He was dirty. He was hungry. He was tired. He had wounded with him. And he really did not enjoy being on this side of a riot.
"Thank the Maker you arrived," Garavel said. "Things are getting out of hand."
"My son is starving! Open the granaries." Voices called out from the crowd. "Bloody feed your people."
He'd had a plan to deal with this issue. Of course, that was before he'd spent four days down a mine shaft dealing with whatever the hell that creature had been.
Varel sighed. "Grave times, Commander. The common folk are getting desperate." He gave Jerath a hopeful look. "Maybe you can say a few words? Calm them down. Make them see reason."
"Varel, you don't coddle a revolt. You put it down. Just give me the order."
"We will not be -"
"Let the commander speak."
"But we must eat! We -"
"Quiet."
He was very much not in the mood for this. It was an order he would never give. Ever. But there was no reason they needed to know that. "I kill darkspawn by the score. What are a few peasants?"
"What? What do you mean?"
"You will all die. And your families will suffer. I will forget every face that leaves now." He turned to look at Varel. "Seneschal, have Packton and Guy replied to my missive yet?"
"Er... no, Commander."
"Have their warehouses seized. Tell Constable Aidan to start distributing the supplies to all the law abiding refugees in the camps by Amaranthine." Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the rioters start to trickle away.
"And if Packton and Guy object?"
"They may bring a petition and be reimbursed for their losses, provided they do so in person." He saw Nathaniel try to hide a smile. He remained facing Varel for another count of ten, and then turned back around to see an empty courtyard.
Garavel was shaking his head. "I don't know how you did that. Men, stand down. I'll be in the keep."
Jerath sighed. "Varel, this is Velanna. She wishes to undertake the Joining."
#
Anders was tending to Keenan when Jerath entered the infirmary. "Report."
The mage sighed. "I saved his right leg, Commander. But I fear his left one was too far gone."
"I am amazed you could do as much as you did," Keenan replied. "Thank you."
"Anders, would you excuse us?"
The mage nodded and left.
Kenaan sighed, and looked down at where his leg ended just below the knee. "I fear I won't be joining you in the field, Commander."
Jerath set the packet of encoded documents down next to him. "Then you'll have time to translate these."
Keenan paled slightly. "Commander, I..." He shook his head. "Please see this from our perspective. You are barely more than a child. You killed an archdemon, and survived."
"What were your orders?"
Keenan sighed. "Renaud was to find an excuse to relieve you from duty and have you sent to Weisshaupt. We wished to know the truth of what happened."
"Is that all?"
"It was the overt reason, Commander. What happened in Ferelden, before and after the Blight, it is unprecedented. The Wardens went from exile to ruling a city in a generation. Two Wardens rule a kingdom." Keenan shook his head. "We did not believe the stories of you were true."
"And now?"
"I... I suppose I've seen you fight."
"Kristoff questioned your orders."
Keenan nodded. "He told you, then."
"We've yet to locate him."
"Oh." Keenan sighed. "He and Renaud argued. Kristoff started staying in the city after that."
"You said your wife is in Amaranthine? We will head up in the morning, and bring her back here."
#
He told Voldrik where to find the black granite, and sent soldiers to help retrieve it. The dwarf promised to work fast. He stopped in to see Dworkin, and was pleased to see work progressing on several small trebuchets. "Ah, Commander," Dworkin said. "Sigrun had an excellent suggestion."
"Oh?"
"Well, you know those fire bombs that the alchemists like to make?"
Jerath raised an eyebrow, then looked at the trebuchets and smiled. "How much gold do you need?"
"Dozen sovereigns should do."
"Here's twenty. And I found you more lyrium sand."
"Ah, come see what I've made with the stuff you brought me earlier."
#
He found Sigrun moping. It was a very odd expression on her face. She nodded when he approached. "I didn't think I'd ever see Mischa again. After all, she's exiled, and I'm in the Legion." She sighed. "Maybe the ancestors thought it would be funny to see me get yelled at on the street."
"She was too hard on you."
"No, she wasn't. It's all true." She leaned forward on the railing. "Mischa caught me stealing a leg of nug once, and instead of telling the shopkeeper, she... paid for it. She said the casteless turn to crime because we have no options. If she could help one casteless girl..." She rested her chin on the rail. "But I proved that I'm scum, just as they always said."
"You're not the person you used to be." None of them were. Sometimes he marveled that it was only a year and a half ago that Duncan had taken him from the alienage.
"The Legion changes people. Some change for the better, others for the worse, but all of us change. I know now, having lost many friends that friendship isn't something to be squandered." She brightened. "Perhaps I could make amends. Mischa said something about working for a tanner? I could visit, just to talk."
"We are heading back to Amaranthine soon."
"Thank you."
#
"Commander, we have a small situation."
"Yes, Varel?"
"There is a man here to see you. He arrived just a few minutes ago and frankly I'm not sure..."
"Who, Varel?"
"Er... Loghain, Commander."
"About time."
Varel blinked. "Ser?"
"He's a Warden, Varel. Same as the rest of us."
"I see. I had Garavel escort him to your office."
"Thank you."
#
"Ah. There you are." Loghain smiled. "Leadership looks good on you, I think."
"It's starting to grow on me," Jerath said.
"I came to pay my respects before I leave Ferelden. I trust everything is going well?"
"Wait, what do you mean, 'leave Ferelden'?"
"I received orders from Weisshaupt. I have been commanded to join the Wardens in Montsimmard. Apparently I am not trusted to remain in Ferelden. I will interfere, I am told." He shook his head. "Perhaps they are right. Still, to send me to Orlais? I thought darkspawn blood would be the last poison I'd have to swallow."
"You're not going to Orlais.
"My orders were..."
"Show me."
He looked over the parchment Loghain handed him, eyes narrow. "You're defying orders just stopping by here. They wanted you to take ship in Gwaren."
"Yes, well, I did not want to leave without saying goodbye."
"You aren't leaving."
"Commander..."
"That's right, I'm the bloody Commander of the bloody Grey, and I'm the bloody Arl of this gigantic mess. I've got kidnapped wardens, talking darkspawn, a war between darkspawn factions, new types of darkspawn, darkspawn trying to start wars between elves and humans, and an arling that would be on the brink of disaster without any darkspawn around at all." Jerath shook his head. "So why in the bloody hell are they trying to reassign my general to..." He shook his head and started laughing.
"I take it you think there is something more to this order."
"Oh, I know there is. I was supposed to arrive here, be promptly demoted by my second in command, and sent on my merry way to Weisshaupt. Naturally they'd have to get the only other Ferelden Senior Warden out of the way." He leaned on the desk. "I imagine there are probably already some reinforcements coming. Older men, solid, ready to take over where my youthful inexperience has failed."
Loghain nodded. "Giving them a great deal of political authority in a land that practically worships Wardens."
"And a land that has two Wardens on the throne."
"Ferelden isn't going to stand still for another coup, not after..." He sighed. "But they can lay considerable groundwork, especially if there is a continued darkspawn threat. Talking darkspawn?"
"Yes."
"There..." Loghain folded his arms. "You know it was Maric that allowed Gray Wardens back in Ferelden, yes?" He waited for Jerath's nod before asking, "do you know why?"
"Given Cailan, I assumed it was because wardens are big damn heroes."
Loghain shook his head. "During the rebellion, Maric and I found ourselves in the deep roads, where we inadvertently located Ortan Thaig. A group of wardens, one that included Duncan, came to Maric asking if I would go with them to show them the location. I refused... and Maric snuck off to escort them himself."
"As king?" Jerath asked.
"This was shortly after the death of Rowan," Loghain said softly. "The king was... not in a good place. I believe, on some level, he was suicidal. In the deep roads, they encountered a talking darkspawn. It called itself..."
Jerath's eyes widened. "The Architect."
"So it is the same being." Loghain nodded. "It apparently claimed it wanted to put an end to all future blights, and some of the wardens allied with it. It turned out some Orlesian mages were conspiring with and using the creature in an attempt to destroy Ferelden. We managed to rescue the king and what few of the wardens survived."
"Darkspawn and an Orlesian plot. That..." Jerath shook his head. "No wonder you were suspicious of the Orlesian Wardens." He sighed. "You aren't going to Orlais."
"The orders came from Weisshaupt."
"Hang Weisshaupt." He growled. "How much is them wanting you out of the way, and how much is them not wanting you and I to be having this very conversation?"
"Considering getting rid of me should be an easy task for them, I imagine it's the latter. But Jerath..."
Jerath sighed. "This may have escaped your notice, Loghain, but I'm an elf. I'm sixteen. And I'm in command." He chuckled. "I need you here. We've got recruits coming into join the soldiers of the Vigil, and what few veterans we have served under you. You are a general, Loghain. And I need an army."
"And what are we going to do about this plot?" Loghain asked.
"That's easy enough. All I have to do is win," Jerath said.
"Oh, good. As long as you have a plan."
"Now, what else did Maric tell you about the Architect?"
Loghain told him the tale. Jerath asked only a few questions, then gave Loghain a curious look. "So you knew Alistair was Maric's son. If you suspected Fiona, an elf, was his mother..."
Loghain sighed. "It was known that Maric had a bastard," he admitted. "I thought letting it be known the bastard's mother was an elf would further dishonor Rowan's memory." He looked at the elf across from him. Jerath sighed and nodded as Loghain continued, "and by the time I realized the deck had stacked far enough against me that I would be willing to risk that to discredit the man, I thought all I had to do was cut the head off this..." he shook his head. "Upstart elven child with the temerity to face me without even bothering to draw his weapons. I thought I'd won at that point, with the dwarf and Alistair not willing to stand against me."
"You thought they were sacrificing me to cut their losses?"
Loghain nodded. "It would have been a sound strategy on their parts. They'd both live to fight again, with enough support in the nobility that I'd have to take them seriously. I would have only killed an elf, after all, surely I wasn't going to count that as a real victory..." he sighed. "Forgive me."
"I cut you to ribbons in front of the entire Landsmeet without you landing a single hit," Jerath said wryly. "I'll count us even on that matter."
"I may not be an asset to you," Loghain pointed out. "Given the mess I made in Ferelden."
Jerath chuckled. "In the halls of the nobility, you are an idiot. But on the battlefield, Loghain... Saitada said once that she'd studied some of your tactics in Orzammar. I don't need a diplomat, Loghain. I need a general. I need your military experience. I can't ask Weisshaupt to send me a trainer, not without giving them a reason to remove me from command. They'll assume you are my trophy, and it may be best to let them think just that. The two of us will know better. I need you to teach me how to build and lead an army."
Loghain smiled. "That, Commander, I can certainly do."
#
There were some stares when he followed Jerath down to the dining hall. Varel had a particularly baleful one. The other wardens were already beginning to sit down to the meal. "Our latest Warden finally arrived," Jerath said, nodding to them as he entered. "Everyone, this is Warden Loghain Mac Tir." The Warden in mage robes actually dropped his fork. Jerath continued, "Loghain, this is Anders, Velanna, Sigrun, Nathaniel, Keenan, and you already know Oghren."
Oghren belched. Loghain nodded. "I do. Pleasure to meet you all." He gave the man at Jerath's left a second look. "Nathaniel Howe?"
"Yes." Several expressions crossed the man's face before he settled on dour.
"I see." He seated himself at the table. "Repairs on the Vigil seem to be going well."
"Voldrik does good work. We will be heading back out into the field. I'm going to want you to remain here, start running our new recruits through drills. I want them all to know which end of a sword to hold by the time we get back from Amaranthine."
"So, er, Loghain..."
"Yes?"
"I have a question," Sigrun asked.
"Go ahead."
"Did you and the commander really drown an ogre in a vat of molasses?"
Loghain sighed. "Technically, we drowned it in a basement." He smiled. "With a vat of molasses."
#
Anders saw the Commander heading for the stairs, and walked towards him. "May I point out that you're all right?"
He blinked. "Go ahead."
"You're all right." Anders smiled. "Really, when the templars came for me, you could have decided I wasn't worth the trouble." He gestured. "But I apparently am worth the trouble. Considering I'm usually a lot of trouble, I should be grateful."
"I'm glad to have you around."
"And I'm glad to be around," Anders replied. He gave Jerath a flirtatious smile. "When you recruited me, I thought I was jumping from the frying pan into the fire. But being a Warden is almost tolerable. It's a pleasant stroll through the park - with darkspawn!"
"So glad I could make it happen for you."
"You're a giver. I'm very grateful." He gave the elf an appreciative glance. He really was very pretty, with those forest green eyes set off by dark hair. "I thought it was worth mentioning. Thank you, Comamnder. For everything."
Jerath nodded. "You're welcome." He walked away.
Pretty. And completely oblivious. Ah well, it had been worth a try.
#
"Have I ever told you that I find tattoos on women incredibly attractive?"
"Have I ever told you that I find most humans physically and morally repulsive?"
"Good to know!"
Jerath sighed. Velanna wasn't making much effort to get along with her new companions. But then, Anders did seem to be going out of his way to annoy her.
Sigrun fell into step next to him. "It's much easier fighting darkspawn on the surface." She gestured. "On a clear day, you can see for leagues. I once heard about a contraption known as a... hmm, a spyglass, I think it is called?" She shielded her eyes with her hand. "My friend Varlan said they let you see distant enemies as though they were right beside you." She grinned at him. "Is that true? It sounds like magic."
"It's true. I think it's a qunari invention."
She looked up at the sky as she walked. "Then they must be the cleverest people in Thedas." She stretched her arms, and then looked back at the road ahead of her. "In the Deep Roads, the darkspawn can appear from nowhere. A spyglass sounds the very opposite." She bent, scooped up a handful of dirt, and sniffed at it. "Someday, while I'm on the surface, I would like to look through one."
After a moment, she walked ahead again, stopping to pick a flower and stick it behind her ear. Velanna glanced at her. "I swear I saw you pick up a handful of dirt and sniff it back there!"
"I didn't," she lied cheerfully.
"You did! I saw you."
Sigrun sighed. "Fine. But it smells good, like falling leaves and sunlight. Aren't elves supposed to be close to nature?"
"Figuratively! We don't stuff our noses in it!"
Sigrun rolled her eyes, and then walked up to join Nathaniel. "Cheer up; no one loves a grump."
Nathaniel glanced down at her. "For a dead woman you're remarkably perky."
"I could be less perky if you like. 'The darkness of the Deep Roads is seeped into my soul. The world is dead, my heart is black. Alas. Woe. Woe!'"
"Let's stick to perky."
Jerath just shook his head, and kept walking.
#
"It's a Dalish! Nella, come see!"
"Ooh, she's very stern, isn't she?" The other elf turned towards her friend. "What's she doing here, do you think?"
And there Velanna went. "I'm right here, you slack-jawed oafs! At least have the courtesy to speak when I pass by."
"Oh... w-we're sorry, great lady. We didn't mean to offend."
"You two should have chosen your words more carefully," Jerath said, trying to forestall more yelling from Velanna.
"Yes, we are very, very sorry."
Velanna shook her head. "Look how they cower. They're like frightened animals. The sight of them sickens me."
First it offended her, and then she did the same thing. "Do I make you sick, too?"
She turned to him and blinked. "You... have proven different. You did not run in fear when I threatened you." She gestured back at the other elves. "Who will stand up for them, or respect them, if they allow themselves to be terrified by passerby?"
He'd seen alienage elves armed with shovels and rocks stand against a horde. "You're a particularly scary passerby."
She scoffed. "It makes no difference. Human, Dalish, dwarf - no one should be able to tell them their place." She turned back to the elves. "You two. A Dalish amulet, carved from the heart of a tree as old as this world. Remember who you are."
#
Keenan had been abducted by darkspawn, lost a leg, was trapped at Vigil's Keep under the watchful eye of Loghain Mac Tir, and his wife was cheating on him. He should be the Grey Warden recruitment officer. Jerath sighed, and started walking towards the door of the inn. Sigrun entered just as he was leaving, and walked up to Mischa.
"You? Going to get me kicked out of Amaranthine, too?"
Sigrun inhaled, and then squared her shoulders. "I know that n-nothing I say will make things better, so I... want to give you this."
"A ring? What is this, a proposal? You're not my type." Mischa threw the words at Sigrun.
"It... it'll fetch a fair price, even on the surface. T-to help you rebuild your life."
Mischa turned the ring over in her hands. "This looks like the crest of House Vollney. Stole this off a noble, did you?"
Varlan's ring. Probably Sigrun's most prized possession. Jerath put a hand on Sigrun's shoulder. "Keep the ring. I'll give Mischa some gold."
"How much are we talking? I reckon this thing's worth at least twenty sovereigns."
It was probably worth about three. But it mattered to Sigrun. "Then take thirty."
Mischa's eyes nearly fell out of her head. She took the coins. "You've a true friend here, Sigrun. Try not to ruin it. And here's your ring - it must be important to you."
"It is. Thank you, Mischa."
"This will... go a long way. I could start another business. You've done right, Sigrun."
Sigrun made a happy grunting noise. She waited until Mischa walked away. "You didn't have to do that, Commander."
"Invest in a new business opportunity? I am Arl, as Varel keeps reminding me."
She shook her head. "Thank you."
#
They dealt with some smugglers for Constable Aidan. Amaranthine was still undermanned. Once Loghain pronounced the recruits ready, he'd have them stationed here. Saitada would likely be lecturing him on how chasing smugglers through town was beneath the dignity of an Arl.
He saw Velanna examining a tree, and walked over to collect her. "This is a beautiful tree," she said. "I did not expect to find one strong and thriving in a shemlen town."
"Nature always finds a way."
"Nature does, indeed." Her voice took on a lecturing tone. "You may not recognize, but this is a dahl'amythal - the tree of Mythal. Our keepers' staves are cut from its like." She sighed. "Our keeper, Ilshae, had such a staff cut for me, for when I would take on her role."
"So you were never given your staff?"
"Clearly not, and besides, why do you care?" She waved a dismissive hand at him. "Ah, enough of this. I wish to move on."
He couldn't believe he was actually starting to miss Brehan. Mervis was waiting for them. He stood when he saw them approach. "You're back! Have you any news?"
"I've dealt with your problem. The killings should stop now."
"Really? Oh, that's wonderful news!" He smiled broadly. "I hope the culprits have been brought to justice."
Jerath didn't look at Velanna. "They have. In a sense."
"I promised a donation, didn't I? Here... take this, with the Merchants' Guild's compliments."
He closed Mervis's hand back over the pouch. "Keep it. Do something for the families of the slain."
"You are... very kind, Commander. I shall do as you ask. Maker smile on you always."
Velanna gave him the strangest look. It felt like her eyes were boring into the back of his skull. And yet, surprisingly, she actually seemed pleased.
#
"Nathaniel."
"Loghain."
Loghain set aside the report he'd been examining. The Warden had asked to be trained, but he actually had matters surprisingly well in hand. The soldiers were a bit more spread out than he'd like, but more were joining daily. "What can I do for you?"
"You're a Warden."
"As, it seems, are you." Jerath had said he'd found Nathaniel in a cell after the man had arrived at the Vigil to kill him.
"Forgive me if I'm a bit confused about..." Nathaniel shook his head. "Everything." He took a seat, and then stared at Loghain. "Why did he conscript you?"
"I've asked him the same question. Perhaps someday he'll give me the entire answer." He leaned back in his chair. "Why did he conscript you?"
"He said it's up to me to redeem my family name." Nathaniel shook his head. "I... you and my father..."
"Do you wish me to say I led your father to do what he did?" Loghain sighed. "I almost wish I could soothe your conscience and say yes. But in truth, all I did for your father was provide free rein and a blind eye." Howe was the club they'd beaten him with at the Landsmeet. He shook his head. "A grave mistake among many."
"And now we are both following the man that killed my father."
Loghain raised an eyebrow. According to Jerath, Cathiel Cousland had killed Rendon Howe. Then again, Jerath had been the one that led her into the manor to do so. "We are following the Warden Commander. A man I've come to respect a great deal."
Nathaniel smiled. "As much as it surprises me, so have I." He stood. "I... shouldn't take up any more of your time."
#
"I owe you an apology."
"No need, it's fine."
Nathaniel shook his head. "There is a need. It's not fine." He sighed. "When I returned from the Free Marches, I was certain my family was destroyed for being on the wrong side of the war. But my father did it to himself. No conspiracies, just one stupid, selfish man. I should have known better." Loghain, at least, had good intentions. The more he learned about his father...
"How could you have known?"
"I should have dug deeper - before I acted." He folded his arms. "I was an idiot, and like a child I blamed you and the Wardens." He looked at the young elf. "And here you've even proven to be a friend, of sorts. Or am I reading that wrong, too?"
"No. I'd like to be friends."
"Good." It occurred to him he hadn't actually had a real friend in years. "You know, when you conscripted me, I would not have thought I'd end up liking it." If he recalled correctly, he'd actually demanded the man hang him instead.
"Ah, that reminds me," Jerath said. He went to the side table, and picked up a bow.
Nathaniel blinked, and took it from him. "Is this what I think it is?" He turned it over in his hands. "It is! That's the Howe crest burned into the wood right there. This is my grandfather's bow." He examined it. The string had been a loss a decade ago, but that was easy enough to fix. It was otherwise in surprisingly good condition. "Or, rather, my grandfather was the last to use it. It was originally made for an ancestor during the Exalted Marches."
"This is the grandfather who was a Grey Warden?"
"That's the one, yes." He smiled. "I remember finding it before Father sent me to the Free Marches. A shame for it to sit in storage. Thank you. It's good to have a part of my family's legacy again, something to be proud of."
#
Sigrun ran off to play with her new spyglass, nearly knocking Mistress Woolsey down. The woman narrowed her eyes, and headed towards him. "Did you authorize funds for outfitting a new military force?"
"Yes."
"Young man, I thought it was made clear to you that all such expenditures are to come through me."
He'd ruffled some feathers. "No, you made it clear that all such expenditures that use Weisshaupt funds are to come through you."
She narrowed her eyes. "What do you mean?"
"I mean that I am not without resources of my own. You are welcome to control everything in that lockbox Weisshaupt sent with you. Frankly, you are welcome to take said lockbox, and shove it up your ass."
"Young man..."
"My title, Mistress Woolsey, is Commander of the Grey. You may address me as Warden Commander or Arl Tabris."
"Warden Commander..."
"Additionally, you will be providing a full copy of your accounts to both myself and Seneschal Varel for review, along with a copy of all accompanying correspondence."
"I'm not authorized to..."
"Mistress Woolsey, I am Warden Commander of Ferelden. I am the Arl of Amaranthine. If you wish to work for Weisshaupt, I suggest you get on a ship and head back to the Anderfels."
She stared at him. He stared back levelly. And she lowered her eyes. "I will have the full report for you by morning, Commander."
"Thank you, Mistress Woolsey."
#
"What's that?"
"Dworkin's latest invention." Anders immediately jumped backwards and ducked. Jerath blinked, and then laughed. "Relax. It's just a container. No explosives inside."
"Oh." He came over and sat down at the table. "What's interesting about it?"
Jerath pushed it towards him. "It's metal, for starters, instead of glass. I was wondering if it would take a rune."
"What do you mean?"
"Like on the weapons. The additional enchantment that provides fire, or lightning."
Anders blinked, then looked down at the small metal globe. "I... what would be the point?"
"A bigger boom. He uses lyrium in the production of the explosive. Would it react with the enchantment?"
"Well... I..." Anders picked up the globe, turning it over in his hands. "Probably." He ran the scenario through in his mind, then nodded. "Actually, almost certainly. But there would be a problem."
"What kind of problem?"
"Getting far enough away from it in time." Anders shrugged. "You'd need a fuse of some kind, and you wouldn't be able to use it with the trebuchets without disrupting the very interaction you were counting on."
"Ah. Good point."
"Commander?"
"Yes?"
"You aren't, well, considering marching a whole bunch of these into the deep roads and well, eliminating the deep roads, are you?" Anders shook his head. "I mean, not that I'm necessarily opposed to the idea of the deep roads going away."
Jerath shrugged. "It's not a bad plan." He took the globe back. "Think you could make me a couple runes to play with?"
"And go down in history as the man who blew up the Warden Commander?"
#
"Why did you even want to be a Grey Warden? You thought it would make for great drinking stories?" Anders said, glaring at Oghren.
"I can't believe you survived the Joining." Oghren glared right back.
"You got drunk and made a bet, didn't you?"
"I bet you I could crush your tiny human skull."
"I bet I could drink you under the table."
"You're on!"
Jerath watched them head towards the dining hall and sighed.
"That's not going to end well, is it?" Nathaniel asked.
"Sigrun?"
"Yes, Commander?"
"I have orders for you."
"Right away!"
"After those two pass out, see they are sufficiently humiliated."
She grinned. "You're the best, ser."
