Part 01: Tainted Hero

Chapter 9: Man or Beast?

Brina was beginning to regret following Morrigan. The torches did little to protect them against the frigid air. How long had it been? An hour?

Jory and Daveth huffed periodically, evidence neither of them approved but followed out of obligation. Alistair glared in silence as he stewed in his irritation and anger.

Morrigan gestured to an opening in the trees. "Ah, here 'tis. Home." The waning moon shone clearly down on a misshapen hut in the middle of a small marsh. The sight of a few glowbugs buzzing above the water and a bullfrog's mating call was oddly welcoming to Brina.

Near the door of the hut blazed a cooking fire with a large kettle suspended above the flames. The unmistakable scent of roasted ram wafted toward the company. Brina gripped her stomach, suddenly aware of her hunger.

An old woman stood over the kettle, stirring. Brina was taken aback at the woman's appearance. That bear fur she's wearing . . . For a moment, I thought she was Augur. This woman seemed even older than Augur had been. Her wrinkles and creases were deeper than Augur's were. Her body was thinner and frailer. Her joints even more pronounced.

Daveth whispered loudly, "I told ya they'd throw us in a big pot."

Brina shrugged. "If the pot is warmer than this forest, I'll jump in first."

Morrigan led them to the fire. "Hello, Mother."

Morrigan seems so young to have a ma so old . . .

The crone looked up, expressionless. Her gravelly voice was sharp and clear. "What's this? Visitors?"

Brina took a deep breath. "We were told you have the contents of the chest from the Grey Warden ruins, Wise One. Can we please have them back?"

The crone let out a hearty laugh. "Wise One? Now there's something I don't hear very often. Actually, I don't believe I have ever heard that. And such manners, from a Highlander no less." The woman looked down her nose. "I would bet your companions first considered you a barbarian. Perhaps they still do."

Alistair growled, "Another witch."

"I-I think we should leave," Jory sputtered.

Daveth hopped from foot to foot. "She reminds me of the witch from those stories. The Witch of the Wilds!"

"Some call me that. You may call me Flemeth."

"Flemeth? The Flemeth?" Alistair asked incredulously.

Flemeth shrugged. "It's a name. Does it matter?"

Alistair clenched his fist, stepping into the firelight. "Did you steal the documents, witch?"

Flemeth didn't flinch. She gave her hand a lazy wave. "I didn't steal them. Your precious wards wore off long ago. I took them and protected them until they could be reclaimed again."

"You- Oh, you protected them?"

"Just as you have misjudged your powerful companion here, so you have misjudged me."

What? Does she mean me? Brina's stomach growled loudly. Oh . . .

Flemeth smirked. "I imagine you're hungry after battling darkspawn all day." A stack of bowls sat nearby. She picked them up and scooped stew into each of them before handing them to Brina and the others.

The men eyed and sniffed the stew suspiciously. Flemeth and Morrigan both began eating.

It does smell delicious. Brina tipped the bowl to her lips. The salty broth tasted strongly of garlic and the gamey flavor of ram meat. The carrots were sweet and potatoes soft.

One by one, Jory, Daveth, and Alistair began eating as well. Relief spread across each face. They ate in silence until all the bowls sat empty.

Flemeth eyed Brina. "You are of the Avvar, are you not?"

"Aye."

"I sense a great journey ahead of you, beyond what even you can comprehend at this time." Flemeth stood and shuffled through the door of her hut. After a few minutes, she emerged with several scrolls in her arms. "Here are your treaties. Guard them carefully; they will be needed as the Blight encroaches ever closer."

Morrigan crossed her arms. "All right, you have what you came for. Begone!"

"Morrigan, these are your guests."

"Fine . . . I will show you out of the forest."

Brina stood to follow Morrigan and hesitated. "Thank you, Flemeth."

Flemeth's eyes flashed as she laid her hand on Brina's shoulder. "We will meet again . . . Grey Warden."

The sight of torches and the guard at the gate sent an audible sigh through the group. They had followed Morrigan through the dark trees for a few hours in the cold. I was beginning to think I'd never see the sky again.

The guard offered a salute when he saw them. "All quiet?"

Alistair saluted as well. "So far. Tell me, did a female soldier named Aveline and a wounded soldier named Carver make it back?"

"Er, I wasn't posted here when they came in, but I did hear about it. They're in the infirmary."

"Thank you, soldier. Come, Brina must go to the infirmary as well."

"Wait, I need to find the kennel master." Brina glanced around, trying to remember where the cages were.

Alistair furrowed his brow. "What for?"

Daveth's face lit up, remembering. "Oh! The flowers for the dogs! Jove's this way."

Alistair began to protest, but they didn't hear him. Brina and Daveth ran as fast as they could. They rounded a corner and saw Jove sitting next to a fire near the Mabari.

"Jove! Are these the flowers you needed?" Brina sat her pack on the ground and dug out Sigfrost's Eye. The white petals were bright in the firelight.

Jove's eyes grew wide, and a smile spread across his face. "Andraste's Grace! Yes! That's it! Hang on." Jove rushed to a chest next to his tent. He pulled a mortar and pestle from the chest and set it in his lap. Jove gestured wildly. "Give it here, quickly."

Jove snatched the flowers from Brina's hand and began to grind it down. He then dug out a cantine from the chest and poured water into the powder. He stirred it, poured in more water, and stirred it again, continuing until the powdered flower had disintegrated. Jove poured the remainder of the water into the bowl and held it out to Brina.

"What am I to do with this?"

Jove gestured toward the sick Mabari. "See if you can get him to drink it. If not, pour it on him and rub it into his skin. The back of his neck is a good spot. Drinking it is better. It'll be more effective that way."

"Why me?" Where is this poor creature's owner?

"I have a good feeling about you."

Brina took the bowl. The Mabari lay with his head on his paws, looking up at her. She approached slowly. His stubby tail gave a weak wag.

"Do you know what this is, Mighty One?"

The Mabari whined.

"Will you drink some of it?"

The hound covered his muzzle with his paws.

"Come now. It's not that bad. Just a sip? I'll put the rest on your back. You'll heal much faster if you drink it, though."

The Mabari glanced at her and whined again, but uncovered his face. Brina set the bowl in front of him. He sniffed at it. The hound shook his head. He smelled it again and snorted. Finally, he took a small lick and grunted.

"Oh, come on now. You can do better than that."

The hound put his ears back and groaned. He took another tiny lick, shook his head, and turned his body, so he was facing away from her.

"Have it your way." Brina took the bowl and began pouring the liquid on the Mabari's back and rubbed it down through his fur into his skin.

After a time, the Mabari's eyes closed and his body relaxed as he fell asleep.

Once all the medicine was gone, Brina stood and handed the bowl back to Jove.

Jove looked thoughtfully at the sleeping hound. "There's one last thing I'd like to ask of you."

"What is it?"

"This hound's owner died a few days ago. Just before you arrived. You know that Mabari imprint on their owners and that's what helps form a bond. There's a battle coming. He won't be well enough to fight, but come back and find me afterward."

Brina's brow furrowed. "Why?"

Jove shrugged. "He may be ready to imprint on you by then if you so desire."

"You mean, I'd become his owner?"

Jove nodded.

Brina smiled, but then frowned. "Is that how it works?"

Jove took a deep breath. "It's different for every hound. I think this one has taken a liking to you already. All the other hounds who were sick perished. No one else was able to find the flowers. You've just saved his life. Should he see your prowess in battle, it might just be enough. Just come back after the battle and take another look."

Brina smiled again. "All right, Jove. I'll come back." She glanced back at the Mabari. His stubby tail gave a slight wiggle.

Daveth rubbed at one of his own ears. "So . . . I was told there'd be gold?"

Jove chuckled and untied a small pouch from his belt, and tossed it. Daveth caught the bag and sifted through it before smiling. With a nod, he went toward his tent.

Brina made her way to the infirmary. A non-Templar guard stood watch this time. The guard gave a small nod in acknowledgment but said nothing.

"Brina."

She looked up and saw Alistair jogging toward her.

"Good work out there. I know you're tired so I won't keep you. Get your arm looked at. Senior Enchanter Wynne wants to examine it herself. In the morning you are to meet me by the large fire in the courtyard one hour before First Light."

Brina nodded. "Did you find Aveline and Carver?"

"Yes. They are both resting. They will be fine."

Brina nodded again. Alistair bowed slightly and made his way to the Grey Warden campsite. She went back to the tent she had stayed in before. Brina began the process of unwrapping her arm.

Hmm, it doesn't hurt . . .

She got her elbow free and started unwrapping her shoulder. The blood-stained padding fell away, but her wound was gone. She looked at her shoulder, incredulous. Brina stretched her elbow and fingers. She rotated her shoulder. It's as if it never happened. How did-

Then she remembered. Flemeth had put her hand on Brina's shoulder before they left. At the time she'd been so distracted to notice. She healed me. She fed us. She protected the treaties. Who are you Flemeth? You can't possibly be the same one in the tales, can you? No, such a person would be . . . Beyond ancient by now.

She shook her head, perplexed. A rap on the tent frame snapped her out of her thoughts.

"Brina, may I come in?"

"Aye, Wynne."

"I heard you had an injury. You have a lot to do tomorrow, so I offered to heal you. Maybe speed up the process."

"I had an injury . . . but it's already healed."

"Already healed?"

"Aye, look." Brina bared her shoulder. All that remained was a small scar in the front and back.

"Do you have healing magic?"

"No, we met a witch in the woods. She healed me."

Wynne frowned. "I have so many questions, but I suspect you don't know the answers any more than I do. Well . . . I guess I'll take my leave. Unless there is anything you need? No? All right. Rest up. I'm sure the next time I see you, you'll be a proper Grey Warden." Wynne smiled warmly and left.

Brina laid back in her cot and let sleep take her.