielding weapons.

"Indeed," Duncan answered, "you are very skilled, i heard some farmers mention your name while I passed a farm near Redcliffe, and i decided to come and look for you.

"What are you saying? Are you the one, who contacted me?" Terry couldn't afford to waste time.

"Contacted?" Duncan was interested in this man, the more he had gone into Redcliffe the more people seemed to be talking about this man.

"Yeah, I'm a mercenary, I give my arm and my blade to whomever can pay me enough coin."

Terry looked into the ground, he looked ashamed.

"How old are you Terry?"

Terry looked up again; he looked into the air, as if he had forgotten his own age and had to ask the maker for the answer.

"27," He answered cold. "I see."

An awkward silence fell over their conversation, another man was approaching them. Duncan bowed and turned around. "Well, I was glad i got to meet you, now I shall take my leave."

"Wait-" Terry commanded. "Why did you attack me?" Duncan stopped and answered the question without turning towards Terry. "Actually I intended to see if you had the skills to join my order."

"And I don't?" Terry was almost insulted as Duncan hadn't made any offer to join him.

"Oh very much so, but I can see when a man has a duty he thinks supersedes the one of a warden, and I don't intend on forcing people into a Wardens service."

Terry could sense that Duncan was lying, but why wouldn't he recruit him then?

Not that he was especially interested; he had always livened free and experienced both the ups and the downs to do so.

"Terry McKerr?" A new voice sounded and the man he had seen approaching before stood in front of him.

21/08 2010