Kanta48: The Maker is still looking out for Alistair. More about the hooded men coming.. soon. Rhiannon was two months shy of 18 birthday at beginning of Blight. Thank you for your comment and for favoriting the story. My Spanish speaking guest: may I have your name so I can thank you?

Darragh ignored Corff on his way up the stairs who grumbled about more dogs in the tavern. He passed Nora and requested a drink. He also informed her that he was having a vendor deliver food in a while. if she would bring up it when it came there would be additional coin.

"She wins again. How can you uphold the honor of the dwarves? If you are constantly allowing her to win," Hawke said tossing his cards on the pile of coins in the center of the table. His tone was gruff, but the grin said he was joking.

I snorted and chuckled which came out something like a sick braying donkey. I looked down and took a deep breath. I hadn't laughed like that in a while. Maybe I was too much at ease. I looked up and noticed Darragh had rejoined us brining Enid with him. I quirked an eyebrow and he shook his head. Meaning that he would tell me later.

"Actually, he stopped trying to let me win by the fifth game. I guess he finally figured out I didn't have any tells."

Varric sighed. He'd lost fifteen gold sovereigns tonight. Fenris lost five, which he would barrow from Hawke. Which would make Hawke's total losses twelve gold. Only Bethany fared better but that was because she'd bowed out early.

"I should have told you I played at least two hands every night for a year and a half. And for three months against a Noble Hunter. Well former Noble Hunter anyways."

"What is a noble hunter?" Bethany naively asked.

I could tell Fenris and Hawke had no idea. I looked at the dwarf in the room who was technically the person to explain it. And he looked as if he couldn't decide how to keep it polite. I figured since I brought it up, I should say especially since I didn't want to know how Alton would describe the profession.

"They are dwarven women who by human standards sell themselves to have a nobleman's child. Og says they wouldn't think of asking for payment, but he'd never seen one turn down a gift."

"Oh." Bethany said softly.

"It's all right Sunshine. It's a Noble profession, pun intended. The birth rate among the dwarves is declining and we need more babies to send off to fight the Darkspawn. Now Ona, where would you come across a Noble hunter to get this good?"

Chuckling I said, "you have met my escort, right? The Ash Warrior. Part time watch dog, full time dwarven taught berserker. Now no more questions unless it's about the refugees."

"I think a new game is in order," Fenris grumbled.

"Wicked Grace?"

I'd never heard of the game. "Alton, do you know it?"

He grinned.

"Any good?"

If his smile got any larger, he wouldn't have room for the rest of his face. "Good. Then you can play for us. It's not a game I was taught."

"Now that sounds like a fine idea," Varric agreed thrilled for the chance to get some of his coin back.

"Can we change something though?"

"You don't know the game, but you want to change the rules. If there was any doubt you were noble, then there is none now." Fenris sneered.

I looked at the other members in the room to see if his comment bothered them. No one even seemed to pay any attention to the bitterness in the elf's voice. I wasn't quite sure what put it there. Being a stranger, winning, or something I needed to find out about. "Actually… I wasn't suggesting changing the game rules. I don't know the rules to change it. I was talking about the wagering and payment for the game."

I had both Hawke's and Varric's attention. "Alton is going to play using my coin. If any of you guys win, you take the pot. If Alton wins however, I want information as payment."

Varric, Hawke and Fenris exchanged glances and shrugged. It worked out if there was a chance to get some of their gold back. Who were they to argue with someone who was willing to give away her gold? They were going to get the better end of the deal.

"Agreed."

"Fine."

"Wait Garret, that's not fair. You can't take advantage of her like that. She or her men get nothing out of that. Win or lose they get nothing. What if we all answer a question each round?"

I quirked and eyebrow and my lips turned downward as I flattened my face. Bethany hadn't been a reckless gambler. There had to be something, or she was just good at heart. "What is the catch?"

"The first to fold."

Question answered. She was one of those people who were simply good. Someone I stopped being long ago. I wondered if she might help me when they got back from the deep roads. It was obvious that she was a mage from the staff on her back. And the idea was a good one. Good enough I wanted to borrow it. "I like that. Can I take it back home with me?"

Alton who played games of chance regularly and with Oghren when the dwarf wasn't playing with me groaned and said, "Say no, please." He put his hands over his heart and gave her sad eyes for emphasis.

Bethany giggled and nodded her head. "I don't usually play. But the boys do. I don't think they'd mind."

"Good. Then for the first question. I was told the Ferelden people had to bribe their way into the city. Who made the profit on that?"

The answer came swiftly without anyone having to fold by three male voices simultaneously. "The Templars."

My jaw clenched. Fade take them. But I wasn't surprised at Templars taking advantage of people for their own gain.