Chapter 84) Pearly Oars

Cleon POV


"Hahren?" I hesitated at approaching. I always got the impression he didn't like me much. But I… "Hahren Paivel?"

"Yes, Cleon?" The almost bored tone, and stern look nearly sent me flying away. I wanted, desperately, to have his approval, but I doubted I would ever get it. "Don't you have lessons?"

"…I have a question."

"That you think I know the answer to."

"Zaphikel didn't give me an answer, Keeper Marethari just tutted over me, and-"

"I get it." He sighed heavily, and set aside his scroll, facing me fully. "What is it?"

"…Is it bad that I enjoy hunting?"

"Now, why would that be a bad thing?" He just sounded annoyed now. "Being a hunter is-"

"Shemlen." That made him pause. "Is it… is it bad that I like hunting them down when they get too close?" I felt tears prick my eyes. "Is there something wrong with me?"

"…No, Cleon." His face softened, and he beckoned me closer. After a moment, I did so. "No, Cleon. So long as you don't let that darker side take complete control of you."

"So, should I ignore it it?"

"No, Cleon, as too much light is also bad. Think of the burns Merrill and Tamlen get." Oh, right. "Too much darkness and too much light are equally bad."

"Why?"

"Now that… that is a story." He gestured for me to sit. "It all began with Mythal, Cleon…"


I smiled a bit in relief as I saw Nuada and Layla chatting happily about something in the library. I had been a little worried a few days ago, when Layla came back crying, but it seems the two worked through their issues well enough, and were closer than ever. I was tempted to go and tease them, but I had a mission for the day. Leliana had been holed up in her room ever since whatever happened in the market, and that was worrying all of us. Since I actually had some free time, I decided to go be the nosy busybody friend.

It wasn't like I wasn't almost going stir-crazy. Morrigan was off in her bird-form, gathering information, so I couldn't tease her, and everyone else was just as busy. Right now was just gathering allies and information, and it was maddening how slowly these nobles moved sometimes. I was used to Nuada and Elspeth, who sometimes thought too fast and forgot to explain as they bolted.

I found Leliana's room and knocked on the door to give her a bit of warning before opening it. She blinked slowly at me, scowling a bit before her expression relaxed for a wry smile. She must have said something in response. Doors were awkward.

'Oh, hey, the ghost is still alive,' I signed, smiling so she knew I was teasing. I think she laughed a little, shoulders shaking slightly and head tilting down. 'So, we can go around in circles, or get straight to the point.'

'And what is that point?' she sighed, giving me a bitter smile. 'You did just walk right in. What if I had been changing?'

'I room with Morrigan, and I have a twin sister. I am rather used to such encounters.' I smiled when she rolled her eyes. 'Though, of course, if you had been offended, I would gladly take whatever punishment.'

'Good.' Still, she sighed, shoulders lifting with the motion. 'So?'

'You have been hiding and it is worrying us.' I shut the door behind me, leaning against it. No escape, unless she wanted to try her luck with the window. That had the curtains shut and was likely locked. 'So, what's wrong? Talk to me, Leliana.'

She held still for a long moment before sighing again, nodding. 'I can't get what happened out of my head. At the market, I mean.' Her signs were slow, her posture drooping. 'Maker, if she had thought Aiden was anyone else, anything else, there would have been an ambush and she would have… she would have…' She shook her head almost violently. 'Her arrogance and Aiden's care kept me safe, that day. If she had been a little less arrogant, then she would have been smarter about all of it.' And if she had been smarter, it might not have gone so easily. But that was the fun of having arrogant opponents. They never considered they could be wrong.

'What else?'

'I had been in Lothering for years. Years, Cleon. And she still thought…' Really, how arrogant this woman had been would've been hilarious if it didn't have so many bad things involved. But she was arrogant enough to think Leliana would be easy to break, and she was arrogant enough to not even consider that an elf might be a threat to her. I guess that's why there weren't ambushes or something. Ah, I loved arrogance when the enemy had too much of it. 'She still thought I was plotting against her.'

'And?'

'And she didn't trust me. Maybe she never did.' She curled into herself, all small. Fragile. 'She loved me when she could use me, and then when she couldn't, she tried to kill me. Break me.' Talk about an abusive relationship. 'It hurts to realize that.'

'And?'

'She is self-serving, cruel.' Her signs were sharper. 'She uses people, then discards them. But that's how she survives in the life she leads.' You know, thinking about it, maybe another reason she was so arrogant was because Leliana had been in Fereldan, and Orlesians didn't think much of Fereldans. 'But what if she is right, Cleon?' Hmm? 'What is we are the same, just as she said?' Now we were getting to what was making Leliana hole up in her room. 'I… I should have stayed in the Chantry.'

'And what? Died with Lothering?' Perhaps the words were harsh, but I think they were needed to jolt her out of her darker thoughts. 'Besides, given how paranoid she was…'

'But that isn't the point!' Now she was pacing, almost frantic in her signs and movements. 'I was a different person there!' Ah. There we go. 'I forgot my life as a bard while I was in the cloister. I felt safe, didn't have to watch my back all the time!' She gestured wildly, making it hard to read her signs. 'It ruined her! It will ruin me too!'

'Leliana.'

'It's already happened!' Hmm? 'When I killed her, I enjoyed it!' There was the final piece. 'I would have kept stabbing, completely mutilating her, if Aiden hadn't stopped me!' Yes, angry and passionate people did go overboard sometimes. 'Seeing her dead gave me satisfaction!'

'She did deserve it.'

'Who cares?! I still shouldn't have rejoiced in her death. That's what she would have done.' She faced me, eyes almost wild with panic. 'I don't want that, Cleon!' Now she was shaking. 'What we're doing, what we've done… part of me loves it.' I almost couldn't read her signs. Was it bad that I had so much practice in reading shaking signs? 'It invigorates me, and this scares me. I feel myself slipping.'

'No, what you are doing is re-learning the darker side of your nature.' Well, time to emulate Hahren Paivel. I think she needed it. 'Everyone is made of light and darkness. Everyone has good and bad within them.' She simply stared, so I continued signing. 'Look, I like it too. I like hunting, no matter what it is. I always took pleasure in hunting down shemlen who got too close.' Which was why I knew, sort of, what to say. 'The trick is to check yourself. Have others look after you.' Hahren Paivel had promised me he would do so, and then as I got older, I found the checks myself. 'Did you not have fun with it?'

'I…' Slowly, her shaking eased. 'I did… like it. The intrigue was so dangerous, so chaotic, but so exciting. But it destroyed my life.'

'But haven't you been using those same skills to save us?' I smiled as she slowly nodded. 'Do you have to be just one thing, Leliana? Why can you not be both a bard and a Chantry sister? None of us are only one thing.'

'…True…' She tentatively smiled back. 'Here, knowing the freedom of the road and the uncertainty of tomorrow, I feel alive again. There were times, in the Chantry, I wondered if I was not peaceful, but bored. Yet…' She shook her head. 'I should… think on this more. But my head is clearer now.'

'I thought so.' I smiled smugly, and she rolled her eyes. 'Come on. Let's go outside. Take a couple people along. Maybe Zevran?'

'No, not him.' She glanced away when I gave her a confused look. 'We are friends, and I did bow out, but…' Oh, she still felt a little jealous since Zevran and Aiden were a couple now. 'Not exactly who I should be around when my head is a mess still.'

'Then some others.' I wondered who was free. 'But outside. Sunshine is good for you.'

'Yes, and Aiden?' She gave me a warm, warm smile. 'Thank you. Truly.'

'Anytime, Leliana. We're friends.'

'Yes!'


It turned out that two very unexpected people were also free. Elspeth and Alistair. I was very hesitant to have them come out with us. But, as Elspeth pointed out, they were already the target of assassins, we had some more just this morning, so they were in danger no matter where they went. She was so nonchalant about it that I was almost worried, but then I remembered. She had spent most of her life as the target of assassins, and had to go about her day as if she was in no danger at all. So, I decided to go for it, under some conditions. Condition one: they had to be wearing armor. Condition two: both had to carry melee weapons. Elspeth had been a little reluctant about that one, but she did agree to at least wear 'Uncle Maric's Blade'. We were definitely going to get her lessons with it.

Condition three was that we all wore hooded cloaks to better hide our faces. While they agreed easily, I realized something crucial. You could make Alistair wear protection, but that didn't mean much when he went around playing with the children in the market. It was a shame I was fretting so much, as the scene was actually rather fun to watch. Everyone's smiles were so wide, and I knew the laughter must be bright, just by their expressions.

'Ah, this was exactly what I needed,' Leliana signed. She was smiling softly, and she might have been laughing as some kids climbed up onto Alistair's shoulders. 'He is good with children'. Now that I remembered, hadn't he also played with the children in Zathrian's clan? 'They know he is a good person, and so gravitate towards him.'

'I think they just know he is a giant kid at heart,' I signed back, grinning. This time, I knew she laughed, her head tilting back with the sound. 'What? He is.'

'He is. But he is only twenty.' She gave me a look. 'Honestly, all of you are rather young for your roles.'

'Well, the Creators thought young ones were needed for this task apparently.'

'I do wish the divine saw smaller pictures. It would make things so much easier on us.' She made a face and my grin widened. 'Now, where is Elspeth?'

'She is talking to some merchant from Antiva over there.' I pointed to a part of the market not too far away. 'Knows him form there.'

'I wonder if he is a Crow.' Hmm? 'I have seen many Crows over the years disguise themselves as merchants.' Well, it was a convenient cover. 'Then again, maybe not. Unless someone talks, we will likely not know.'

'So long as it doesn't result in a knife to the gut, I'm happy.' There was a strange bit of nerviness to her resulting smile, so I changed the subject. 'That is the fourth time his hood has almost fallen off.'

'Maybe we should have pinned it.' Maybe. 'Oh, wait, I might have some hairpins on me.' Why would she have those? 'They aren't bad makeshift lockpicks.' Really?

'Teach Zevran. He's deplorable at that.'

'To be fair, I think he normally seduced his way into his targets.' I could see that. A part of me worried that was what he was doing with Aiden, but it was quiet. Zevran had proven himself a true friend time and again, and the almost clunky way he and Aiden flirted made me think he was doing his best to be as genuine as possible.

'I am back.' Elspeth walked up, smiling softly as the kids raced about for a game of tag, with Alistair being it. He made sure to keep his steps small and gestures slow so that they could easily escape him. 'I had a question, though,' she signed, focusing on us again.

'Is it how you just fell in love with Alistair again?' I immediately teased. She actually pouted, and I grinned. 'Sorry, not sorry. What is it?'

'If you are bored, perhaps we can do a request on the board there.' The… board? 'The Chantry will post little jobs for people to take up. Think of them like bounties.' Oh, I see. 'Regardless, there is one that involves three criminal organization running amok. I thought it might be nice to get some movement in us.' Her hand hovered awkwardly over the blade on her hip. 'And some field practice with this.' Ah. 'Plus, we all have our weapons, and it will help out Denerim.'

Well… 'That does sound interesting.' I nodded, smiling. 'Yes, why not? Let's pretend to be mercenaries for a bit.' Though, that now led to a problem. 'We have to extract Alistair.'

'I'll handle that. You and Leliana just find a quick escape route.' Ha! 'Wish me luck!'

'Luck!'


It took a lot of running around to get those bands of criminals to die and stay dead. A lot of them liked pretending to be dead to catch us in the back. Which was nerve-wracking for me since I couldn't hear the bastards. Elspeth thankfully had my back for me, and typically just stayed as close as she could to guard. After all, she wielded a sword for the fights, and I noticed that while she wasn't very good, she honestly wasn't too bad either. I'd never fully trust her life to it, but if she ran out of arrows, it would be a good backup. Which was the point. Also, these criminals were incredibly weak. Not that I expected anything, but seriously, why hadn't the fancy guard people around here taken care of it themselves?

'So, how good was the pay?' I asked. Apparently, when you were done, you had to turn in something to the Chantry person running the board. Then you could get paid. Or something. I don't know; I let Elspeth handle it. 'I never did really get shemlen money, and I think we collected so much over our travels that I have no proper base.'

'It's really not that bad,' Alistair explained. I could tell he wanted to go play with the kids again, but Leliana blocked his path. It was just better this way. 'Providing you don't splurge or anything, you could buy food for the family for a good month or two.' I see. 'I think, anyway.'

'I think so too,' Leliana reassured. She was wearing a bright smile now. 'But it doesn't matter. We did a good thing today.' Which she had needed. An example of how her skills were useful for good things too. 'So… oh, hello, there!' Oh, hey, shemlen in armor walking up. This was going be good or bad. 'Can we help you?'

'I heard you Wardens were the ones who completed my request,' the man commented. He looked confused by Elspeth's signing, but I waved my hand, and he simply nodded. Good. 'The name is…' I think he actually spelled out the name, to make it easier for Elspeth to trace out the letters for me. K-Y-L-O-N. Kylon. 'I am a sergeant of the city guard, in charge of the lower market.' I see. 'Don't worry. I'm not here to make trouble for you. I'm no fool. If I asked my men to apprehend you, they'd run and cry big sobbing tears in their courtesan's bosoms, and leave me all alone to be skewered.' …I liked this shemlen! 'Don't disturb the peace in the market, and that is well enough for me.'

'So, is there a reason you are having trouble?' Alistair asked. I gave him a warning look, but Elspeth shook her head. The look in her eyes screamed to let him do this. What was she thinking? Ah, well. I'd learn eventually. I'd just trust her for now. 'Are things that bad in the market district?'

'The Lower market isn't deemed important by the captain of the guard, even less so with Arl Asshole, sorry, Arl Howe in charge.' I really liked this shemlen. 'So, when I finally get the new men I request…' He jerked a thumb towards one standing guard nearby. 'I get the delightful surprise that they're Lord Such-and-Such's illegitimate, ill-trained, moronic whelps.'

'And this is not helpful.'

'Not in the least.' Kylon shook his head. 'Lord keep sending me more of them. It's decent pay, low expectations, a uniform. So I have a legion of bastards to protect the market from pickpockets, stabbings, and whatnot. And that's not even going into Arl Howe's specially picked men.' Just by his expressions, I knew he was being as sarcastic as possible and I loved it. 'They are the worst of the lot.'

'How?'

'Yes, Arl Howe's men." HAHAHAHAHAHA! 'Oh, wait, the word, not the name.' Kylon managed a weak smile as Alistair burst into laughter, nearly throwing his hood off by accident as he tossed his head back. 'Now, with the bastards, I just have to worry about gambling, the odd bit of drool, or yelling at them too loudly and hurting their poor feelings and then getting chewed out by their noble fathers.' He sighed, though, crossing his arms. 'But I swear, Arl Howe's men are more criminal than the miscreants we occasionally arrest. Some of them are the criminals we have to arrest.'

'Well, in that case, do you want some help?' Yes. Yes, let's help this wonderful shemlen who is giving me so much amusement.

'What? You're serious?' Kylon looked surprised, but then smiled warmly. 'Yes, I can. We have a popular… establishment that is crawling with mercenaries. Called the Pearl.' There… was something more to this, based on how Elspeth started giggling. 'Oh, I don't have to be tactful to avoid the sin of dirtying up a noble lady's ears for once? Perfect!' What was going-? 'So, the Pearl is the most popular brothel in Denerim.' …What was a brothel, again? I felt like I should know that word, but I was just coming up with blanks. I doubted it had anything to do with broth, though. 'Now, if I send my men, one of them might, Maker forbid, get hurt and I have to explain to their noble fathers that being a guard is actually dangerous." I was grinning so widely. This was just great.

'So, we go there, bust some heads?'

'Yes, beat down any that act out of line. Send a message.' He got a very serious look on his face. 'Now, I said beat down, not kill. Let me make that really clear.' Okay? Wait, so, for once, we weren't being asked to kill people? That was new. 'Not on fire, or exploded.' What. 'Or Maker knows whatever kind of grisly death you can dream up.' Did we have a reputation? We might have a reputation. 'Ah, sorry.' He suddenly became sheepish. 'Used to giving orders to my boys.' Can we keep this shemlen? Please? 'Just… leave them breathing, please?' Maim and muzzle, not death and destruction. Got it.

'Not a problem.' Well, this was going to be an interesting day.


The whole place smelled of sex and burning incense. I think I remembered what a 'brothel' was now. I had to admit, though. The workers here had very nice taste in underwear. They also just looked very nice. Easy to see why this place was popular.

'A group of armored folk.' I focused on the woman who approached, Elspeth signing her words for me. 'Well, you don't seem to be mercenaries,' she noted with a shrug of her shoulders. 'Did that scamp Kylon send you to help?' The woman smiled slowly when we nodded. 'Glad that he hasn't forgotten about us.' She pointed towards the side, towards a group of armored people laughing. 'The mercenaries, damn them, are right there.' One of them snagged a girl clad in only underwear by the waist, and she looked disgusted and distressed. 'Blood isn't good for customers, but neither are these louts. I want them gone. Do it however the make you.' She left without another word, chatting with a client. I assumed client. He was fully dressed, after all.

The four of us just exchanged a look and shrugged before walking right up to them. Might as well get this over with. We stood nearby as we waited for them to take a break in drinking long enough to actually pay attention.

When they did, they clearly weren't very happy. 'Turn around and walk, stranger,' the apparent leader warned. 'This affair is for White Falcons only.' The girl gave us the most beseeching look. Whatever they were paying, it was definitely not enough for her to put up with their shit.

'By order of the guard, you are to vacate the premises at once,' Alistair told them seriously. He actually looked rather impressive for once. Normally, he was awkward, dorky, but right now, he was confident. Which was good, because he did have to take center stage here. Leliana couldn't, because she was Orlesian, and I didn't like talking. Elspeth could but I had a feeling they'd say something to make us forget Kylon wanted this to be non-violent.

'Well, get a look at this guard, boys!' The leader stood, getting in Alistair's face. Well, trying. Alistair was half a head taller. I saw Alistair automatically try to squirm away, try to lessen his presence. It was his natural reaction to authority figures. Run away, and pray they didn't hurt him. 'You're telling us what to do?' But Leliana pressed a reassuring hand into his back, and when Alistair glanced over at Elspeth and me, we made sure to smile.

'Well, I suppose that would be rude.' Alistair smiled warmly. 'But you're hoping to be hired by nobles, right? Nobles want strong, reliable mercenaries.' He waved at the ones drinking. 'You are not really giving that impression, drinking so much before the sun has set.'

'…You… do have a point…' Wait, what? Just a single thing and that… what. 'Men, let's clear out.' No, seriously, what was this nonsense? I thought we would have to intimidate them! I thought we would have to almost come to blows, maybe do a bit of fighting to show them how stupid it was to mess with us! But a little bit of persuading actually worked? 'Wouldn't want to get on the nobles' bad sides.' What sort of messed up world was I in where things were actually easy?!

I was still in shock as they just left. That was too easy. I looked at the others, certain I was missing something, but they looked just as startled. Okay. Something was going to give. There was a catch somewhere. There had to be. Nothing was ever easy for us.

'Looks like you lot handled that easily.' The woman from before returned to us, beaming. 'Thank you,' she told us. 'And tell Kylon I owe him one.' There was a soft smile to her words, and I half-wondered if there was something between them. Maybe not. It could be that she was just glad someone was looking out for her and hers. 'I have to get back to work, but if you ever want our services, I'll give you a discount.' I think Morrigan would literally kill me.

Still feeling a little uneasy, I led the way to the entrance. It took me a couple of steps to realize Elspeth wasn't falling, and I turned back, wondering what was wrong.

'I… will catch up,' she signed at my questioning look. She had a bright smile on her face. Well, bright for her, at least. 'I see someone familiar I must talk to.' She pointed to the corner, where a dark-skinned lady wearing clothes that shows a lot of her considerable cleavage, and even more of her very shapely legs, was drinking. 'I will not be long. Promise.' She waved and headed over, the lady laughing and greeting her warmly. Um… who was this? What was going on?

Shrugging it off, I just decided to leave, trusting Elspeth to not be too long. Leliana and Alistair followed, both as confused as I was. Seriously, this had just become one very weird day. Fen'harel, what sort of trick were you pulling?

We headed down a few streets, careful to not go too fast or far so that Elspeth could find us easily. To my surprise, Kylon was actually not far away from the Pearl at all, apparently leading a patrol of some of the most bored looking people in armor I had ever seen. 'I was hoping I would find you here,' he greeted warmly. Since Elspeth wasn't here, Leliana signed for me. 'Got word of the Pearl.' Already? 'I don't know how, but you got them to leave with no fuss at all.' This was just bothering me! 'The Pearl's… workers will-'

'No one gives orders to my men but me!' It took a moment to read that, since there was a significant delay between the reaction and Leliana remembering to translate for me. I just blinked slowly at the group. 'A little lesson in respect is in order!' Oh. Here we go. This was the catch. An ambush.

'Well, this is going to get messy.' Kylon sighed, shaking his head. 'Well, if you lot want to kill them, feel free.' Well, that was convenient, since they were coming to kill us.

This was also where I realized something rather startling. These guys were weak. And we weren't. I never… really could gauge how strong we were. It always felt like we were running as fast as we could to just stay in place, constantly learning in order to be stronger, because the foes were stronger.

But these guys? They weren't stronger. They were mercenaries, who trained to fight talented soldiers. But we weren't just talented soldiers. We were people who had to train, long and hard, to kill things that would tear a shemlen to shreds. We fought against the darkspawn and the taint. We fought against demons. Fen'harel's teeth, we had fought dragons. Alistair had even been part of the group that fought and killed a high dragon.

Why was I only really realizing how 'easy' this was as I flitted from shadow to shadow, striking fast and quick before darting back, keeping my eyes open for any stray movements. If shemlen had one advantage over any of the things we fought, it's that they could survive a great deal of punishment, and what would be fatal for a darkspawn, demon, or dragon wasn't necessarily fatal for a shemlen.

But shemlen were not mindless like darkspawn, who constantly charged even over their dead to continue the fight. Shemlen were not incorporeal like demons, who barely felt pain until it was all too late. Shemlen were not completely covered in scaled-armor like a dragon. Shemlen flinched back from pain, paniced when their fellows died, and had so many weak joints to exploit.

Maybe I was realizing it now, instead of earlier with the criminal groups, because I hadn't been expecting a 'real' fight from the criminal groups anyway. And I had just been grateful to be moving around again. Training and sex only made your heart pump so much, after all. Still, maybe I should give more credit to them. Just because they had been weak to me… well, they might have been strong to a guard.

The last one fell to one of Leliana's arrows, and the three of us stretched luxuriously, shaking out limbs. Nothing but superficial injuries on all three of us. To borrow a phrase from Zevran, we were ridiculously awesome, apparently. …Ah, this wasn't good. I was going to get a big head from this. Oh, well. The Creators would throw something stupidly challenging at us soon, I bet.

'And people just voluntarily attack you lot?' Kylon asked, surveying the corpses as he walked up. Leliana signed for me, fingers shaking slightly as battle-fever ebbed away and aches began setting it. Just because it was easy didn't mean things didn't strain. 'Are they just stupid?' He shook his head, looking like he might be laughing. 'Well, this is a poor foot to start off asking for help on a second thing…'

'Oh, don't worry, we're always ready for ritual dismemberment!' Alistair laughed. I noticed belatedly that his hood was down, revealing his face, but no one seemed to react, so I hoped things would be all right. 'Though, we do normally save that for Tuesdays.'

'Well, if a little blood doesn't break the deal…' I think at this point we were just used to blood. 'I've gotten some complaints from the Gnawed Noble Tavern.' If this place was important, we should really figure out 'one' sign for it, instead of the three we were using. Still, it invoked a delightful mental image. I liked pretending it was Howe or Loghain being gnawed on. By a dragon. 'Apparently some mercenaries have invaded.' Invaded. Right. 'Nothing violent has occurred. The mercenaries are probably just disturbing the nobles' conversations, or eavesdropping. One of the two.' Could we hire them? Eavesdropping information was probably good at this point. 'Just drop the deadbeats out of there. The barkeep, Edwina, doesn't mind a little blood. Calls it 'sport'.' Oh. Lovely. 'Do what you will. Anything goes, so long as you don't kill a noble. Because just think of the tragedy.' I liked him! 'Best of luck.'

'Thank you.' This was the best day I have had in a long while. Weirdness of things being easy aside.


We ended up having to duck back into the Pearl to fetch Elspeth. Apparently, she and this woman, a pirate named Isabela, got into a few rounds of some card game known as Wicked Grace. Both of them kept cheating and laughing over it. I think this Isabela taught her some 'Duelist' tricks or something in exchange for the card game? There was something about that in the shaking signs.

I wondered if this was more of how Elspeth 'would' have been, if she had been allowed to grow up in a single place. Well, nothing for it. Elspeth was Elspeth, and Elspeth was apparently very good at cheating when it came to cards.

'I do not cheat!' Though, she kept insisting otherwise. 'I simply count cards.' She looked so offended. 'It is a perfectly legitimate strategy!'

'Of course it is, master of Wicked Grace,' Alistair teased. She scowled, pouting. 'Ah, but here we are, in the tavern." It was a surprisingly nice looking place. "Dealing with the… what was it? Pearly Oars?'

'Crimson Oars,' I signed. Names of mercenaries were so fascinating, really. 'Who are in the side room over here, apparently.' We only had to mention helping the guard before we were shown the way. 'Ah, that must be them.' They looked rather lively, drinking and dancing. 'Alistair, you're up.' I grinned at his grimace. 'I knew you'd be thrilled.'

Alistair mimed a punch at my head, before sighing, visibly steeling his nerves. Leliana patted his shoulder, and Elspeth and I gave him smiles. He smiled back, took one more deep breath for courage, and walked forward to meet the mercenaries.

This time, there was no awkward waiting around. The leader noticed us immediately. 'What are you looking at?' I didn't need to hear to know that the man was booming and being melodramatically boisterous. 'We're the Crimson Oars!' The gestures and expressions told me it already and, even if they didn't, the laughter the others bit back would have filled me in.

'There have been some… complaints against you,' Alistair informed them. He was fighting a smile. 'We are here on behalf of the guard.'

'Complaints?' The apparent leader threw back his head in a laugh. 'We have good coin, and we are breaking none of your laws!' I was meeting the most fascinating shemlen today. 'I spit on your complaints!'

'Your laws?' Alistair tilted his head. 'Are you foreign, then?'

'We are mercenaries from all over the world! We have won many battles, and tonight, we drink before the next!'

Alistair then said something in reply, but Elspeth stopped signing to just stare. I glanced at Leliana, curious, and she signed, 'he said something in what I think is Nevarran, but I don't know.' …Since when did Alistair know Nevarran?

Whenever that was, it made this Crimson Oar Leader laugh again. 'Good effort,' he praised. There was respect in his eyes now. 'A bit clunky.'

'Sorry,' Alistair laughed. Leliana took up signing, since Elspeth was still staring. 'I am still learning.' He pointed to Elspeth, who rapidly composed herself. 'She is the master.'

'Oh?' There was more, but Leliana threw up her hands to tell me 'I don't even know'. I frowned as Elspeth replied, apparently perfectly and fluently since the conversation went on for a while. I noticed the other mercenaries relax… and I noticed something else. There were nobles watching us. Watching, studying. I could see by their eyes. They were using this scenario to judge us.

Regardless, the Oar Leader was soon laughing again, and apparently switched back to Trade Tongue since Leliana started signing again. 'Oars!' he boomed. 'We go to the docks! For ale and wenches!' He bowed with a little flourish to Elspeth. 'My thanks for telling us of that establishment. It's so nice to hear my native tongue again.'

And they just left too. This time, I doubted there would be an ambush, since more had been involved, but… ah… this was still strange. I was used to a lot more pain involved in accomplishing goals.

Regardless, we left the tavern easily, with some thankful smiles thrown our way, and we made it maybe two blocks before Elspeth rounded on Alistair, clearly furious.

'I cannot believe you tried that,' she hissed, eyes flickering in worried anger. She gave Alistair a look that made him laugh and duck behind me. 'Cleon is no shield. I yell at him too.' Though, not for a while. Still, I grinned and twisted away. '…See, he's on my side.'

'Then I simply must be on Alistair's to balance it out!' Leliana laughed, signs dancing as Alistair hid behind her. 'Still, it was good, yes?'

'His accent is still atrocious.'

'But he's learning. After all, he was able to recognize that man's accent enough to place what his native language likely was.' Leliana's smile was warm and bright. 'Apparently is a good student, eager to please.' She added something else, without signs, and Elspeth's face went pink. 'Aw, so cute~'

'One of these days, Leliana…' Curious as to what Leliana said, I glanced at Alistair, who shook his head with a slightly confused look. 'It's a dialect thing.' I returned my attention to Elspeth, who signed the sentence again just in case I missed something. Thankfully, I had seen it all from the corner of my eye. 'I haven't taught him that yet.' Interesting… 'Oh, Sergeant Kylon.'

'Hello again,' Kylon greeted. He looked like he was about to burst into song. 'Edwina sends her regards, though she does wish there had been a little more sport to it.' His smile was warm. 'Thank you. You've been a wonderful help.' I noticed, however, that his focus was on Alistair, and that is when a thought occurred to me.

I wondered… if he asked for help not necessarily because he needed it, but because he wanted to see what Alistair did. He wanted to see if Alistair was willing to get his hands dirty to protect the peace.

That must be why Elspeth was adamant we do this. We just simultaneously made things a little safer for Denerim, something Loghain hadn't been doing, and gained Alistair some favor without even trying.

…I wasn't used to things going our way. When was something going to happen?


Author's Note: Kylon is fantastic because he has one of the most memorable lines in Origins, imo. Also, this is Leliana's 'hardening' quest, though she had already been on the path of it. Had Alistair take up some initiative to showcase character development. Also had a little joke on how easy persuasion makes some quests. Isabela will teach the Duelist specialization if you have sex with her or win a game of Wicked Grace with her. The Crimson Oar Leader being a native to Nevarra is something I made up.

Next Chapter – Layla