Patrick, Lou, Lila, Sam, Sam's family and Shannon's Father stayed behind. Doreen insisted on that someone stronger stayed behind. Omar told her that they were going to be fine as he cast his invisibility spell. Quinn cast a "protective barrier" as well and supported Omar's claim. She seemed so worried about the baby. It wasn't that Juli wanted harm for Lila, but Doreen in particular seemed to care so much for the toddler. Almost as much as Shannon.

They rode the horses that the Templars left behind. Juli rode behind Omar as the keeper flawlessly galloped through. How much more did the mage learn from his days at the Circle of Magi?

Doreen was behind Quinn on another horse. Quinn too, had no problem riding the horse.

Erick had difficulties riding his horse as it knocked him down every time. After several futile attempts at riding the white mount, Theresa gave it a try and the beast seemed to like its new rider. Theodore and Erick were behind Theresa, as the woman galloped fearlessly through the green landscape, which Juli didn't know why, but the path felt quite familiar. Had it been the first time Theresa rode a horse? If it was, she was somehow being successful at it.

The wardens had not trouble at all with the horses. Juli found it quite ironic that Eva rode with Tailor behind hugging her waist as, he'd assumed, the two did not get along well since he'd witnessed their quarrel. However, they were on the horse together. Eva's long white-streaked hair was all over Tailor's face as it was flapped backward by the wind.

Marcus rode with Gyles and Shannon. The new warden was at the front of the four other horses. His style of riding was that of a professional. The way his horse went faster and more balanced than the others, told Juli that he had done this many times. It made sense; he used to be a Templar. The Chantry gave them unimaginable resources to hunt down mages. And at times, to kill them. Was the man really rectifying his mistakes? All the murder and who knows what else, was a human really capable of such redemption? Regardless of whether the man was being genuine or not, they had to trust him. He was the only one that knew the whereabouts of this witch that was "training intelligent darkspawn." He was the only one who knew where Mother was. Juli had to trust Marcus.

—

The wardens insisted that they made a quick stop at a hamlet. They were rather surprised when they found what was left of it. Corpse, debris and charred huts, that's all they found. Whatever happened here was recent, as the black thick smoke still smoldered from some huts. They frantically searched for any survivors, there were none. Eva managed to find a human girl that still had her limbs. However, Theodore, the healer, couldn't save her as it was too late. They assumed she had asphyxiated as her face was coated black with smoke.

Evan knelt next to the diseased girl, "Her mom cooked us a meal." Her voice was croaky. "They let us stay in their homes."

Gyles, and Tailor shared glances, they understood Eva's pain.

"For the Maker, I swear those bastards will pay." Her voice was the threatening hiss of a snake.

Juli didn't know how to react. He didn't know the girl. He didn't know the people that lived here. However, he understood part of Eva's pain. He had lost Father and Uncle. Loosing someone you love is like loosing a part of you. Father took away with him Juli's love for hunting. Uncle's took away many truths that Juli wanted to hear. Juli wondered what this girl took away from Eva. A part of her soul, perhaps? Whatever it was, it fostered a great deal of pain inside of her. The warden kept staring at the body as it laid on the ground. A pale girl wearing a type of clothing Juli had never seen before. She wore tight green trousers. And a blouse without sleeves. Her hair was long and gilded like Erick's. It's not fair, Juli thought, that this keeps happening. Even if she is a human, and they, in general, are not the advocates of "let's be nice to elves." His eyes slow glanced at Marcus. There is good people amongst them. And this girl looked about his age. She had a whole life ahead of her. Not fair.

He walked toward the woman that drowned in grief. "I know how you feel." Eva still didn't turn away from the girl. He went on, "I lost my Father when I was seven. He's a darkspawn now that kidnapped Mother." Juli couldn't believe that he could utter such words. As the sentence escaped his mouth, every syllable was a needle poking his throat. Trying to endure the pain, he put a hand on the woman's broad shoulder, "you should be glad that, hopefully, she's resting in peace. "

"Go back." The woman snapped.

Juli winced in confusion.

She brusquely rose to her feet, almost knocking Juli to the floor. She trudged towards Quinn. Her gait was that of a giant, careless of what's in her way. "This is madness." She demanded, "they're kids, and you want to use them as little soldiers?" Her tone was definitive.

"They have Mother." His voice was a whisper comparing it to that of Eva's.

"That's brave of you, young man." She turned, she didn't hide the steel on her face from Juli, "but these are darkspawn and demons we're facing here."

"I can manage darkspawn, you saw me back at the camp." He tried to level his tone to hers, however, all his twelve-year-old gorge allowed was a high-pitched plead.

"He can handle himself, Eva." Tailor spoke softly as he placed a hand on her shoulder.

"She was a mage," her black finger pointed sharply at the lifeless body of what used to be a girl, "and she couldn't handle herself. What makes you think that a Dalish boy with a 'magical how' can survive against the darkspawn?" Her tone hadn't lost any cadence, however, there was a hint of respect as she regarded the old warden.

The white bearded man gazed intensely at Eva. Their eyes spoke that earnest language that Juli had noticed between Shannon and Doreen.

"Fine." The sharp volume of her voice came back. "But you." Her gauntleted finger pointed accusingly at Doreen and Juli. "You two, snatch your people out of there, and go back to your camp. Leave the darkspawn to us. It is our job to fight the foul darkspawn, not yours." Her fiery eyes came back to the lifeless girl, "I won't lose anyone else."

There was no arguing. They all nodded. Her word was final.