Blood

During winter, the road is no longer circulating in any one night was turning into night and darkness had descended. The clouds covered the sky and part of the stars from view.

They had stop in a nearby inn. Bodahn knew the innkeeper; he stopped several times in this inn. His wagon were now placed in a nearby yard next to each other. Horses were placed in the stable.

The inn keeper, and a sturdy bald shemlen called Jarik was greeted warmly at Bodahn, however, he was surprised when he saw the rest of the group.
Bodahn had told him that he had hired a few new guards after he had departed from the Orzammar. In addition, a few mage had joined en route by Deneremiin, because the civil war, blight, and the bandit forces made the roads unsafe. Innkeeper had heard same thing.
"Did you have any problems on their way here?"
"A number of wolves and a bear attacked us, but my guards killed them." Bodahn answered.
"The country has become sick, the animals attacking people attacked nearly every day." Innkeeper said.
Then the innkeeper arranged rooms for them. There were other travelers, but they left the armed entourage in peace. Especially when they notice that travelers were accompanied by mages from the Circle and stone golem. Fortunately, the Shale stayed outside. Darrian suspected that floor might break if golem would come inside.
Bodahn and Sandel got their own room, Wynne, Leliana and Morrigan got other, the rest were forced to sleep in the general room with a few others travelers.

Darrian tried to stay out of sight, there might be bounty hunters on the move and someone might recognize him. He spent his time taking care of horses and then guarded carriages, until night came.
Alistair had a Templar's armor and helmet, and remained close to Wynne and Morrigan, performing Templar role.

Apparently, no one suspects them. However, Shale and Sten got most of the attention.

Darrian standing next to wagon when Sten came to the yard, Qunari walked next to him.
"My turn." Sten said.
Darrian nodded and started walking across towards the inn.
He nodded to Shale who was standing next to the entrance to the inn, golem only turned his head. Snow had begun to accumulate on top of this.

In the inn, no one was awake, but there was fire in the fireplace. Then he heard steps, mabari came down the stairs. Apparently, the war dog no longer wanted to be away from him, he had told it to stay close to Sandal that no one would notice that mabari was imprint in him.
"Be silent boy." Darrian whispered when Viima came beside him. Viima understood and stayed silent. Darrian stroked his dog few moments.
Then he did walk front of the fireplace and put a few more wood into the flames. There was apparently a large pot of soup, he mixed it a bit and then started to eat he was hungry. However, he picked up bone from the soup and gave it to mabari.

He had already started to get used to a greater appetite and nightmares. They were the first changes, others had followed. He was soon begun to sense darkspawn. Other changes had followed, he no longer remembered when had even had a cold. He had come almost immune of the diseases. He was a stronger and quicker, but also his endurance was better.
At least that was Morrigan´s opinion. Darrian remembered and smiled.

In addition, he had noticed that he did not need as much sleep as before. His wound healed rapidly.

A lot had changed after he drank from joining chalice. But now something else had started to change.
For a moment he looked at the flames, and then Darrian thinks a fight that had taken place in the morning.

He and Alistair had sensed the beasts, wolves and huge bear. More than likely, they too had sense them.
He had walked by towards beasts with Viima at his side. Viima sunk his fangs at first wolf's throat and he had pierced two next with his spear. The third, he stuck in it´s the throat and lift into the air, and then he had cut its stomach open with his dagger. He remains a scent of blood and the guts that drop into the snow in front of him. For a moment he had wanted to drink its blood and eat its meat, but he controls himself.

Behind wolfs become a large bear, a blight had not yet been corrupted beast badly; it´s coat and body were still intact. But the mind had been change, it is bloodthirsty and insane.

He had the support his spear on the ground when the beast had attacked, the bear impale it´s self on the spear. But it was not dead, it had tried to bite and hit him with its claws. He was a twisted spear, trying to get it to hit the heart, but the bear fight´s so hard that he had not managed to do it. It was roar and tried to get a spear to the side. Still, he managed to keep the beast bay. The spear had penetrated the bears lung, soon its mouth was flooded with the blood. Soon its strength were exhausted and he had managed to pierce the heart.

The snow was red from the blood, when the bear was dead. Still, the battle had not lasted long. Only few moments, nobody had time to come help him.

"Are you okay?" Alistair was asked with concern.
"Never better."
Then he had felt the blood dripping from his mouth and nose. He felt the bloodlust and rage. Blood was like molten fire in his veins.
Then he had closed his eyes and made breathing exercise that was always soothed him. It helped, as soon as he felt normal.
"I'm fine, do not worry."
Alistair looked at him and dead bear.
"Do you think that this is..."
"Not here ..." Darrian said, quickly ending the conversation.

Others didn´t heard what they did say. Soon they were ready to continue the journey. However, Darrian had decided skin the bear. Skinning it had taken time, but he was sure it´s was worth it.

Darrian sighed and stroked for a Mabari neck.
Then he pulled the dagger out. For a moment he looked at the blade, and then he cut a small wound in his hand.
Darrian took the drops of blood fell to his haavastaan. They hit a tree in front of the fireplace and the blood began to smoke.
He swallowed hard and cold feeling crept into his body, even though he was next to the fire.

By blood, fire and ice.
What would be the price of this power?

He recalled an event in Soldier's Keep. He had let Avernus keep his life, though that had been close call.
He had also drink from the Alchemical Concoction that Avernus had said releasing the true power of his blood.

He threw the bloody wood into the flames and turned.

One thing was sure, if Avernus did any further tests, he would return and cut his head off. Then he would burn his tower and his notes.