Saitada listened idly as Leliana filled them in on the news that had come out of Ostagar. They walked as they talked, and found themselves on the outskirts of the village. Saitada blinked. A man stood in a cage. He was easily the biggest man she'd ever seen, and there was something odd about the cast of his features. She approached.

He looked down at her. "You aren't one of my captors."

"I remember the revered mother mentioning this man," Leliana said. "She called him a savage from the far north."

"I have nothing to say that would amuse a dwarf. Leave me in peace."

"You're a prisoner?" Brehan asked. "Who put you here?"

"I am in a cage, am I not?" The man spoke patiently, almost as if to a child. "I've been placed here by the Chantry."

"The revered mother said he slaughtered an entire family. Even the children."

His tone became regretful. "It is as she says." He folded his arms. "I am Sten of the Beresaad - the vanguard - of the qunari peoples."

"I am Saitada. Pleased to meet you."

"You mock me." He narrowed his eyes. "Or you show manners I have not come to expect in your lands." He shrugged. "Though it matters little, now. I will die soon enough."

"Are you..." Leliana looked from Brehan to Saitada. "Just going to leave him here? To die like an animal? This is too cruel a punishment, even for a murderer."

"I suggest you leave me to my fate," Sten said.

Saitada considered a moment. They were short of resources, short of manpower, and she'd seen what the qunari mercenaries employed by the carta could do. "I find myself in need of skilled help."

"No doubt," he said dryly. "What help do you seek?"

"I am sworn to defend the land against the Blight."

"The Blight? Are you a Grey Warden, then?"

"Yes. I am."

"Surprising." He gave her a considering look. "My people have heard legends of the Grey Wardens' strength and skill... though I suppose not every legend is true."

She wondered what it said about her that she found his dry sarcasm amusing. "Would the revered mother let you free?"

"Perhaps if you told her the Grey Wardens need my assistance. It seems as likely to bring my death as waiting here," he said. She watched his eyes. He was not quite as disinterested in the idea as he was pretending.

Saitada glanced at Leliana. "Well?"

"She'd be in the chantry," Leliana replied.

Saitada nodded, then looked back at Sten. "I'll leave you for now."

"Farewell, then. My thanks, dwarf."

#

Leliana led them to the Chantry. Saitada noted that Alistair and Cathiel were already there, both kneeling in prayer. Cathiel noted her, then nudged Alistair, and the two came to join them. Saitada and Brehan followed Leliana into the chantry.

Saitada glanced at Brehan. The Dalish man was visibly uncomfortable, and drawing stares from nearly everyone they passed. A couple templars went so far as to put their hands onto swords. Leliana's presence seemed to keep them at bay. The sister led them into a room off to the side.

A middle aged woman in somewhat more ornate robes was sitting in the room. She smiled up at Leliana. "Good day, Sister Leliana. I'm surprised to see you're still in Lothering."

"It is good to see you as well, your Reverence," Leliana said, her voice filled with respect.

"I do not recognize your companions. Greetings. Will you be making a donation to the chantry? Our need has never been greater."

To Saitada's surprise, Brehan stepped forward. He offered a small trinket, and Saitada recognized it as the one he'd fought Jerath for back at the barn. "I fear we have little to offer," he said, bowing his head. "But perhaps this can fetch a price."

She accepted, and then her eyes widened as she took a closer look. "These poor souls will weep at your generosity. Thank you," she said. She smiled. "What can I do for you, then?"

"I want to talk about Sten, the qunari you imprisoned," Saitada said.

Her voice became weary, and a bit uncertain. "It might have been kinder to execute him, but I leave his fate to the Maker. Why does he interest you?"

"Is there any way I can convince you to release him?"

"Then his next victims might count you and me as their murderers."

"I was thinking you might release him into my custody." Saitada met her eyes. "Defending against the Blight, as a form of atonement."

"And what do you say on this, Leliana? You know your friend better than I."

"These are... unusual times, your Reverence. With us, the qunari might do some good." She looked at Saitada and Brehan, and smiled. "I am sure of it, in fact."

"Were things not so desperate... very well, I trust you. Take these keys to his cage, and Maker watch over you."

"Thank you, your Reverence. Your trust is not misplaced."

#

Saitada undid the lock on the cage. "And so it is done," Sten said. "I will follow you into battle. In doing so I shall find my atonement."

"Thank you, Sten. Glad to have you with us," Saitada said.

"May we proceed?" He looked around. "I am eager to be elsewhere."

She looked around, and saw Brosca, Lenore, Jerath, and Morrigan heading in her direction. She blinked. They looked as though they'd seen recent combat. "Trouble?"

"Nothing we couldn't handle," Brosca said. "Ran a few errands for coin." He patted his beltpouch. "Up to seven sovereigns. I think we've done all we can here." He glanced at Jerath. "Some dumbasses wanting the bounty mistook the kid here for an easy mark. We might want to get a move on before anybody gets notions of revenge."

"Let's head out."

#

"Darkspawn ahead," Brehan reported. He cocked his head to the side. "Two genlocks, three hurlocks, one hurlock alpha."

Saitada drew her sword. "We've got work, people."

It took them only moments to take out the small band. The dwarven merchant was grateful as he collected his scattered gear. He pressed a small carved stone into Cathiel's hand, assuring her it was lucky.

The merchant caught up with them again when they stopped to make camp, and asked to share their camp. Saitada watched at Brosca almost immediately set about dickering to improve their gear. Lenore joined him, talking to the merchant's son.

Saitada gave the qunari an appraising look. "Why are we stopping?" he asked.

"It will be night soon enough, and we'll be lucky to find another campsite this suitable. We're working together, I think I should get to know you."

He shook his head. "There are darkspawn to be fought. Is this delay needful?"

She smiled at his impatience then looked him over again. "Are you all right? You were in that cage a while."

"You are concerned?" He gave her a surprised look. "No need. I am fit enough to fight."

"You said you were in the army?"

"I am."

"Why would the qunari send soldiers here?"

"The antaam are the eyes, hands, and mouth of the qunari. We are how my people know the world."

She cocked her head to the side. "Doesn't that make your view of things a little skewed?"

"Compared to what?"

"Well..." She laughed. "Good question."

"What does anyone truly know of the world? The world changes. We change. The antaam observe what we can, just as you do. There is no point to this. We are keeping the darkspawn waiting."

"True. Let's see if our new friend has any armor that would suit you."

"As you wish."

#

"Yes?" Alistair said.

"Tell me a little about yourself," Cathiel said.

"You first. Did you want to become a Grey Warden?"

"I asked you first."

"You asked in general; I'm asking in particular."

She sighed. "I did. And I didn't. And I did. It's... complicated."

"I was training as a templar for the Chantry before Duncan recruited me. That was a while ago." He sighed.

"So you're not happy in the Grey Wardens?"

"Far from it," Alistair said. "I never wanted to be a templar, anyway." He looked off in the distance. "Duncan saw I wasn't happy, and figured my training against mages could double for fighting darkspawn. Now, here I stand a proud Grey Warden. The grand cleric wouldn't have let me go if Duncan never forced the issue. I'll always be grateful to him."

"You speak fondly of Duncan," she said.

"I spent years in that chantry, hopelessly resigned to my fate. Duncan was the first person who cared what I wanted." He smiled, his eyes sad. "He risked a lot of trouble with the grand cleric to help me."

"Maybe Duncan thought you'd be useful."

"Or maybe he just happens to be a good man." Alistair's voice was sharp. Then his shoulders slumped. "Maybe he was a good man."

"I'm sorry." She sighed. "I suppose I owed him as well. He saved me."

Alistair nodded fondly. "That sounds familiar." He looked over at where the dwarven woman was talking to the qunari. "At the camp, he and Saitada were..."

"They shared a tent most of the way to Ostagar."

"I'm glad." He immediately started blushing. "I don't mean... I just meant..."

"You're glad they had some time together."

"Yeah."

"We should let her know about Arl Eamon."

"I suppose we better."

#

Saitada sighed when Alistair and Cathiel reported to her what Ser Donall had said. "It has been my experience that there is truly no such thing as coincidence. Arl Eamon gets sick just as Loghain betrays his king?" She shook her head. "Redcliff is still our destination. Even if Arl Eamon is indisposed, it's still our best chance. And perhaps there is something we could do to aid him."

"The urn of sacred ashes?" Alistair asked.

"We will need to visit the circle," Saitada said. "Perhaps we can find more information there. What did that note say?"

"It mentioned Brother Genitivi," Cathiel said.

"I know the name. Perhaps that's also a lead worth following. Denerim, however, may not be the safest place for us."

"We need to bring Loghain to justice," Alistair said.

Saitada rested her hand on her blade. "I agree, but the Blight must come first." She looked up at Alistair. "Put aside thoughts of feeding Loghain feet first to a genlock."

"I... wasn't thinking that..."

"Oh. Must just be me then."

"I'm thinking it now though. Good thought."

"Get some sleep."

#

"So, Alistair, how did you become a Grey Warden?" Brehan asked.

"Same way you did. You drink some blood, you choke on it and pass out. You haven't forgotten already, have you?"

"Ha. Ha. Very funny." Brehan turned the spit over the fire. "You want dinner or not?"

"Let's see, I was in the Chantry before. I trained for many years to become a templar, in fact. That's where I learned most of my skills."

Lenore's head came up. "You were a mage-hunter?"

He nodded. "That's what I was trained for, though I never got to hunt any actual mages. I ended up joining the Grey Wardens before I took the sacramental vows." He shrugged. "It's really for the best. I'm not exactly the Chantry type, if you haven't noticed. I don't think I would have made a very good templar." A note of melancholy entered his voice. "The grand cleric didn't want to let me go. Duncan was forced to conscript me, actually, and was she ever furious when he did. I thought she was going to have us both arrested. I was lucky."

"Why did the grand cleric want to keep you?" Brosca asked.

"I wondered that myself. It's not as if she valued me highly. I think she just didn't want to give anything to the Grey Wardens, is all." He brought his plate to Brehan as Brehan began slicing pieces from the haunch. "The Chantry didn't lose much. And I think I can do more fighting the Blight anyhow rather than sitting in a temple somewhere. I'll always be thankful to Duncan for recruiting me. If it hadn't been for him, you know, I would never... I wouldn't have..."

"He was a good man," Brosca said. He glanced at Saitada, who sat silently.

"He was," Alistair said. "A good man who didn't deserve his fate, that much I'm sure of."

Lenore sighed. "I keep expecting to look over my shoulder and see him catching up to us, all gruff and wondering why we haven't killed all the darkspawn yet." She sighed. "I mean, he was the Commander of the Grey. If anyone could have..." She looked at Jerath. "You saw the battle. Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"I mean, how sure..." Lenore bit her lip. "Did you see..."

"If Flemeth could save us, surely she could have helped him," Brosca said. "Couldn't she?"

"Rather not talk about it," Jerath said.

#

Saitada awoke with a start, the image of the dragon seared into her mind. She shivered.

"Bad dreams, huh?" Alistair said.

She stood, and walked to the campfire. "Must have been something I ate."

"Drank, more like. As in the tainted blood, remember?" Alistair sighed. "You see, part of being a Grey Warden is being able to hear the darkspawn. That's what your dream was. Hearing them."

"Duncan told me. Experiencing is a somewhat different matter." She poked at the fire, then looked up as Jerath handed her a cup of tea.

"The archdemon, it... 'talks' to the horde, and we feel it just as they do. That's why we know this is really a Blight."

"Are these dreams going to happen a lot?" Saitada asked.

"It takes a bit, but eventually you can block the dreams out. Some of the older Grey Wardens say they can understand the archdemon a bit, but I sure can't. Anyhow, when I heard you thrashing around, I thought I should tell you. It was scary at first for me, too."

Saitada looked around the camp. She could see Brehan twitching in his sleep. "Any other surprises I should know about?"

"Other than dying young and the whole defeat the Blight alone thing? No, I'm all tapped out for surprises. Anyhow, you're up now, right? I should get some sleep."

She watched him go back to his bedroll, then looked up at Jerath. "The dreams woke you too?"

"No. Alistair did, just before you woke. Second watch."

She nodded. "You can go back to sleep if you want."

"I'm good."

Clouds drifted over the stars. She sighed, and poked the fire with a stick. "Were you a thief?" He raised his eyebrow at her. "Duncan showed up at that inn, you in tow, and we had to leave town. He conscripted you. Were you a thief, like Daveth?"

"No."

"I won't hold it against you. Brosca used to beat people up for the carta, and I don't hold that against him. What did you do that Duncan had to conscript you out from under the guard?"

"Duncan said we put our pasts behind us, when we become Wardens."

"Fair enough."

#

Saitada gestured to Cathiel and Alistair. "Tell me about this Arl Eamon."

"His sister, Rowan, was Cailan's mother. I've only met Eamon once," Cathiel said. "A few nobles wanted my father to take the crown after Maric died. He refused, and stood with Arl Eamon in support of Cailan."

Saitada nodded, then looked towards Alistair. "You said this Arl Eamon raised you?"

"Did I say that?" He smiled innocently. "I meant that dogs raised me. Giant, slobbering dogs from the Anderfels. A whole pack of them, in fact."

Cathiel grinned. "Really? That must have been tough for them."

"Well, they were flying dogs, you see. Surprisingly strict parents, too, and devout Andrastians, to boot."

"Do you write, at least? I bet your mother's a bitch."

He threw his head back and laughed. "All right, all right! I give! I cannot match your rapier wit!"

Saitada sighed. At least morale was high. "Are you two finished?"

Alistair nodded. "Let's see. How do I explain this? I'm a bastard." He glanced at where Cathiel was opening her mouth and continued quickly. "And before you make any smart comments, I mean the fatherless kind." He looked back at Saitada. "My mother was a serving girl in Redcliffe Castle who died when I was very young. Arl Eamon wasn't my father, but he took me in anyhow and put a roof over my head. He was good to me, and he didn't have to be. I respect the man and I don't blame him any more for sending me off to the Chantry once I was old enough."

"He wasn't your father?" Cathiel asked. "So you know who is?"

"I know who I was told was my father. He died even before my mother did, anyhow. It isn't important. Arl Eamon eventually married a young woman from Orlais, which caused all sorts of problems between him and the king because it was so soon after the war. But he loved her."

"No accounting for taste," Cathiel muttered.

Alistair grinned at her. "Anyhow, the new arlessa resented the rumors which pegged me as his bastard. They weren't true, but of course they existed. The arl didn't care, but she did. So off I was packed to the nearest monastery at age ten. Just as well. The arlessa made sure the castle wasn't a home to me by that point. She despised me." His tone made it clear the feeling was mutual.

Cathiel shook her head. "What an awful thing to do to a child."

"Maybe. She felt threatened by my presence, I can see that now. I can't say I blame her. She wondered if the rumors were true herself, I bet." He shrugged. "I remember I had an amulet with Andraste's holy symbol on it. The only thing I had of my mother's I was so furious at being sent away I tore it off and threw it at the wall and it shattered." He sighed regretfully. "Stupid, stupid thing to do. The arl came by the monastery a few times to see how I was, but I was stubborn. I hated it there and blamed him for everything... and eventually he just stopped coming."

"You were young," Cathiel said, and laid a sympathetic hand on his arm.

He smiled at her. "And raised by dogs. Or I may as well have been, the way I acted. But maybe all young bastards act like that, I don't know." He looked back at Saitada. "All I know is the arl is a good man and well-loved by the people. He was also King Cailan's uncle, so he has a personal motivation to see Loghain pay for what he did. Anyway... that's really all there is to the story."

Saitada nodded, as gears began to turn in her mind. "We will be heading into Redcliffe. I can't say I like what you've said about the Arlessa, but even if Arl Eamon is indisposed, there must be people there who can aid us."

"What about Bann Teagan?" Cathiel asked Alistair.

"Who is Bann Teagan?"

"Arl Eamon's younger brother," Alistair said. "If Arl Eamon is ill, Bann Teagan would be the one to talk to."

"Then let's go find this Bann Teagan."

#

"Slobbering dogs, eh?" Cathiel elbowed Alistair. "That would explain the smell."

"Well, it wasn't until I was eight that I discovered you didn't have to lick yourself clean. Old habits die hard, you know."

She waved a hand in front of her face. "That would explain the breath as well, then."

"And my table manners, too. Though, come to think of it, they weren't all that different from the other templars." He looked up at the sky. "Or did I dream all of that? Funny the dreams you'll have when you sleep on the cold, hard ground, isn't it? Are you having strange dreams?"

She gave him a coy look. "Only ones where we're making mad love in my tent."

He turned bright red. "I... oh. I think I... completely lost my chain of thought..." He brightened. "Oh, there it is. You seem to be okay with Saitada in charge now."

Cathiel sighed. "Truth be told, she's more qualified. Certainly knows more about darkspawn and leading armies than I do." She shrugged. "Do you want to talk about Duncan?"

"You don't have to do that. I know you didn't know him as long as I did."

"He was like a father to you. I understand."

He met her eyes, and nodded. "I... should have handled it better. Duncan warned me right from the beginning that this could happen." He sighed, then looked back towards the camp, face grim. "Any of us could die in battle. I shouldn't have lost it, not when so much is riding on us, not with the Blight and... and everything. I'm sorry."

"You don't need to apologize for grief."

"How stupid of me," he said, looking at her. "Here I am going on and on about Duncan and you... I'm so sorry." He put an arm around her shoulder, and she leaned into him. They sat for some time, lost in their mutual grief.

"We should get some sleep," Cathiel said, looking up at the sky.

"I suppose you are right." He smiled at her. "Thank you. It was good to talk about this with a friend. It means a lot to me."

"And to me," Cathiel said. She rose, and went to find her bedroll.

#

"How many of those potions are you planning on making?" Brosca asked.

"As many as Brehan can find ingredients for," Lenore replied. "The way we seem to be finding trouble, having as much elfroot on hand as possible seems like a good idea. And in a pinch, we can trade them for other supplies." She glanced at the herbs he was picking through. "Are darkspawn actually vulnerable to poison?"

"Yeah. I know, funny ain't it? I mean, it won't kill them, but it can slow them a bit. And we've got those other problems too."

"You said there is one that makes it harder for folks to cast spells?"

"Yeah."

"Teach me the recipe? We could dip Cathiel's arrowheads for when there are emissaries about."

"Good idea."

Half an hour later, they had a batch going. Alistair sauntered up. "Ooh, what's for dinner?" He bent to dip his finger in the pot.

"Not that!" they both yelled.

He jumped back, startled. "Um..."

"What's going on?" Saitada asked.

"Oh, we were making poison," Lenore said. "Alistair tried to stick his finger in it."

Brehan blinked. "You two did happen to recall those were the only pots we have, right?"

Lenore and Brosca exchanged a look. "Um... opps?" Brosca offered.

"On the bright side, emissaries are going to be less of a problem now." Lenore began rummaging for vials.

"Oh for..." Saitada sighed. "Brehan, see if our merchant friends have any more pots. You two..." She shook her head. "Maybe not so close to the cooking fire?" She glanced at the vials Lenore was holding. "Weren't you supposed to be making elfroot potions?"

"Oh. I did."

"Right. Make sure you label everything. Clearly."

"The green ones are elfroot, and the reddish brown ones are poison."

"Label. Everything." Saitada rubbed her forehead. "And store them separately."

"Okay."

#

"What were you doing in that cage?" Saitada asked.

"Sitting, as you observed," Sten replied.

Saitada sighed. She'd asked for that one. "Very funny."

"Thank you."

"Are you going to answer my question?"

"I did." She wasn't sure, but she thought she saw the corner of his mouth twitch just a little. "Parshaara. Was there anything else?"

"Why did you come to Ferelden?"

"To answer a question."

"What was the question?"

"The arishok asked, 'what is the blight?' By his curiosity, I am now here."

"Why would the qunari care about the Blight?"

He looked down at her. "Why do you?"

"I'm a Grey Warden." She shrugged, her tone matter of fact. "It's my job."

This time, the corners of his mouth did lift slightly. "Exactly. You don't ask. Nor do I. The arishok sends me, and I go."

"Don't you have to report back, then?"

"Yes."

"When are you going to do that?"

"Never." He looked away. "I cannot go home."

She knew that feeling. "Well, you can stay with us."

He looked down at her again, eyes slightly widened. "Thank you." He glanced off at the horizon. "Can we move on? We keep the darkspawn waiting."

"Let's go, people."