Back, with a shorter chapter I wanted to do.

Scowling, I glance up at Nerd's stupid legs. I could bite his ankle, right now...

Honestly, what is going on with the Templars? 'We're the Mage Jail, unless they feel like leaving' First Wynne can just decide to follow us around, and now this jerk. When he said last night he'd just get permission from the Templars if Mistress didn't bring him, she should have socked him in the face and locked him in a chest or something. 'I read a book about magic mirrors, once' Fucking so what? I read a book about dragons, doesn't mean I can fart fire. And he's looking at me... yeah? You want to fight as well? Let's go. I'll knock you over and drag you across a thistle patch.

"Fetch!" Fetch? That's not going to happen, don't even try.

Ari looks over at him. "You can't just say fetch. You have to throw something, or say what he's meant to retrieve." Thank you, Ari.

"Why not?" he snorts in response. "I've heard of really smart Mabari, who run off and fetch things. Even cake." That was me, you pillock. I did that during the Blight. Nobody wanted it, for some reason. "I think this one's just broken."

I...

"Max" I faintly hear Mistress call, as the anger sets in.

I noticed, Mistress. You're leading us into the Bannorn, instead of west to Orzammar, so we can bury this idiot where he'll never be found.

"Max" she repeats. "Come here, I've got a biscuit." In a minute. I gotta murder someone real quick first.

Before I can decide how to pounce, Mistress appears and drags me off by the collar. "Max"

Don't use The Voice on me! You know he deserves it. She shoots me a glare, and drops some Mabari Crunch. "Can you at least wait until after we find the Eluvian?" she asks in a faint mutter. Huh... this is the good stuff, and not that stale shit we found in the Circle. Okay, just for you Mistress. Probably.

To remove the urge, I decide to wander off. I'll go find something awesome, show that fuckwit who's broken. And you're not getting any...

They're at a crossroad, when I catch up.

"That one goes to Orzammar, right?" Nerd points at the sign leading north. Wrong, shit-for-brains.

"This... is the wrong direction" Ari muses.

"I need to make a visit, first" Mistress announces. "Put it off for a while, but now I'm in the area, I should handle it." Darkspawn or Arling business?

They don't make any complaints, so we keep moving. I get beside Ari and whine to make her look down. Found you something.

I lean my head back, so she can take it. She holds it up, and gently wipes it off. "Oh, how thoughtful! It's very pretty... slobbery, but pretty."

Sorry about that, it still had morning dew on it. Lords do not slobber.

"Finn, see? He can fetch, he fetched me a flower."

See that, smartarse?! Don't get your hopes up, but. The only thing I'll bring you is pain.

"Hmpph... tell him to bring us a Morrigan, and save some time" I hear him mutter in response.

Listen, arsehole; you're the one who made us detour for your dumb mirror.

Civilisation, at last.. so where are we? Somewhere normal, I hope. Last time we tried to go visiting in the Bannorn, we found that dying guy and had to go back to Ostagar instead. Hopefully there's no dumb detours like that, today. Looking at you, Nerd.

"... Crestwood" Ned voices, reading another road-sign. "Nice scenery, I hear, but that's about it."

Are we dropping off rebuild money for the guy... Mayor Deadshit, wasn't it?

"I have to handle Warden formalities" Mistress responds, wearily. "You should purchase some proper boots while I do that."

Surprised he doesn't have blisters already.

Reaching the small town square, the scattered people give us the small-town stare. Yeah yeah, we're not from around here. Deal with it.

"... Is that The Warden?" someone finally realises.

"I'll go tell the mayor!"

A few people ran off, at that, so I guess they're telling everyone. And we're back on Mistress' Post-Blight Tour of listening to thanks and horror stories. Guess she didn't lie, when she told Furgus she felt like she had to make it to every town, eventually. With the crowd mostly scattered, we wander up a path to reach what must be the Blight memorial thing. It's just a big rock, with stuff written into it. I'm not reading all of that.

"Before I get crowded" Mistress begins, handing some money over to Nerd and Ari. "Find the shoemaker. Ariane, you're in charge of getting food."

"If they'll sell to an Elf and a Mage" Ari comments.

"Everyone saw us march in with the Hero" Nerd points out. "They won't just serve us, they'll stop from overcharging us." Wow... he actually made a good point. Who'd have thought?

After they leave, Mistress turns back to the rock and lowers her head. She mostly mutters some Chant stuff under her breath. Relaxing, she frowns and glances to make sure nobody's around.

"And if He ever suffered, it was me who did His crying... a little blasphemy as well, I guess, eh Max? Keeps the mood light."

Mistress, have all the blas you want. Some blas for you, some blas for me. Whatever the fuck blas is.

We're still standing there when the Mayor guy turns up. Hey, Mayor Deadshit.

"Warden-Arlessa! I wasn't expecting you" he greets, looking a little out of breath.

"My apologies. We were passing by, and I detoured on a whim" she salutes back. "I'm glad to see the repairs are going well."

"It's a start, thanks to the Queen. Buildings are easily replaced, at least."

Mistress studies his face for a moment. "That they are... I'm sorry I wasn't any help, during the Blight or after, but if you ever need to talk-"

The Mayor shakes his head. "I appreciate that, but you don't need to trade ghost stories with me. You probably have enough of your own... maybe some day."

An understanding seems to pass, unspoken, before Mistress shrugs. "As you wish, Dedrick. I wish you good fortune with everything."

"And you, Warden" he offers, skulking away.

… What was that about?

"Just a hunch, Max. A lot of people had to make bad choices, because we vanished during the Blight, but I'm pretty sure he had it worst. I don't know anymore..."

Ah... so that's why you detoured out here. Both of you need to accept the past... I say, as we go hunting down Morrie after all this time. Apparently I don't know either.

Smoothing out her hair, Mistress slides into a friendly face. "The local kids are probably waiting for us in the town square, so let's go mingle."

The old meet-and-greet, it is. Hopefully nobody yanks my tail today...

Actual game plot resumes next time - I took out a singing scene, might fit in somewhere else, but she got to quote one line.
Thanks to everyone for reading, Melysande for reviewing. Rock on.