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10. Excursion
"This is the Cafeteria. We call it Bucky's Place because 'The Cafeteria' is really boring." She opened the door and led them into the dark interior of the Cafeteria.
Alistair looked around, smelling food and noticing a number of tables in rows. It must be a place for eating in a group. He noticed that only one of the tables had people at it, a group of men chatting together with the easy camaraderie of long acquaintance. A pang ran through him as he once more was reminded of all that Loghain had cost him.
"You can get whatever you want to eat here," Sherry told them. "I'm going to check on the Watch, and I'll be right back. Sit wherever you like."
"Thank you," Alistair said as he moved to stand behind the two men already walking down the line and being served by people standing behind a metal shield and counter. He relayed the information to Callbrith as Sherry quickly explained how the system worked.
A few minutes passed as he chose food, then the line halted as the man in front of him waited for his meat to be cooked on some sort of griddle.
"I'm Jesse," the man told him. "Haven't seen you guys around here. But you came in with Sherry, so you must be alright. Come have a seat with us," he said as he took the plate held up over the metal shelf.
Uncomfortable, Alistair walked over to the table with Callbrith. They sat down beside the men at the table, with Jesse welcoming them. There were introductions, and Alistair was surprised to find that no one seemed to take any particular note either of his scars, nor of Callbrith's stature.
They ate in silence for a few moments, until Jesse asked, "So where are you from?"
"Ferelden," Alistair answered immediately.
"That Thedas?"
"Yes."
"Ain't seen anyone from Thedas with scars before," one of the other guys said. The man next to him elbowed him hard and he fell silent. "Sorry," he muttered, and said no more.
"I've been staying with Sherry while I recovered. I was badly burnt falling here."
"Should have known from the accent, though your English is the best I've heard so far," one of the others said. Alistair thought his name was Adam.
"Wait," Jesse said. "You've been staying in The Big House? With Sherry?"
Silence fell over the table, and the look Alistair had expected at the beginning was passed around the table as everyone stared at him.
"Yes. I was too injured to be moved."
"You look fine now," came the remark, though Alistair didn't see who said it. A couple of people snickered and Alistair felt pain flicker through him at their mockery.
"He must be 'fine' if he's staying at The Big House," someone else said, and everyone at the table laughed except Jesse.
"A hundred and fifty years, and she picks you?" Jesse said, his voice filled with surprise. He sat back and stared at Alistair. The table grew quiet. "I don't see what the big deal is. Why you?"
"She ain't a hundred and fifty years old," someone interjected. "That's just rumor and fantasy."
He fell silent as Jesse looked at him with a knowing, cool look.
Alistair felt stupid. "Picked me for what?"
Snickers flickered around the table. He wished he understood the nuances of English better. It was clear to him that he was missing something vital. What it was, though, was beyond him.
"Hey, mind if I join you?" Sherry's voice interrupted the tension at the table, breaking it like tinkling glass.
Jesse reached over and grabbed one of the lightweight chairs and placed it at the table. "We'd be delighted, Ma'am."
They ate quietly, the men chattering some amongst themselves about inconsequential things. Callbrith and Alistair returned three more times each to the line to get more food.
The third time, Sherry lifted a brow at Alistair's piled plate.
"Gray Wardens eat a lot." It was the only explanation he offered.
"If you'd told me you were still hungry, I would have prepared more food for you," she answered, her eyes twinkling.
He grinned back until he noticed everyone at the table silent and staring at him again. He ducked and went back to eating. Sherry gathered up her plate and utensils.
"I'm going to check the pastures today. When they're done, Jesse, can you have someone send them to the stables, please?" Then she stopped and turned to Alistair. "Can you ride?"
"Ride?"
"Horses. Can you ride horses?"
"No, I've never had opportunity. They're not all that normal on Thedas."
"'Common'. Not that common."
"Right."
"Well," she told him, "no time like now to learn."
She turned to walk away, but Jesse stopped her. "Why him?"
She looked at him for a long moment. Alistair squirmed uncomfortably, pushing too much food in his mouth in his nervousness. He was uncertain exactly what the undercurrents were that he was witnessing.
"The heart chooses, not the mind."
"That's a cop out," Jesse told her.
"So was the question you asked. What you really want to know is, 'Why not me'. But the answer is the same to both." She turned to walk away from the table and Jesse's hand fell away from her arm. She stopped and looked back. "That, and you're a slut, Jesse."
The table erupted in barely suppressed laughter, and Alistair felt a bit better. This time it was clear that they were laughing at Jesse instead of him.