Chapter Twelve
Candid
That night, in our room, Alistair was curled around me, "I… we… are married…"
"Don't." I said softly, "Don't feel like you have to because it's expected. I told you – I can wait. I will wait. I love you, Alistair – and no matter if we make that 'official' or not, that will never change. Take your time."
He relaxed, "Thank you – for… for understanding. I mean… I was raised in a chantry – I was taught not to take this sort of thing… lightly. And I mean, I wouldn't be – being with my wife and all…"
"Did you know that Pixies mate for life – they don't have soulmates, but they still mate for life. They have to choose their life-mate very carefully and they can't mate with other pixies if they want kids. The gene is a 50-50 chance and a union between pixies means sterility. They can spend up to 20 years just courting their chosen mate before taking that step – just to be sure." I babbled while buried in his arms.
He chuckled, "I do, you know – love you, I mean… I know that I'm a lucky man to find a woman so understanding about this. But I'm not a pixie. Just… I want to wait for the right time… I want it to be… perfect."
I chuckled, "Well, if you want, I can set up something romantic… but I won't know when the 'right time' will be. We're in the middle of a blight, after all."
"… Well, what did you have in mind?" he teased.
I chuckled, "Oh, the usual romantic seduction – candlelight, flower petals all over the place, slow music, the hot-tub going and a bottle of champagne or red wine next to a platter of things like strawberries and chocolate sauce."
"… I'm not going to lie – that sounds incredibly romantic."
I smiled up at him, "Tell you what – you tell me when the 'right time' is and I'll worry about the perfection."
He smiled softly, leaning in to give me a kiss, "It's a deal."
I fell asleep soon after.
The next day, Zathrian cornered me and asked where we had gone. I smiled, "I'm a genie – we all have little pocket realms where we build our homes. My group stays there at night. We can't get ambushed that way."
"I see – that is… a good way to stay safe."
I had looked up the secret words – the 'password' – last night for the 'Solas club' as my loving brother had called it when he navigated me to them through the phone last night. He hadn't been able to get away.
Apparently, Anora wanted an alliance with my people by any means necessary and was coming onto him strong. He finally told her two things to get her to back off – 'I'm Gay – and my sister is the only one in my family that loves me.'
I had almost lost it – he wasn't gay… he was pan. As evidenced by the fact that he had a son.
We were in the woods now – Cailan glancing between Alistair and I. Sten spoke, "I have a question."
"Does it relate to my love life?" I asked.
"It does." He nodded. I blinked, "… well, shit – I'm curious enough to hear it."
"You two are 'married' – I looked this term up; you two are bound in union to live together for the rest of your days, yes?"
"To have, to hold, in sickness and health – we will stay together. Should we be so lucky, we will have children together and raise them together. Some of your livestock in the Qun mate for life – it's the same principle with Jinn; though we have more than one mate more often than not and can't usually be fully bound to our mates until after we achieve freedom."
"Yet you two have yet to mate?" he asked.
"Humans raised in the religious chapter – taught by the chantry version of Tamassrans – are taught not to have sex until marriage; well, our marriage was rather sudden and so it hasn't really… set in yet. The chantry raised humans are taught not to take sex as lightly as the Qun would. They see it as a binding and soulful thing. Jinn are taught that it's the only way to find our mates so we sleep with anyone we feel a certain degree of attraction to in an effort to locate them. It's made easier by our dream binding ritual."
"What is that?" Alistair asked.
"At the age of 20, a Jinn will undergo a coming-of-age ritual that puts them to sleep. In this enchanted sleep, we dream of our mates – we get told only so much. It's rare to have more than one mate of the same race – hence why I thought I had only one mate. The dream echoed. I knew that my future would deal with griffins. I knew my mate – well, mates – would be human. I knew that you would be taller than me and be a warrior – another echo, since Cullen is one too. My sister knew that most of her mates were women – I didn't get a gender for mine. Some are shown more or less. The dream is never longer than an hour. Though – I'll admit – it feels so much longer when you're under."
"Could this ritual be applied to other races?" Sten asked.
"No – it's been tried. Well… actually, since daddy said that mages here would gain a Jinn Core if taught our magics, then possibly mages here. But only if they gain a core first. The ritual targets our magical cores after all."
"Back to the original topic – you two have yet to mate?"
"We just don't believe it's the right time. Asit Tal-Eb."
He blinked and considered, "I can accept that."
"What?" Aedan asked.
"Asit tal-eb. It is to be: for the world and the self are one: existence is a choice: Canto 4. In essence – if something is meant to happen, then it will. There are no mistakes. That Alistair and I haven't felt the need to… mate… means that it isn't the right time and so it won't happen. What if there is a reason that Cullen should father my first child? What if there is a reason that Alistair and I need to wait? Being pushed won't help… though if Art weren't supposed to marry us like he did, then he wouldn't have. Fate would have stopped him."
"… You two have some strange kind of budding friendship going on…" Solona shook her head.
"We have come to an understanding. He is teaching me the Qun – as he would for any interested in it since there is potential to turn them to the Qun. Not all roads lead to death and war. If there is potential to teach then they will. The Qun and the Jinn society actually align in several areas – one being that we are born to our roles and know our limits. We also believe that there are no accidents in the grand design. He and I have also sparred a few times and we know that we are evenly matched – though I use the bow, I am good at evading his blows. He is also good at evading mine. We mostly end in stalemate. It's not so much friendship as it is that we've learned that we are equals."
"… For now," Sten agreed.
I shrugged, "Even when you see me as a woman again, I will still be equal to you in your eyes, Sten. You know it, I know it – do not pretend otherwise. Because between us and the 15 spars we've had, only one had a winner – and it wasn't you."
"… This is true." He conceded, "This doesn't mean you are better."
"No – it means I am worthy," I quipped back at him, "Worthy of your respect as the only one that has won a match in 15 tries. Even when you win one, I was still able to keep you at bay more than once. My standing is equal to yours. That's why you began teaching me to fight with a sword, isn't it?"
He nodded firmly, "It is. You should know how if you are going to aid in this Blight as our true leader."
I blinked, "You view me as the real leader here?"
"Aren't you?" he asked coolly.
Aedan said, "She is. Completely. If one of us 'leaders' gave an order and she said we shouldn't do it, we would all follow her words first."
"… Then I will continue to follow." He nodded.
"And I will continue to learn," I agreed.
That was when we came upon 3 humanoid looking wolves.
I blinked, "Swiftrunner, I presume?"
The honey-brown wolf in the front chuffed, "The Dalish send a strange woman to deal with us."
"Uh-uh – I'm just clearing out rogues and other things that might attack Zathrian on his way to break the curse he laid on your people. And, by the way, I'm a Genie – magical person bound to a token, granting 3 wishes, blah, blah, blah."
"… I want to believe your words, but…" Swiftrunner began.
I rolled my eyes and snapped my fingers, summoning a lollipop, and said, "So believe me – or don't. That's your choice. I don't want to fight you – but I won't be leaving here until this curse is lifted. You're very different from the kind of werewolves that I'm used to."
"… Different how?" he asked.
"The werewolves I know can take the shape of actual wolves – admittedly larger than normal wolves, but still… they can shift between man and wolf at will." I shrugged.
"That would have been welcomed over this."
I hummed and held a hand out – Swiftrunner changed into a man; stunning his companions. He looked at his hands in surprise – not even noting that he was now… naked. He was cute too – 6'3 with shaggy, honey-colored hair, blue eyes and tanned skin.
I said, "Picture being a wolf in your mind… go on."
He must have – because he changed into a sandy-blonde wolf that come up to my shoulders. I reached out and scratched behind his ears – just because he looked soft, "You follow your brothers back. Discuss this change with them. If – by the time we catch up to you – your brothers and sisters desire this, I will make it so. If not, I will have Zathrian lift the curse on them and I will change you completely back. Know this – if you want this, you will be a pack. In this form – the wolf – you will have linked thoughts to communicate with each other over long distances. You will heal faster, you will be stronger, and you will be faster than humans even when you are in human form. Your children will be as you are – and able to find 'mates' as Jinn can. Soul-mates. People destined for you. But this is your choice. Now go, Alpha – discuss with your pack."
They hesitated but left quickly.
Sten turned, "You can change them?"
I sucked on my lollipop, "No."
"Then what was that?" he asked.
"I didn't alter their race – as a Jinn, I am able to help them change within their race. It was a selfish desire that I was able to do mostly because Alistair made a wish last night in bed that we could help the werewolves. My mate made his first wish – as a first mate-wish, it is the most powerful and some of my locked ability became available to do this. I didn't change them – I changed their 'curse'. Now, Swiftrunner can change shape from one form to the other, he can find a mate, his senses will be sharper, and he is the ultimate form of a wolf-man – one who can walk both worlds. I returned his ability to have children – which was taken away with the curse. If it will aid the werewolves – thanks to Alistairs' wish – I can do the magic involved."
"The mate thing…?" Aedan asked, "Can you do that for humans?"
"Nope. Wolves mate for life, so wild wolves actually do have soulmates, but no ability to distinguish them. Humanoids and other intelligent people do. All I did was bring the wolf nature of mates and human intelligence together to make that possible." I explained.
"And… even the feral ones seem to be retreating…" Morrigan noted.
I nodded, "Swiftrunner is their Alpha – that bark you heard was an Alpha commanding his people 'home'. Alpha orders must be obeyed. It's a strong compulsion."
"Why do it this way?" Alistair asked.
"He said it would be preferable. And… if we do it this way, we might get wolves and Dalish in the final battle. As well, the forces of wolves will be stronger than they would have been if we kept the cursed wolves. In this way, their curse becomes a blessing."
Sten nodded firmly, "I will accept this."
I inclined my head to him and added, "Besides – if you really have such a hard on for a fight, there are still the sylvans – the tree creatures. As well, there is a coven of Maleficarum, at least 2 ogres, and one really bad Shade. We have enough trouble without the wolves."
I spotted the elf from the game… Daylen? No… Deygan! He was blonde with wolf-gold eyes. I sighed softly and leaned down to him.
"What? Who… W-who comes?" he asked as he held a wound on his gut.
"Want help – yes, or no?" I asked.
He grunted, "P-please…" and he fell unconscious. I used my magic to call Zathrian to me. He blinked, "What… Deygan!"
"Hey – look at me. You saw what I did for the other wolf. I can do it for him too. Elven Wolves will not be able to join Human-Wolf packs. And your cure won't affect the ones I change unless I change them back. As his keeper, you have a choice to make."
He looked torn before sighing, "Is it still contagious when you change them."
"Only a 20% chance of passing it on. Not 100% like your curse." I said.
"Then change him."
I nodded and did it. Then sent Deygan back to the camp via magic.
As we continued on, we took in just how beautiful the forest was. We encountered a talking tree – but as someone used to druids, I wasn't too impressed. We agreed to find his acorn for him. And then I made us head into the 'trap' camp behind him.
The shade was unable to put us to sleep due to my magic protecting us – but we pretended to lure it out. I then held onto the Dalish gloves I found. They were like new. Lyna didn't appear to mind me claiming them either.
When I asked, "Are you sure that it's alright for me to hold onto these?" she gave me a funny look and placed a firm hand on my shoulder, "Lethallan… you saved us. We didn't take a single hit – you took them all for us in that tower. You haven't asked any of us for anything in return for that. Not a blasted thing. Daylen repays it by teaching you to cook without magic, Alistair is your mate, and Sten repays you for his life by teaching you sword fighting. You want a pair of gloves that I could make? Have them."
I flushed, "Oh… they're not for me…"
She looked intrigued, "Who for then?"
"So… remember the crow Loghain warned us about? His mother was Dalish… he used to have a pair of gloves like this and it was the only keepsake of his mother until the crows found them and threw them away… I was going to give these to him after we recruit him…" I muttered.
She snorted, "More of a reason for you to keep them and not me. As I said, I can make my own if I have leather from a Halla or wolf."
I coughed and we continued on. I wondered who might end up pairing off with the romance options – I knew Alistair, Morrigan, Leliana and Zevran were the options for the first game…
Alistair was mine now – and I was very territorial. So he was mine. I glanced around discreetly – oh. Aedan was flirting with Morrigan. Morrigan? Hmm… well, good enough for me.
I looked toward Leliana but she showed no signs at all. She didn't glance at anyone coyly – she seemed focused on the mission at hand.
I wanted to be nosy, "So… is anyone here planning on bedding anyone else in the group?"
The amount of people that tripped made it seem like a flash mob. Aedan asked, "What?"
"Well I mean… I'm just curious about who is gonna be with who… if that's going to happen. I already took the best option – in my opinion – available for the first game. Alistair." I said 'innocently'.
Alistair snorted and held my hand, "You landed me quite easily."
"Who were the other options?" Faren asked.
"Morrigan, Leliana and the crow I was just talking about a bit ago. But Morrigan is straight. So men only."
Morrigan shot me a look, "Who is to say I don't prefer mages to simple headed nobles?"
"… the fact that I caught you flirting with Aedan," I quipped back. She shrugged, "My room was cold."
"Sure it was… the fire-pit was totally broken." I nodded sagely.
She agreed, "Indeed it was. And the blanket was thin too."
"And we all know it was snowing and the window doesn't shut," I hummed.
Aedan laughed, "Alright, alright! I get it. Morrigan, I could certainly keep you warm tonight – if you're agreeable."
"Might as well," she smirked.
Leliana giggled, "And for me?"
"Well, I know that whoever you choose would have to wait until we kill Marjoline…" I hummed. Leli paled, "K-kill her…"
"Uh-huh. That's another ambush we'll have to anticipate later on when she hears that you left the cloister."
"… Did that 'page' say often we would be ambushed during the Blight?" Solona asked in exasperation.
"Let's see… the Crow was for sure, Marjoline… there were 6 that were promised to happen and would happen almost no matter what you do. Another like… 28 were kind of random. So in all… 34 possible 'random' encounters. There were prerequisites for triggering some them."
"Like?" Alim asked.
I summoned my tablet as we walked, "Hmm – oh… two of them require being caught trying to pickpocket in Denerim so just don't get caught. One is benign, it seems – we just find a merchant. One is triggered if we don't save the mages but rather just take the help of the Templars. One for getting caught stealing in the tower… so again, don't get caught. One for accepting a specific request so it isn't so much of an ambush as we'll go looking for it. Don't get caught stealing in the Dalish camp – that encounter would be brutal… some are dependent on who we side with… be it Templars over mages or the other way around; we come upon the forces fighting against darkspawn and help I mean – not the opposing faction fighting us. But they're all in areas where we can't avoid the fighting or anything so we have to join in… which is my definition of an ambush, thank you."
"… Maker – how do we ever manage to end this Blight in a year?" Aedan asked.
"Through sheer brute force – we kill anything standing in our way. We kill the blood mages in the Tower, we kill the opposing faction we don't back in Orzammar, we kill a lot of undead in Redcliffe, and we're supposed to kill a lot of feral wolves here. We kill Howe, we can kill Loghain, we kill… a lot of people."
"Back up – just back up. We can kill Loghain?" Alistair asked.
"Well, in the game, you didn't know his reasons for retreating, like when I woke up in the hut. It says here that if anyone duels Loghain in the Landsmeet, they stop when he yields – but if it's you… here's the quotes. Loghain says, 'so, there is some of Maric in you after all' and you say, 'Forget Maric. This is for Duncan' and you slice his head clean off – splattering his blood all over his daughter. Brutal of you." I hummed with a smile.
"… You're not upset by that?" he asked in hesitation.
"… my grandparent is a siren – luring men to death with songs… songs. Whole ships full of people sank at a sirens' will. Mermaids? My moms' people used to drag people beneath the waves to watch them drown because it was fun. Banshees? They scream when they can sense death is coming for someone close to them. Dragons? People look crunchy and taste really good with ketchup – or barbeque sauce. Don't get me started on the Dwarves of Elysion. We may not be reckless murderers anymore… but most 'mythical beings' still enjoy a good killing or two. In my eyes, that you can be brutal to enemies while kind to allies shows that you're a good mate – you'll defend your family and kill any attackers without hesitation. You're a strong mate; worthy. That's all I see when I read that stuff." I shrugged.
He relaxed.
"So then – all the stuff you read about that alternate future where no warden but him survived…?" Aedan asked. Head whipped around and that was how I knew Leliana and Aedan hadn't told anyone.
I shrugged, "It's all good to know. He was downright ruthless as a lone warden. Siding with the werewolves ensured a stronger force – and they were his personal bodyguards according to the page. He only saved the mages because he needed their help having a person he viewed as family unpossessed. He sacrificed willing dwarven lives to make more golems to fight the Darkspawn. He made the choices he needed to make… but I'll still kill you if you get close to him, Leli."
I had flashed her my most benign smile.
She giggled, "He isn't the lone warden in this timeline – he and I will not be lovers."
"Good." I nodded.
Lyna coughed, "He sacrificed the Dalish…"
"After finding out Zathrian created the curse on them to begin with and was refusing to reverse it. The wolves were innocent bystanders." I answered.
"… Damn, he was ruthless – I can bet you that all those Golems were Casteless," Faren said with a whistle.
"Since Bhelen was king, maybe not. Under Bhelen, all dwarves are treated a bit more fairly." I said, "He also recruited the legion of the dead – Alistair, I mean. Oh – and let's not forget hiring Tal-Vashoth mercenaries."
Sten looked surprised, "Why?"
"I assume because if I'm fighting a war, I want the strongest fighters I can get," Alistair mused before I could answer, "And no one fights as well as Qunari."
Sten considered, "You may join our sword lessons too."
I smiled, "This isn't counting that I read Alistair will one day beat you in single combat… using a pike."
Alistair and Sten considered each other. Sten said, "You believe he could?"
"Oh yeah – at least… when that fight happens. Think about it though – he beats you in single combat… with a stick." I laughed, "I love it. I was given a very strong mate. Then again – he was supposed to be King when he beat you as Arishok…"
Full. Stop. Everyone was looking at me. I gave an innocent look, "What?"
Cailan finally spoke, "… Right… I forgot I was supposed to die. This is kind of… surreal."
"I will be Arishok?" Sten asked firmly.
"… After we retrieve your sword, you get to go home. After I help someone kill the current Arishok, with your experience here, you're a natural choice for Arishok. If I can beat an Arishok before he is Arishok… then is there any doubt that I will kill the current one?"
"None," Sten said at once, "Very well. Your mate is strong – and from what I know… he would be a better leader for the Bas of Ferelden."
Cailan muttered, "I'm beginning to think so too…"
"Nope – you can't abdicate!" Alistair said.
I spoke, "It's really better if you don't – not right away, at least. Because then I'd be Queen – but I have to be away from Ferelden for almost a decade. It's easier to do if I'm just a princess. Also, it gives time for you to show Alistair the ropes rather than throwing him to it and expecting him to swing. Just don't marry Celene."
"Yeah… I've been in talks with Sapphire Sand for a week now. She thinks it's a novel idea – marrying a king from a new world. She says that when I'm 'done playing', I can go be a vampire King for another few centuries."
"… Yeah, more like her plaything. Sapphire has a harem. Though if she specifically said 'King', you would be placed above the others in power structure. She never goes back on anything she says – even if she said it 100 years ago and it was an idle thought. But make no mistake – as a Vampire, you'd be more like the Queens' pet than a king."
"… You know, that doesn't sound half bad. I'd be well cared for, at least." He hummed with a smile.
I giggled, "True – but vampires treat every day like it's the Grand Game of Orlais."
Leliana looked intrigued, "Do they?"
"Uh-huh; you will never see an ugly vampire. Something about being turned makes them all stunningly beautiful… let's take Art for exhibit A. even as a baby he was so cute – I saw the pictures."
"So they do not need masks?" she asked.
"To suggest they do would be an insult worthy of death," I said solemnly, "They're prideful, powerful and arrogant. Tevinter."
"Ah – I see!" she said.
I bit my lip trying to think of how to explain it better… "Most turned vampires were once nobles looking for a way to cheat death. Most born are nobles who don't fear death… because they believe themselves outside of deaths influence. The vampire race is small – by design. You can't outnumber your food source, can you? But they are fearsome. A vampire can crush marble as easily as humans crush bugs – they can run so fast that all you see is a blur. They can smell your blood a mile off, hear you whisper from the next room, and even see colors that have no name because humans can't see them. For example, Art tells me that Alistairs hair is made up of red, white, gold, hints of purple and blue, and even orange. It isn't just red-gold like we can see. You drop a crumb on the floor and a vampire can find it on sight alone. They were made to be the hunters of humans – so they are smarter and more capable. They are beautiful to lure you in. they even smell really good. Humans think they're the top of the food chain – but vampires?"
"So, in other words… to humans, these beings would be like gods?" Cailan asked.
"No… um… they look like the very best, most beautiful and… they would be like… if humans are the peasants – the most common folk you can get – then Vampires are the Teyrns. Not the Royals, though they pretend they are, but the Teyrns. Those who are called Gods would be the royals. The fates would be akin to your maker. Mermaids and other mythics would be the Arls. The mythic creatures – like griffins and such – would be the Banns. Humans – to most Mythics – are little more than pets. Treat them with reverence and you'll survive – treat them disdainfully, and you better have backing of other Mythics. You will be fine – you have the Genie Princess in your corner. In fact, with me being married to your brother, it may even constitute a strong alliance for Queen Sapphire."
"But if Genies are akin to Arls…" Leliana said.
"Oh – no, Genies are in a separate league altogether. When unbound after we're freed, many races would view us as akin to your chantry authority. Jinn can do magics that the other races can't. The witches like to think they're better because they don't get bound to service for a time – but our magics are so much stronger. My dad? He can rip the very fabric of a persons' being and change them. Like the Sand Vampires can do to themselves, but to other people – meaning, if a human wanted to be an Elf, he can do that even if the person has no elven blood in them. I can alter within race – as you saw; I can make your Wolf-men into true werewolves. But I can't do that. Not yet. I might be able to after I'm unbound, but we'll have to wait and see how much my power grows once I'm freed. My sister, Sia? She prefers cooking to anything, but she can completely control the elements – earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions."
"And what stops your people from dominating the others?" Alim asked.
"That's the point of the servitude pact; the Pact that every Jinn is forced into serving 200 masters or until freed. It keeps us humble so we don't go power crazy. Sia was a hellion as a child – demanding things and not learning to behave. She spent 1200 years in service – and in that time, her temper chilled as she discovered her love for cooking. The first Jinn made a pact with the fates – every child born a Jinn would be forced into servitude for a time to temper them. The pact is as much for us as it is to help others." I explained.
Sten spoke, "Willing slavery to keep you in your place?"
"Pretty much. It's not like we need money when we can conjure things, so working for pay is redundant anyway. Do you know that the number one wish that mortals make is for a set amount of money? It's rather annoying, but I get it. It was what I heard the most – I wish to be rich; I wish to win the lottery; I wish to have a chicken that lays eggs made of pure gold."
"… is that last one even possible?" Faren asked.
"… Golden Chickens do exist, but the fools never realized – those chickens need to eat gold to lay gold. Otherwise, they lay what they eat. Normal food, normal eggs; gems gives gemstone eggs – so when the chicken didn't lay what they wanted them to, I had to explain that. You can guess how pissy they were. I never really explained – a single gold coin would beget a large gold egg, so they were coming out better off." I shrugged. "But they didn't ask how much they'd have to feed to the chicken, so…"
"Do you have one of those?" Sereda asked.
"A Golden Chicken? I have 5 – one eats gems, one eats gold and three eat normal food. They live a good 100 years each. And each one will lay a Golden Chicken Egg at the end of its life. It'll be white-gold and that's the only one that will hatch." I nodded.
"How often do they lay?" Cailan asked.
"Depends what they're laying – normal lays 10 eggs a day. Gold is one egg a day. Gem will lay 3 a day – each a different gem. Yesterday, she laid a ruby, an onyx and sapphire. Gems and normally are about the same size a normal chicken egg. The gold eggs are about as tall as my hand – finger-tip to base of palm – when I have it open. Metal is always harder for them to lay. Gold, silver, platinum…"
"… Makers' Breath…" Solona muttered.
"Do the chickens look any different from regular chickens? Do the normal eggs taste any different?" Alim asked.
"Golden chickens look like gold chicken statues that move – their feathers are gold in color, even. Though, once plucked, the feathers aren't real gold anymore. And the eggs taste far better than normal eggs. That's the secret to most of the dishes eaten at my house – magic. Gold Eggs are delicious. Most of the food in my house is from some magical creature or other. The Eggs are from the chickens, the milk is from a Cretan Cow. Most of the beef is also Cretan Bovine. Those came from a sea god, I think. The crops are all Fairy-Grown. I have a Fairy that tends the orchard and garden so the produce is always fresh and extra yummy. The water in the house is from the springs of Olympus – home of one pantheon of Gods that ruled the Greeks. The fish we eat all swam in the waters of Atlantis – so they each have their own unique properties like… the salmon can increase heart health and lengthen your life by a year per fish. The chicken that we eat is Basan – a fire breathing chicken. The deer meat is Ceryneian hind – gold antlered deer larger than bulls with brass hooves. Erymanthian Boars make for the best pork. Nothing in my kitchen is 'ordinary'." I smiled.
"We're eating like kings…" Alistair said.
"Nah – you're eating like Jinn. I raise all my own livestock; you guys just never explore the barns. And as I said – I keep a fairy on staff to take care of the crops. He's a Nature-Bound fairy so earth is his passion. Crops, rocks, gems, and trees – so on. None of our food is costing me anything more than the Fairies payment; which is nothing since I pay him with 1 gem egg each day – his pick of which one – and 3 golden eggs every week. So for one week, that 7 gem and 3 gold eggs. Basically… my home and staff is completely self-sufficient." I shrugged.
"… Would it be wrong of me to ask for an allowance?" Faren snorted.
I blinked, "Depends what you want."
"… One gold egg every month? Think of it as Warden Pay – we're wardens… following you…" he negotiated.
I thought about it. I got 30-31 eggs every month… there were 8 wardens; Aedan, Alistair, Sereda, Faren, Solona, Alim, Darrien, Lyna. I paid Willow – the Fairy – 3 a week; 12 a month. Out of 30 about that left 18… 8 a month for the wardens left 10. If I also paid Morrigan, Leli, and Sten… that was 7. There was also Zevran, Wynne and Oghren; that would leave me 4 a month. Also Cailan. That meant I'd still have 3 a month – not counting what I had stockpiled in the vault downstairs. I could pay Shale a gemstone each month.
I nodded, "Okay – one golden egg a month for each person in the group starting today."
"Wait – you're actually going to do it?" Aedan frowned, "You keep claiming you're in service to me; I should be paying the bills…"
I blinked, "What else am I going to do with them? I have a whole stockpile of them in the basement, Aedan – just collecting dust. Sometimes, I smelt them down and make things with them. That's where the gold locket you're wearing came from." I had given that to him along with a picture of his family last week.
He looked down at it and blinked before sighing, "Alright – if you… insist on it. But you know most people only make about half that… in a year."
I shrugged, "Hazzard pay?"
Alistair snorted and we stopped for the night.
