Chapter 31

Araya

Duncan starts to lead us further into Ostagar, "What the king said is true. They've won several battles against the darkspawn here." I could sense his doubt.

Nienna spoke up, "Yet you don't sound very reassured." She sensed the same doubt as I did it seems.

"I know there is an archdemon behind this. But I cannot ask the king to act solely on my feeling." Duncan is right, we must think and hold patience before we act.

I spoke up, "Then maybe we should move quickly."

"Yes, we should proceed with the ritual." What ritual?

"What do you need us to do?" Nienna asked this, seeming to know as much as I know

"Feel free to explore the camp here as you wish. All I ask is that you do not leave it for the time being. Your hound can stay with me for the time being." I nod, looking to see how Aseir would react. Aseir looked to me as he barked happily, seeming to not mind Duncan's company.

"The Grey Warden tent is on the other side of this bridge. You will find us there, should you need to." I nod to Duncan and then I look to Nienna.

"Is there anything you need to get done right now?"

"Well, I would like to see if there are any sets of throwing knives to buy. More bandages as well, I can get more elfroot from foraging." She listed off, seeming to use her fingers to keep track. "Oh, and some quills and writing materials. I want to try and get a letter to go home if possible, if need be I'll just take a couple pages from my journal for paper."

"I'm sure that we will be able to find what we need with the quartermaster. I may even be able to get some better armor. My armor seems to have gotten damaged during the fighting." I look at Nienna as she seems to be pouting. "I could also probably convince the quartermaster, with enough coin, to adjust some armor for you… though it will take some time."

"I would like some better armor, though what I have does probably have a bit longer so I can wait and continue to use this." She said, smiling a bit at what I had said. "Oh! Boots! They might have a nice pair that's small enough. These ones are already getting worn through."

"All right then, off we go to the quartermaster."

We head through the camp seeing all kinds of people, from mages to the King's soldiers. We headed over to the quartermaster and I was able to get more sturdy armor and a better short sword then the one I possessed already. Nienna got her supplies and I was able to convince him to modify some leather armor for her, but it didn't come cheap.

As we walk away, I vent my frustration. "Five sovereign?! The work is not that difficult... " I sigh, "But it was necessary."

"Knowing how merchants work, he figured since it was a necessity we would pay whatever price he named. Bloody bastard. Though I am surprised you got him to go that low." Nienna shifted a bit on her feet. "The new boots were not as expensive as I thought either. Hopefully they last a while."

"If he is a quartermaster for the King's armies they will last for a while." I turn and see a man trying, unsuccessfully, to bed one of the female soldiers. "That man over there," I point to him, "Seems to fit the description of Daveth, don't you think."

She looked over at the man, before frowning. "When Duncan said Daveth I didn't know he meant that Daveth. He's a cutpurse, not a very good one either. At least I got away without having wanted posters or guards looking for me."

I raise an eyebrow to her, "Well from what I can hear of the conversation he is having, he is not good at staying his tongue either."

"Oh how shocking, she walked away. And from a man with such a way with words." Her voice was dripping with sarcasm, before she started laughing. I laughed as well.

I straightened myself, "Shall we go introduce ourselves to Cassanova over there?"

"Might as well, especially if we'll be stuck with him for the foreseeable future." She said, regaining her composure but still smirking slightly.

We walked over to him and he already seemed to know who we were, "Well, you two aren't what I thought you'd be."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Nienna asked him, obviously prepared for any insults or comments he would make.

"Oh me and ser knight were just betting on what the final two recruits would be. Not two women, and one being an elf no less. Yet here you are."

I put an arm in front of Nienna, worried she might attack him with more than words. "I would advise you to learn to stay your tongue, our my friend might relieve you of it."

"Though I may relieve you of more than just your tongue if you would like to press your luck further." She glared at him, but stayed where she was.

"Oh, I didn't mean anything like that. Let's start over." He said, obviously not wanting to test if Nienna's threat was more than words. "The name's Daveth. It's about bloody time you two came along. I was beginning to think they cooked this ritual up just for our benefit."

"What do you know about this ritual?" I had to admit, I was curious of what it might be.

"I happened to be sneaking around camp last night, see, and I heard a couple of Grey Wardens talking. So I listen in for a bit. I'm thinking they plan to send us into the wilds." He seemed to be concerned with getting sent into the Wilds.

"Maybe they will. We'll see." Nienna chimed in, seeming to enjoy playing into his fears a bit.

"It's all too secretive for me." Daventh's nose twitches, "Makes my nose twitch. I guess we'll have to wait and see, like we have a choice."

"They're forcing you to be here?" I know that Nienna was Conscripted and that makes sense. But Conscripting a cutpurse, the bar seems a little low on that one.

"I got nowhere else to go after what Duncan saved me from. Anyway, I expect it's time to get back to Duncan. That's where I'll be, if you need me for anything." He waved at the two of us before walking away, heading towards the Grey Warden tents.

"Maybe we should look for the other recruit, though I hope he is not as bad as him."

"If he is, we can just ignore them and if the need arises, use them as improvised shields. Then they would be good for something."

I chuckle at her statement, and we continue on walking through the camps. Eventually we came across a familiar face. I groan, "Well I'm going to say that it is going to end up being the improvised shield plan."

She looked towards Jory. "Why? What did he do? Please don't tell me he's an imbecile like Daveth is."

I think for a second, "Not an imbecile like Daventh, but still an imbecile. I doubt he remembers who I am. A few months ago he won the Grand Tourney in Highever."

"You didn't beat him yourself?" She asked me. "If he's an imbecile I doubt he is better at wielding a sword then you."

"I was not allowed to participate."

"That makes sense. How terrible is he? I'm asking so I can mentally prepare for the brain killing conversation that might follow."

"Although this isn't from my experience, I heard he tends to act all high and mighty."

She groaned at hearing this. "Oh no… this isn't going to be fun is it. We should get this over with."

Jory saw us walking toward him, "Greetings. You must be the other recruits we've heard about?"

"Yes. I am Araya, and this is Nienna."

"Ser Jory is my name. I hail from Redcliffe, where I served as knight under the command of Arl Eamon." He seemed to talk himself up, as if trying to brag in a modest way. "I was not aware they permitted women to join the Grey Wardens. None of those I've seen thus far have been."

"I am a warrior, just as you are." I need to resist the urge to stab him.

"Are you that much of an idiot? The legends all start with how the Grey Wardens accept everyone into their ranks, male or females of any race." Nienna muttered under her breath, only loud enough for me to hear while managing to keep her face neutral.

"You obviously impressed Duncan, and that's enough for me. I hope we're all lucky enough to eventually join the Wardens. Is it not thrilling to be given that chance?" There seemed to be some excitement in his words.

I responded curtly, "Yes I'm looking forward to it."

"I fought hard to get here. Impressing Duncan was not easy. Tell me, has anyone told you what this Joining ritual entails?" Why does he think I would know anymore than him?

"It's all a big secret apparently."

"I never heard of such a ritual. I had no idea there were more tests after being recruited. I suppose since you're finally here I'd best get back to Duncan. I shall see you there." He nods to both of us and walks away, presumably to join Daventh as they wait.

I groan, "He is quite the annoying one isn't he?"

"Very… how can one pretend to be so humble yet brag so much?" She sighed. "If this Alistair person is just as bad as these two I'm going to start thinking that it might have been better to be hanged."

I chuckle, "Well I hope that is not the case… Though I do wonder exactly how those two caught Duncan's eye for being good recruits."

"We may never know or understand. Let's go find this Alistair person and get this ritual over with."