"That's troubling." Duncan lurched out of sleep at Riordan's words and followed his friend's nod. One of the newest Wardens, the only woman, was shuddering a little in her sleep. Duncan squinted. She had some kind of black smoke leaking from behind her eyelids, swirling across her bedroll.
"Where did Didier find her?" he asked Riordan, voice soft.
"Outside of Val Chevin. We reached her before the Chantry could. She mangled the Templars they sent a few months ago, but look at her. She can't hide, not where people can see her." The men exchanged a look, then Riordan shrugged. "She was a terror in the deep roads."
Duncan leaned toward her. "I wouldn't…" cautioned his friend, but Duncan touched her shoulder anyway. She jerked back with a gasp and her eyes flew open, power gathering around her in dark streaks that puckered the air. His hand grew numb.
"We all have the nightmares at first," he told her, pulling his hand away. "What is your name?"
She stared at him, face blank, then closed her eyes and rolled over to face away.
Riordan shrugged again. "The darkspawn couldn't touch us with her around," he said. "Didier was right. We don't have enough mages."
AN: thanks to sagacious_rage for the beta work on this! And thank you all for your wonderful comments and support!