"So, how can you sense the darkspawn and everything? Is it some sort of magical gift that you receive upon joining the Wardens' ranks?"
Anthatal regretted his decision to abstain from rest the previous night; the last four hours solid had been spent answering an unending stream of questions asked by the young King Cailan. He knew that Loghain could get him out of answering all of these, but he detested the man. His arrogance was almost unbearable; it seemed that he rode through life on the back of his fame.
The tall man shook his head slightly to clear it of these thoughts and answered Cailan's question. "The Joining ceremony is what gives us that power, your Majesty. As part of the ceremony we drink a mixture of darkspawn blood and magical components, and so we take the taint into ourselves."
Cailan made a face. "That can't taste good. Darkspawn blood?"
A wry smile crossed Anthatal's face. "It is not the most pleasant taste in the world, I can assure you."
"You mentioned the taint. What, exactly, is that?"
"The taint is the curse that resides within all darkspawn. Only a strong mind can withstand the taint, as the Archdemon summons his minions through it. If one's mind is not strong enough, they go insane when the taint enters their system. Even for the strongest mind, the taint is fatal. All Grey Wardens die within thirty years of their Joining."
"I've heard that some Warden recruits die during the Joining. Why is that?"
"Some of the components we add to the blood cause death by asphyxiation if the taint is rejected by the body. This prevents more weak-minded Warden recruits from going insane, and asphyxiation is a far better death than the one the taint brings to you."
"So you purposely poison those who cannot withstand the taint's call?"
"Yes, for their sake as well as for that of future Wardens."
Cailan seemed disturbed by this, and a small hope entered Anthatal's mind that perhaps the king was finished interviewing him. Then another question emerged.
"I've heard of dwarves in the Deep Roads who have gone insane because they are forced to eat darkspawn corpses to survive. How is it that the taint is still in them even after they are dead?"
Blast it, thought Anthatal, so much for the end of the interview. "Your Majesty, the darkspawn are the taint. It is as inseparable from their being as magic is from a mage. The dwarves who are forced to eat darkspawn to survive do not have the components to cause asphyxiation, and so they are forced to endure a living hell. The few that I have met have begged me to kill them, to release them from their imprisonment in a broken body. Out of pity, I have done so."
"You'd kill someone if they asked you to?"
"It all depends on circumstance, but if they are in pain, then yes, I would. And I have."
Cailan chewed on this for a few minutes, and then stood up from the table. "Thank you for answering my questions, Anthatal. It is good for me to understand exactly what our army faces here."
Anthatal bowed, inwardly relieved. "My pleasure, your Highness. Please excuse me; I must see to my men."
"Of course, master Warden."
Anthatal bowed again and exited the royal tent, exhaled slowly and walked to the old temple ruin. He slid down and sat against the wall, finally allowing himself the rest he so desperately needed.