Chapter 10

Leliana drew the string back to under her earlobe and then released. The arrow flew straight and after a few short moments, she heard the faint sound of the shaft hitting the tree trunk.

Even so, she asked, "Did I get it?"

"Yes," replied Faren. "Very good."

Smiling, she slid another arrow shaft out of her quiver and nocked it. "I'm ready."

After a while, she heard the tapping of wood on wood: Faren slapping a tree trunk with a stick. This time slightly to her left.

She turned her head to the right, thereby pointing her left ear towards the sound. Three faint taps. Then silence.

Drawing the string as she turned the bow towards the sound, she loosed again. The arrow hit the tree after a few short moments and Faren said, "And that makes twenty shots."

Leliana reached behind her head and pulled the blindfold off of her eyes. It had been a while since she had practiced this particular skill of hers. She'd surprised many of the party members in the Deep Roads by using only hearing. Down in the subterranean realms where all was dark, vision couldn't solely be trusted.

The dwarf walked up to her, carrying the broken shafts of the loosed arrows. He said, "Good thing the shafts didn't have heads on 'em. Be a waste otherwise."

Faren Brosca, though quiet most of the time, had opened up to a few over time. He was an intelligent sort, but liked keeping to himself. Leliana was just glad to have made a new friend. Between Faren and Alistair looking out for Schmooples, Oghren hadn't been able to roast her poor baby.

"It's why I bought only shafts," she replied as she unstrung her bow. "It's a perishable skill, just like everything else. Can't really use this in a spar, can I?"

"Very true, good woman. Archery as a skill, as wondrous as it is, is rather difficult to use in a duel, no matter how splendid the archer's form. Might I also add that your form is splendidly delicious to behold."

Leliana sighed and looked up at the branch from which Zevran had commented. "I'll choose not to comment on that."

"Ah, but you already have!" He slid off the branch and landed noiselessly on the grass, heels to rear and knees to chin. "This is most fortuitous, to engage such a charming lady in conversation."

She swore she could feel Faren roll his eyes. In all honesty, Leliana did not blame him.

The latest addition to their group was slightly... unusual. Zevran had pledged his services to the Wardens in exchange for sparing his life but not everybody took this very well. Everybody, even Morrigan, was more on guard now that the elf was on board. While their mistrust wasn't misplaced, Leliana personally thought Zevran wouldn't try anything to sabotage them. Unsurprisingly, she was the only one in the party who had spoken in favour of having him join.

The times when he endlessly flirted with her, however, made her question her decision making skills.

Gathering up her bow, string and quiver, Leliana frowned at the smirking elf. "What do you want, Zevran?"

"Must you insist that I have ulterior motives for even engaging you in stimulating conversation, my good woman?"

"Definitely."

The assassin placed his hands over his heart and staggered backwards a few steps, as if injured. "You wound me with your piercing words, good woman... such pointed words do suit an archer of your bearing, however."

"Well, if you have nothing to say, I'm sure you'll excuse me. Come Faren. Let us head back to camp," Leliana said and shouldered past Zevran, who immediately spun on the balls of his feet and followed her.

"Now now, hold on a moment. I merely had a question."

"Oh really?"

"Indeed so. If you would indulge my curiosity, why did you argue in my favour when everybody else wanted nothing to do with me? Were you so enamoured by my beauty, I wonder?"

"You're actually being serious right now, aren't you?" Faren asked incredulously.

Zevran threw up his hands in the air. "Everybody here is so mistrustful. I didn't even kill anybody."

I have to admit, though. He makes for rather amusing conversations.

"I thought you could be useful," Leliana replied as she walked. "You know how the Crows work, so you can watch out for any more attempts. On top of that, we have proof now that Loghain wanted us neutralised so badly that he stooped to hiring assassins. Your word might help our position if ever a situation arises where we have to defend ourselves against his accusations."

"I should say here that hiring the Crows is standard practice in Antiva and not considered stooping of any kind dear woman. If anything, Fereldan values are strange." Zevran appeared thoughtful. "Nowhere else have I heard of any customs relating to farting in the faces of one's prisoners."

"I think that's more Oghren's policy than Ferelden's," Faren muttered.

Ignoring the discussion about farting, Leliana quickly said, "On top of that, Zevran, I thought you were similar to me."

Zevran perked up at that. "Other than our purity and beauty, you mean?"

"We both spent many years in places other than Ferelden. You are an assassin, and I, a bard."

"Ah, I see. Then you were called upon to kill, I take it."

Leliana didn't answer for a while. She could see the camp's fire beyond the vegetation and hear some disjointed pieces of conversation. "Often. I didn't like it, but I did it anyway."

"You didn't like it? You didn't like the thrill of the hunt?"

"I suppose... I did like that. The hunt, I mean. Not the killing."

They entered the clearing and Leliana saw Alistair bent over the cooking spit. The warrior and she had not spoken much for a couple of days following the debate regarding Zevran's fate. He'd been wholly against his joining. She missed speaking with him.

Zevran said, "The killing just signals the end of the hunt. Without it, the chase goes on." After a pause: "You killed your marks cleanly, I hope."

"Whenever possible."

"Good." The elf nodded. "When the prey is caught, it deserves a good death, a clean death."

Leliana only nodded at that and waved at Faren who made for his tent.

"Perhaps you are right; we have much in common," Zevran said quietly and then grinned. "I thank you for explaining your intentions to me, good woman. Now, I shall leave you be and pester you again tomorrow. You must be tired."

With that, he turned and walked to his own tent.

Leliana decided to rest her eyes for a bit. She'd be woken when dinner was done anyway. And perhaps the next morning, she'd try and make amends with the almost templar.