Harl elbowed Duncan as a dwarven woman entered the warehouse the wardens were using as a camp. Duncan rose to greet her, then blinked as she drew back the hood to reveal crimson hair. "My Lady Aeducan, what brings you here?" Duncan smiled at the dwarven woman.

She touched a finger to her lips. "I'm not here, Duncan. And we aren't having this conversation." She beckoned him closer. "I was able to prevent the casteless from being summarily executed, but it seems someone else arranged for him to be removed from the prison."

Duncan sighed. "Some insulted noble, I assume?"

Lady Aeducan shook her head. "No, I fear he is back in the hands of the carta. It seems a particular idiot called Beraht may have been behind what occurred today. Which does, fortunately, provides us with a few more options. I gave quite the tongue-lashing to the guards who were supposed to be watching him, and made it clear if they don't want their princess to personally take an interest in making their lives miserable, they will find him and bring him back alive so a proper trial can be done. The guards are out looking now, but you may want to keep an ear out, perhaps offer your 'assistance'." She glanced over her shoulder. "If they were just going to kill him, they'd have done it in the cell. If we act quickly, we may yet save him."

Duncan nodded. "I appreciate your help, Lady Aeducan."

She nodded, then handed Duncan a wrapped package. He glanced at her curiously. "I intended to present this to whoever won this morning's proving. I can no longer do so officially, of course, but..." she winked at Duncan. "It belonged to Foral Aeducan, an ancestor of mine who served as a Grey Warden."

He nodded and slipped the package into his satchel. "I'll see what we can find out."

She drew the hood back over her head. "I'll clear the way for you, as much as I can. Good luck." She left.

Duncan looked over at the other wardens. "You heard the lady."

Alistair shot him a smile, and Harl gave him a playful salute as they followed the other wardens out of the room. Duncan exited last, and headed towards the commons.

#

Kevan looked up at the ceiling. He was pretty sure it looked different than it had before he'd been knocked unconscious. He could hear something hissing. It took a few moments for him to realize it was Leske's voice. "Are you awake yet? Psssst... Can you hear me? How hard did they sodding hit you, anyway? Did you have to put up such a fight?"

"Leske? What happened?"

"As soon as everyone say your face-brand, the place went mad. Shut all the doors, examined everyone for family and caste. One of the guards recognized me and figured we must be working together. They burned three candles to the stump interrogating me about who put us up to this. I think they knew, you know, about Beraht."

Kevan felt his blood go cold. "Beraht said he'd go for Rica if we're caught. We need to go."

"You think I didn't look for a way out? Rica's not the only one in danger here. They could kill us! But these cells are built straight into the wall, and they confiscated all my lock-picks. What's it look like on your side? You see any way out?"

Kevan started to look around just as the guard entered. He went to his knees, holding the back of his head, and coughed weakly. The guard gave him a concerned look, and Kevan let himself slump against the bars. He reached out and grabbed the guard as soon as he came into range, yanking the man into the bars with enough force to crack his skull. He heard Leske laugh as he grabbed the guard's keys. A few moments later, they were free and grabbing gear.

"If we want to get away with this, we can't leave one man alive to tell Beraht what we've done," Leske said.

"Where are we?"

"Carta hide out."

"Ah. Well. Okay. So, kill everyone isn't that bad a plan after all."

#

They'd killed almost a dozen men before they reached the main room of the hideout. He could hear Beraht's voice. "I'm cutting the whore free. If that turncoat brother of hers doesn't know his place, I don't need precious Rica either."

"Rica? That the one you got all done up in lace?" The thug leered. "I been wanting to get my hands on that." Kevan made a mental note of who to kill first.

"Heh, I know what you mean..." another man said, making a lewd gesture.

Beraht spread his hands in a gesture of generosity. "She's yours if you want her, boys. And let me tell you... it tastes as good as it looks." Beraht. He was definitely killing Beraht, Kevan thought to himself as the thugs began to laugh. Beraht looked up as they entered the room. "What in sod-all is that doing out of its cage? Let's teach this little duster a lesson."

Kevan's knife caught the first thug in the eye before the man could draw his blade. Leske moved in on the second thug as Kevan moved towards Beraht. Beraht stumbled backwards as he drew his blade. He managed two wild swings before Kevan cut him down.

Behind him, he heard Leske give a joyful laugh. "Did you see him there, all, 'When we're done with you?' And you just charged in and sodding slaughtered him! You have to be the luckiest duster in Orzammar. Beraht's dead and we're standing here. Hail to the sodding king!"

Kevan cleaned his daggers on Beraht's vest. "As long as he never made it to Rica."

"Well, he was sure talking like she's still alive. But I won't turn down the chance to go take another peek. Hey, could you tell Rica I killed him? I mean, it doesn't do you any good if she thinks you're the most virile warrior in all the Stone..."

Kevan shot him a look, then turned his gaze down to the dagger he held. "Do you really want to say that when I'm holding a weapon?"

"An excellent point. Now let's go find somewhere to hide."

#

Duncan smiled as he approached the knot of guards outside of Beraht's store. It appeared the ruse would be unnecessary, as the casteless had somehow managed to free himself and his erstwhile companion. Still, it appeared the danger was not over, and he was about to be taken back into custody.

"There they are! Seize the fugitives!" a guard shouted.

The leader of the guards walked towards the two men that had emerged from the shop. "Drop your weapons and walk down slowly. We will use force if you resist."

"If this is your idea of a heroic rescue, you're too late," Kevan called out to the guards. He smirked.

"You do not speak until the shapers have judged you!"

Duncan stepped into the circle the guards had made around the two dwarves. "One moment, my friend. Did you not suggest this Beraht might have arranged their convenient escape?"

The leader of the guard glared at Duncan. "Regardless, the penalty for impersonating a higher caste is death."

Duncan remembered what Saitada had said. "If Beraht is as influential as you say, perhaps he also masterminded this Everd's impersonation."

He heard Kevan's amused voice. "Beraht won't be a problem anymore."

"He's dead?" The captain of the guard looked shocked, then quickly got himself under control. Duncan made a mental note to mention the man's reaction to the princess. "Beraht had many enemies, but also powerful allies. They-"

"Beraht would have butchered us if he hadn't killed him first!" Leske said.

Duncan glanced down at Kevan. "Your friend has once again demonstrated his courage. We Grey Wardens travel far and wide in search of those with the potential to join our ranks. It seems I have found one."

"What are you saying?" Kevan gave him a confused look.

"That I have found what I sought in Orzammar. Let me make my offer formal. I, Duncan of the Grey Wardens, extend the invitation for you to join our order."

"This man is a criminal," the guard captain said, shaking his head. "You can't do this!"

"I can and I am," Duncan said before turning his attention back to the man beside him. "It would mean traveling to the surface lands and thus leaving your people, but it does offer you the chance to strike a blow against the darkspawn and the Blight."

"Then sodding yes, let's get out of here now." Kevan's face broke into a smile.

"Then before these witnesses, I hereby recruit you into the Grey Wardens. Know that you are most welcome."

"This is highly irregular. The warrior families will be..." The captain of the guard trailed off as the rest of the wardens began to gather, along with some of the princess's men. "...most upset." He shook his head, and the guards began to wander off. Duncan noted with some amusement that they'd completely forgotten about the existence of the second casteless in their eagerness to be away.

"Look at you, you duster! A Warden! And to think I knew you when you were stealing bread!" the other casteless was saying.

Duncan reached into his satchel and removed the package Saitada had given him. He wished he could announce it as a gift from the princess, but thought it wiser not to at this point. "Before we brave the Deep Roads, I would like to make you a gift of this mace, since you have so few possessions of your own. It was once wielded by the Warden Foral Aeducan. I believe he was related to your king. I know you will continue his proud example." He stepped away to give his new recruit a few moments to speak to his friend, and noticed one of the princess's men was standing protectively behind a young casteless woman.

#

"From Dust Town to the Grey Wardens... You don't watch out, salroka, you'll end up a Paragon. And then I'll never hear the end of it," Leske said.

Kevan smiled at him, then looked to see Rica approaching. He gave Leske a look. "If you lay a finger on Rica, I'll be back with an army."

Leske shook his head. "Why do I think you mean that literally? I'm going to miss you, duster. Now go. Before I make a fool of myself."

Rica threw her arms around him. "I can't believe you're really leaving. And as a Grey Warden! When Ser Duncan said he wanted to recruit you, I almost fell over. When I heard you were arrested, I rushed to the arena, but by then you were gone, and Ser Duncan and the princess were telling everyone they had to find you."

"Will it be safe for you if I leave?" Kevan whispered into her ear as he hugged her tightly.

Rica smiled up at him, her eyes bright with happiness. "This has been a lucky day for both of us. I spent the afternoon with my new patron. If everything works out... maybe I can even greet you as an equal if you return."

"This the man you spoke of earlier?"

"Yes." She let out a small, happy laugh. "He calls me his amber rose. Isn't that sweet? He has a voice like a poet. He already promised to move Mother and me into better lodging, where he can find me more quickly when he wants me."

"And you'll be happy like this?"

"I am. Truly. I could never make a life fighting darkspawn. But if I can bear a son who makes his house proud, that's all I can ask. Go, little brother. Make the world a better place." She kissed him on the forehead. Kevan smiled at her, then followed the rest of the wardens back to their camp.

#

"You said your name was Kevan?" Duncan asked.

The dwarf shrugged. "Kevan Brosca." He glanced back towards his sister, and made a decision. "Maybe just call me Brosca."

"Brosca." They walked in silence for a few minutes. Brosca kept turning the mace over and over in his hands as if scarcely believing it was his. "We head into the deep roads tomorrow. A scouting mission more than a hunt." Brosca nodded, and Duncan continued, "after that we are heading topside for a while. A brief stop at Highever and then on to the Ferelden Mage Tower."

"Topside?" Brosca asked, then shrugged. "Not like I have any rank to lose going to the surface."

"Once we get done with this investigation, we'll stop by one of the compounds and make your membership in our order official."

Brosca smiled. "So... about this wardening business..."

"Yes?"

"Do we get paid?"

Duncan smiled. Somehow, he thought his new recruit would do just fine.

#

Duncan made sure he had a few moments to make a personal farewell to the Lady Aeducan.

"How is your new recruit working out?"

"Sort of odd having a recruit for whom sleeping on a rough mat in an unused section of cavern is a step up."

"Ah, but that's also the fine dwarven spirit at work for you. We come from the stone, it's a part of who we are. Put of us in one of those surface 'feather beds' I keep hearing about and then you'll hear some real complaining."

Duncan laughed at that. "He'll be a warden. Feather beds are a threat he'll never have to worry about." He waited until a passing guard moved out of earshot. "Thank you for your assistance."

Lady Aeducan frowned at the passing guard.

"Is something wrong?"

"Politics. Nothing you need to worry about, my friend. Just dwarven politics. A part of me envies your new recruit. I wish I could leave all this behind and go do what needs be done instead of worrying about which Deshyr has his beard in a knot today."

"Not too late for you to pack a bag and come along." For a moment, Duncan found himself filled with the irrational hope that she'd say yes. He told himself, again, not to be foolish.

Saitada smiled. "Everything is arranged for the feint into the Deep Roads tomorrow morning. Good luck, Duncan. And if Orzammar can do more, send word. I'll do what I can."

Duncan nodded, glancing down the hall to where Trian stood, berating the guard. He feared that Orzammar would be a different place once King Endrin passed. A pity Saitada was not the first born. Still, if some of the rumors he'd heard had any truth to him, perhaps that would not be an issue. Endrin was polite to the wardens, but if it were Saitada on the throne... Alas, saying such out loud could only cause problems. As commander of Orzammar's military, Saitada would still be positioned to be of plentiful help to the wardens. Always nice working with the dwarves, who knew better than any the threat of Darkspawn was not some abstract fade notion.

And as a commander, perhaps they would indeed find themselves fighting side by side. He gave her a bow, and went back to join the other wardens.