Prelude
Zevran pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed heavily. A light rain was starting to fall, damping his shirt and hair. It was always raining it seemed. Cold and wet were the two words used to describe Ferelden perfectly. That and the smell like dogs. He wasn't certain when he would get used to the climate.
"No, Wilhelm, no," Nathaniel Howe said with the same exasperation that Zevran was feeling. "You've stepped too far with your right foot, your balance is off. Try again. Bree, step a bit more to your left your stance isn't wide enough. Collin, your hold is too tight and Mason your hold is too loose."
Four new recruits had come wanting to join the Grey Wardens in Armanthine. Zevran and Nathaniel were in charge of train all new recruits. Of the ten that the Commander had recruited these four were the only ones to make it past the Joining. It was getting harder and harder for Lyna to find willing volunteers. Zevran had caught her pacing in her office numerous times looking over papers of potential candidates for recruitment, all volunteers were taken, but when the volunteers ran out she would need more men. She was looking into minor criminals and city elves first. Many nobles in the Ban weren't fond of the Grey Wardens and were actively seeking to undermine and deter people from joining their ranks.
Zevran did not envy Lyna Marahiel in the least. Her job as Commander of the Grey Wardens in Ferelden wasn't easy. And to make matters even more difficult she helped with negotiations with the Dalish and the King of Ferelden. Between the land settlements and trade negotiations along with threats coming in from the Chantry, Lyna had more than enough to worry about.
"Huh, they look like a bunch of virgin brontos trying to hump each other for the first time." A gruff deep voice stated from behind Zevran. Canting his head to the side he could see a bright red bearded dwarf in chainmail coming up to stand next to him. The dwarf leaned his thick arms on the middle railing of the fence in which Zevran was leaning across.
"Ha-ha, an apt and very astute observation, my friend." Zevran smiled down at the dwarf. "But give them time and experience even virgins can become whores."
Oghren chortled. "Yeah, but even then they aren't necessarily good at it and they aren't likely to get people killed while doing it either."
"Then you've never been with an Antivia whore, because, well, that's been known to happen."
"Nate's looks like he's ready to explode." Oghren nodded his head in the direction of the black haired archer. Nathaniel's normally pale skin was red as he grabbed Collin, a young human around eighteen years of age, hands and placed them none to gently on the training staff.
"You're going to break your hands if you don't hold them a certain points. You need enough room in the middle to bock someone's attack. Too close together and you're going to get hit. Try again." Nathaniel spoke quietly and through clenched teeth.
"Does it surprise you that he's frustrated? Not many women around and a handful of grass green recruits that can barely tell you which end of a sword goes were." Zevran straightened up and crossed his arms, watching the recruits going through their forms once again. Nathanial trained them in the basics, he would have them once they passed the basics. None of them as of yet showed promise, but things could change with time.
"So, elf, when's the Commander due back?"
Zevran looked down at Oghren. "Why?"
The dwarf shrugged his shoulders as he continued to watch the training. Nathaniel had stopped the trainees once again as he adjusted Bree's stance again. Bree was the only woman to pass the Joining, the other one had died. "I wanted to know what she had planned for me. Wanted to go see the wife and kid for a while."
Zevran shook his head. Grey Wardens were supposed to cut all ties with their life before their Joining, but Lyna had been strangely pushing Oghren toward his. The former Crow wasn't certain, but he was pretty certain that Lyna thought Oghren had joined the Grey Wardens too hastily. The dwarf was known to be a bit reckless and bullheaded about things.
"You're little one has a birthday coming up soon, doesn't she?" Zevran inquired.
Oghren nodded. "That she does. Felsi said the only thing my girl wants is to see her father." Oghren chuckled. "Never thought…" He trailed off and looked sharply up at Zevran. "Don't get telling the Commander though, I don't want her making special arrangements for me."
"The thought never crossed my mind."
"Sure it didn't, elf."
Zevran uncrossed his arms, placing his hands dramatically over his heart. "You wound me so, my friend, to think so little of me."
"Don't even start." Oghren growled. "Your antics are…"
"Charming? Endearing?"
"A pain in my ass."
"Oh! Well, if we are going that route."
"Bah, forget I mentioned anything to you. I know well enough that you'll tell the first chance you get."
Zevran shook his head and laughed as the dwarf pushed away from the fence started away. "Oh now come then, I'll get you a drink. That will cheer you up."
Oghren grumbled something under his breath about elves and their mothers what they could do with each other. Zevran smiled broadened as he clapped the dwarf on the shoulder. "Don't worry, Lyna will be back in a couple of days, at least according to her last letter. You'll be able to talk to her then. I'm certain she'll let you go without complaint. She'll probably want to go too, which means she'll drag me with her." He tossed the dwarf a friendly wink. "Not that I won't mind being drug around by her, but it does get quite messy."
They entered the main hall. The room hadn't been changed since Lyna first took the position of Commander. A few more banners were hung up representing noble families who had a son or daughter that had joined up with the Wardens, but mostly the heraldry was the blue and gray marked with a griffin of the Grey Wardens. At the far end of the hall was a dais in which Lyna conducted business. On either side of the dais were two doors, the door to the right led to the sleeping quarters, medical wing, laboratory, library, and common dining room of the Wardens. Through the left door was the meeting room, ceremony chamber and banquet hall. Oghren and Zevran headed for the right door. As they walked through a slim young dwarf woman pushed her way pass them.
"Sorry boys, in a hurry," Sigrun said slipping by them.
"Where you off to with such vigor?" Oghren asked watching the young dwarven woman's backside.
"Something's happened with the transfer of Grey Wardens to the Free Marches." Sigrun replied holding the door aloft. "I need to speak with Nathaniel immediately.
"The Free Marches?" Zevran asked.
"Yes, the Commander approved a transfer of a couple of Wardens from this outpost to the Free Marches outpost a couple weeks back. Something's gone wrong. They were attacked. Anders and Justice are missing. All but a few of the Wardens were killed. Those that are alive are injured." Sigrun explained. "I have to speak with Nathaniel." She pushed through the door and hurried off.
Oghren raised an eyebrow at Zevran. The elf shrugged. "Not much to be done about it. Lyna left Nathaniel in charge while she was away."
"I didn't think meeting with the pike-twirler would take this long." Oghren pointed out as they continued down the hall toward the mess hall at the far end.
"She wrote that negotiations were being held up because members of the Chantry had found supporters amongst the nobility to keep the Dalish from getting their rightful lands." Zevran supplied as he pushed open the dining room door.
Oghren snorted. "Boot-licking, nug humping politicians. Bet the Commander longs for the days of hunting in the woods to catch her next meal when dealing with those types."
Zevran sighed and headed for a large keg and tap set up at the other end of the room. "That she does, my friend. That she does."