Big thanks to my beta for your awesome work and to my wife for constantly putting up with me having my nose in a key board all the time. Also, Big thanks to everyone who is leaving reviews. You all rock! I hope you guys are enjoying reading Warden in Rags as much as I'm enjoying writing it. Here's the next chapter. Enjoy!
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The new armor fit perfectly, even better than his Warden armor that now rested in a trunk in the back of their wagon along with the other three suits. Damien had thought Alistair might have cried when they locked them away, though they did keep their Joining pendants around their necks. Damien didn't feel right hiding everything away like that but it would keep them safer on the road and in any towns or cities they passed through.
Damien decided he would stop in the tavern with Lyna and Carver to see what news they could over hear while there. Hopefully they could get a location and a sense of Loghain's plans. Maybe even hear about any other Grey Wardens that might have escaped the battle.
"Brody is the barkeep here. Always has an ear out for stories and rumors, but don't get him talking too much or he'll never shut up," Carver warned as they approached the door.
"Sounds like my kind of place," Damien said pushing the door open. "How's the ale?"
"Just like ale from any other tavern I'd guess," Carver stated.
"I guess we'll just pass on the ale then," Damien said stepping inside.
Similar to most of the other taverns Damien had been in before, the building commons was filled with tables and droves of people. He pulled his scarf up over his nose and mouth and pulled his hood down over his eyes. He doubted anyone would know he was a Warden on sight but he wanted to err on the side of safety.
The trio took seats at the bar as Damien listened to the conversations around him. It was a skill he had picked up in his travels. A thief could learn a lot about guard rotations, food deliveries, and all other sorts of things from tavern conversations. The trick was being able to focus on multiple discussions at a time while comprehending and remembering everything.
He heard some groups talking about the approaching darkspawn with fear in their voices, but that was not news. He knew the horde was still at Ostagar so he tried to ignore those conversations as best he could. A few were questioning how the Grey Wardens could betray the king and some doubted the rumor. Damien had to suppress the urge to beat some sense into those people.
"Has anyone seen a Grey Warden around here? We heard a rumor that one was spotted entering Lothering. In the name of Teyrn Loghain, I demand you hand him over," a soldier shouted as he burst into the tavern. Damien lowered his head. He waited but no one responded.
"What do we do?" Lyna whispered.
"Keep our heads down. We only fight if we have to," Damien answered.
"Hey, you whelps hear me? I know someone has seen him!" the soldier shouted kicking over a table. Damien clenched his jaw as the man turned and smashed another table. He hated men like him. True, Damien was a thief but he never damaged the properties he stole from.
"Maybe if we knew what the Warden looked like, we could tell you and you could stop trashing my place," the barkeep roared.
"He's wearing blue and silver armor with a scarf and a hood," the soldier snapped. "Now, where is he?"
"Touch anything else in this tavern and you and I are going to have a problem," the barkeep growled. Damien looked over at the man still keeping his head low. If the soldiers threatened anyone else, he wasn't sure if he could hold back his anger anymore. Yet Carver reacted first.
"How about you idiots get out of here," Carver roared turning and facing the soldier. Damien turned and saw a whole squad was with the man. If Carver picked a fight in these cramped quarters, some of the innocent people might get hurt.
"Look at this men, a brave one," the soldier taunted tapping his sword.
"Please, this is a no doubt another one of the Maker's children simply trying to escape the Blight," a chantry sister said stepping between Carver and the soldier. Damien recognized her from their stop in Lothering before Ostagar. She was the sister that helped Alyssa and prayed with her.
"Stay out of this sister," the soldier snarled. That was the last straw. Damien stood and turned. He moved forward and slugged the man across the jaw, knocking him to the floor.
"You want the Warden, I'm right here," Damien snapped pulling his pendant out from under his tunic. He held it up so the griffon emblem could easily be seen. If anyone was going to fight these thugs, it would be him.
"Arrest this traitor!" the soldier ordered from the floor.
Damien stepped back in to a fighting stance and drew both his daggers. "I was with the king's force during the battle. Do you really think someone who survived the horde can be killed by you weaklings?" Damien hoped the threat would be enough to dissuade the soldiers from wanting blood, but nothing seemed to alter their goal as their leader scrambled back to his feet.
Carver jumped to Damien's side as did Lyna. To his surprise, the chantry sister stood next to them as well drawing her own dagger. Why would a chantry sister need to be armed, especially in a peaceful village like this? Damien made a note to keep an eye on the woman. She may have thought she was doing the right thing, but she was probably about to get herself killed.
"Arrest the Warden, kill anyone that defends him," the soldier ordered as the group drew their weapons.
"These are Loghain's men. Show them the mercy the teyrn showed the king," Damien said calmly. The soldiers wanted blood. The last thing he was going to do was let servants of a traitor live and risk Loghain sending more soldiers after him.
The soldiers lunged forward, but Damien was faster. He blocked the first strike with his left blade and slashed the soldier across the throat with his right. The skill of these men certainly left something to be desired. Their training was that of a typical soldier, trained to fight on open fields with a large unit, while Damien, Carver, and Lyna had learned their fighting styles through experience fighting alone. Even the chantry sister moved with the lethal grace of a trained killer. Damien knew that this woman had not always been a part of the chantry.
It took less than ten seconds to kill all but two of the soldiers leaving only the leader and another on the ground frightened and out of breath. Damien brought his blades down under the leader's chin.
"We surrender, please don't kill us," the leader begged dropping his sword.
"So you can run back to that traitor Loghain. I should kill you just for that allegiance," Damien growled. Rage boiled his blood as his blades shook in his hands. Sure he had killed men and beasts before but always either in battle or hunting for food, but this man was unarmed and had surrendered. If he killed this man now, it would be murder.
Damien sheathed his weapons and knelt in front of the man. If he didn't kill him, maybe he could shake up things in the capital and cause some problems for Loghain. "Tell your master I know what he did. I know he is the true traitor, but if he will stay out of my way, I will continue to fight the Blight. That's what Wardens do." He made sure not to mention that there was more than one of them. The less Loghain knew about the other Wardens the better.
"I'll… I'll tell him," the soldier cried jumping to his feet and sprinting out the door. His last man followed close behind.
"Maker's breath, you're a little scary sometime, you know that?" Carver said patting Damien on the shoulder.
"Really? I thought it came across kind of forced," Damien joked tucking his pendant back in his tunic. He reached into his coin purse and pulled out ten silvers and laid them on the bar. "Sorry about the mess."
"I am glad you chose to spare them," the sister said stepping in front of them before they could leave.
"Yeah, I'm a flaming sweetheart," Damien said nudging Lyna who smirked at the remark.
"Hello Sister Leliana," Carver said as his cheeks filled with color.
"It is good to see you still live," Leliana said softly, giving the young warrior a warm smile.
"Wait, I remember you. You were the one that helped Alyssa when we were here the first time," Damien said softly as he lowered his scarf from his face.
"You said you were a Grey Warden, right?" Leliana said smiling.
"That's right," Damien answered. He was slightly apprehensive about divulging anything more to the sister. He had not seen such a fighting style as hers, not even at Ostagar with all the warriors who had gathered together. The skill with her blade as well as her accent screamed 'banished warrior' in his mind, but there was such grace in the way she moved and spoke… there had to be something else in her past other than training as a warrior.
"I hoped that I might accompany you in the fight against the Blight," Leliana said folding her hands in front of her.
"Why?" Lyna asked quickly before Damien could.
"Because I know you will need it, and the Maker told me to," Leliana said cheerfully.
Wait… the Maker told her to? What does she mean by that? Could she really know what the Maker wanted?
"I think you're going to have to explain that last part," Damien said scratching his head.
"I know that must sound strange… but I had a dream, a vision. I know this is the right path for me to take," Leliana stated wringing her hands.
Damien sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. She certainly had skills that would help them in their travels, but the idea of having a strange woman with them on the road when they had no idea about her background made Damien uneasy. Plus, her claiming she had a vision from the Maker just made her sound crazy. He sighed and looked over at Lyna. She was the only one with him at that moment who would be continuing on with them and he respected her instincts.
"What do you think Lyna?" Damien asked.
"She certainly fights well, like fen, like a wolf. I say let her come for now. If she proves untrustworthy, then we make her leave," Lyna stated.
"Works for me," Damien agreed before turning back to Leliana. "Alright, this is probationary, understand? If anyone in our group starts doubting your loyalty to our cause, you're out. Fair?"
"I suppose I can't blame you for being cautious, but I swear on my life I will protect you and your friends," Leliana responded.
"Good enough for me. Let's get out of here, I'm starving," Damien said rubbing his stomach.
"Thank the Creators, I'm not the only one," Lyna said falling in line.
"I'm sure Mother and Bethany have dinner ready by now," Carver added.
The four made their way out of the tavern and through the northern town gate, which was little more than a gap in the waist high palisade that was their only line of defense on the northern approach. Damien remembered passing it in the night when they first arrived, but he spotted something that he had not seen before, a prison cage with a large, humanoid being locked inside.
"What's the story on that?" Damien asked nodding toward the cage.
"The Revered Mother said that he slaughtered a family. No one knows why," Leliana said softly. There was a hint of fear in her voice that made Damien weary of approaching the creature, but if there was a possibility that the man could help in their fight…
Damien turned and approached the cage. He remembered what it was like in one such cage after he had been caught pick pocketing in the market district in Amaranthine. It was a fate he would not even wish on Loghain especially with the darkspawn rapidly approaching the defenseless village.
"I hear you're a murderer," Damien said bluntly.
"You are not one of my captors, yet you come to mock me," the prisoner said in a stoic voice.
"I didn't mean it as mockery. I genuinely want to know if you are a stone cold killer, or if there was a reason. See, I'm in need of skilled warriors to help me fight the Blight," Damien informed the being.
"The Blight? Are you a Grey Warden then?"
"I am. My name is Damien."
Lyna stepped up next to him. "What are you, if you don't mind my curiosity?" she asked.
"I am Sten of the Barasaad. The Vanguard of the Qunari people," the prisoner responded. Damien raised an eyebrow as he crossed his arms. He had heard of the Qunari during his travels through Fereldan, but it was always in the same conversations as the Tevinter Imperium. The two nations had been at war since the Qunari arrived on the northern shore.
"Sten, are you a soldier?" Damien asked stepping closer.
"I am." The response made Damien a little curious.
"If I could get you out of there, would you fight with us against the Blight?" Damien asked.
"If you were to secure my freedom, I would fight," Sten answered.
"Alright then, I'll be back to free you soon," Damien replied. He knew the creature was imprisoned for murder, but if he was willing to fight with them, maybe… He wasn't about to trust Sten by any stretch of the imagination, but a strong warrior could certainly come in handy in a fight. Maybe the same deal as with Leliana. Probationary.
"Those words maybe hollow, but I will await your return," Sten stated. His tone still had not changed through the entire conversation. Damien wondered if all Qunari were like that.
"Come on, Let's go talk to the Revered mother and see if she would release him to us," Damien said.
"Wait, what about dinner?" Lyna asked.
"You can go ahead with Carver if you want. Leliana knows the Revered mother, right?" Damien asked turning to the red head.
"Of course," she replied with a smile.
"Then you can help me convince her Reverence that the Qunari could do some good with us rather than waste away in a cage waiting for death," Damien stated.
"I suppose," Leliana replied.
"If you're sure," Carver said.
"Hey, before you go, how do I find your family's farm?" Damien asked.
"Oh I can show you the way later," Leliana stated.
"Yeah, she's been over the house before with food during the bad harvest a couple years ago," Carver agreed.
"Works for me. You two go on ahead and save three plates for us. Warden size portion for me please," Damien said smiling as he turned back toward the village.
"You got it," Lyna answered.
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The inside of the chantry seemed peaceful in comparison to the craziness in the refugee camp and the tavern. Most of the people were silently praying or listening to the preaching of the Chantry brothers and sisters.
"This way," Leliana said leading Damien down the aisle and over toward the Revered Mother's quarters.
Damien kept a close eye on the Templars standing guard around the Chantry, but they seemed to be completely oblivious to his magic power. Could they really not sense him at all? None of his fellow Wardens knew about his abilities except those who had seen him use them in battle. The thought was slightly comforting, but did little to ease his weariness of the Templar knights.
As they entered the Revered Mother's quarters, they found the woman sitting in the middle of the room behind a desk reading what looked to be a prayer book. Likely trying to figure out what to say to the masses that had entered the village seeking safety.
"Good evening Sister Leliana," the old woman said warmly.
"Good evening Your Reverence, I'd like to introduce someone to you," Leliana started.
"It's truly a pleasure, Revered Mother. My name is Damien," the youth said bowing deeply. He wanted to make sure to cut Leliana off before she could mention the fact that he was a Grey Warden. He did not want to risk exposing his identity to anyone with influence who might believe Loghain's lies.
"The pleasure is mine, young man. Are you here to offer a donation to the Chantry? Our need has never been greater?" The woman's comment caused Damien to smirk slightly. She had no idea he use to be one of the people that would get help from the Chantry rather than giving it.
"Of course, Your Reverence. But I do have a favor to ask in return," Damien said pulling a sovereign from his purse and placing it on the woman's desk.
"Of course my child," the woman responded waving one of the brothers over to take the donation.
"You see, I saw the Qunari you have imprisoned and I was hoping that you might release him into my custody," Damien stated.
"Then his next victims might count you and I among their murderers," the woman said obviously shocked by Damien's request.
"Your Reverence, please, with us the Qunari might be able to do good. I'm sure of it in fact," Leliana protested. Damien looked back at his new comrade. It was definitely a good idea to bring her with them. She could speak in a way that caused everyone to pay attention. That coupled with her combat skills would certainly make her an asset to the team.
The Revered Mother sighed and opened her desk drawer. "I understand in these dark times, sometimes things must be done that we might not completely approve of." She turned to face the two and handed Leliana a large black key before turning back to her desk.
"Thank you, Your Reverence. We will keep him out of the village to ensure the peace," Damien said bowing deeply once more.
"That would be best," the woman replied.
As they left, Damien spotted a knight looking through several books with a Redcliffe shield on his back. If this man knew the knight they found on the highway, they could get the man's belongings to him and he could return them to the late knight's family quicker.
"Excuse me," Damien said stepping up behind the man.
"Yes, how can I help you?"
"I found a comrade of yours on the way here. I was hoping to return a few things to his family," Damien said taking the small bag out of his shoulder pack and handing it to the knight.
"Sir Henric's locket. I was supposed to meet him here and we'd continue on together, but with him gone, I must return to Redcliffe," the knight said lowering his head.
"Continue with what?" Damein asked.
"You see, Arl Eamon is very ill. We were sent out by the Arlessa to search for the Urn of Sacred Ashes. It's said to be able to heal even the gravest of injuries and illnesses," the knight explained.
"I see. I'm sorry to hear that. I had been hoping to speak to the Arl myself on a matter that's… well… very important," Damien said sighing.
"Well, I certainly hope the Arl can recover before you come to see him," the knight said. "I'm sorry, but I must take my leave."
"Good luck in your journey, my friend," Damien said extending his hand.
"Good luck to you as well," the knight stated shaking Damien's hand. He then turned back to the books and started putting them back on the shelves.
Damien nodded and headed for the door with Leliana right behind him. He felt like he needed to free Sten and regroup with the rest of the team as quickly as possible. His blood wasn't telling him the darkspawn were nearby, but he had a gut feeling that danger was quickly approaching.
When they finally made it to the cage holding Sten, Leliana unlocked the cage allowing Sten to step out. The Qunari nodded his gratitude and fell in line as they made their way across the fields toward the Hawke farm.