Chapter 5

I crawl through the underbrush of the rainforest, taking care not to startle the Qalaba feasting on the forest leaves several feet ahead of me. It is not the infantry's duty to heard stray animals, but it has been 2 years since my induction with the Beresaad and I wanted the opportunity to hone my tracking skills. I did not expect this to be a challenge; the Qalaba is a stupid animal and I am surprised the Athlok has allowed the animal to venture this far. It is standing by the edge of a forest pool and has not yet sensed my presence.

I slowly uncoil the rope from my waist, and tie the loop to snare the animal with. If it has been hurt during its venture in the forest, I will have to kill it. I am ready to swing the rope, when a sudden force field erupts out of nowhere, sending me flying backwards into the brush and sparks are raining on me in a colourful array of greens and purples. I get up, blinking to rid my vision of the white dots caused by the explosion. My ears are ringing.

"Vashedan!" a familiar voice sounded. I recognize her instantly; it was Adaar, the girl from the festival, kicking at what remained of the exploded Qalaba. We have not spoken again since that day, but I have seen her around the village and she never fails to acknowledge my presence when she sees me, if only with a nod of her head. I have caught her sticking out her tongue to me. She does not notice me when I draw my sword and stand up from the brush I was blasted into.

"You are a Saarebas!"

Adaar turns around. If she is startled by my presence or the sword in my hand, she does not show it.

"And YOU are very observant, Sten of the Beresaad." she countered, looking back at the leftovers of the exploded Qalaba, gesturing wildly. "I was so sure this would work!"

"You must be assigned to a Karataam, Adaar."

This statement finally elicits a reaction from her and her yellow eyes narrow to slits as she lifts her chin stubbornly.

"Not unless you say anything, I won't."

"You expect me to be quiet about this?" I countered. "The Qun…."

"I know what the Qun says and I will not be collared and led around like a rabid Mabari!"

I do not know what this Mabari that she speaks of is and she sees the confusion on my face.

"It is a dog of some sort, bred by humans for warfare and companionship."

I shake my head. "I cannot ignore this, Adaar. You cannot act outside of the Qun. The Qun is what guides us and keep us functioning as a society. Nothing good can come from your magic, it is an abom….!"

"Spare me the sermon! Magic can be GOOD; it can BENEFIT the people of the Qun! Why can no one see this?!" Adaar's voice rises, but she refuses to back down.

"Magic is to be feared and discouraged! Not practiced on animals in the middle of the wilds! It is for this very reason that the Karataam was appointed! Unaccompanied mages are to be slain!"

"Then go ahead, Sten of the Beresaad!" Adaar shoves me and catches me off guard; I lose my balance and fall backwards into the grass again, dropping the iron sword I clutch in my hand. She grabs the sword and flings it at me, the sharp blade missing my head by a few inches. "Take your sword and rid me of my curse! Right here, right now!" She screams in fury, panting hard, her body language challenging me to do exactly what she says. Her eyes follow me as I get up, not flinching when I bring the sword up over my head.

"But know this, NO ONE knows of this power, and if you slay me I will die as a craftswoman and not a Saarebas. It would be seen as cold blooded murder of your own kind, an act almost unheard of, unless you are Tal-Vashoth. Any sign of my magica will disappear and you will have no proof that I was an unaccompanied mage, slain as prescribed by your Qun!"

What she says is true, and I halt, sword midway through the air. If I slay her, I will be executed as traitor to my kind, yet if I do nothing, I go against all I believe in, everything I was taught about the Qun and its governance of the Qunari. Either option will bring me to shame, there is no denying that. It is a thought almost too much to bear and I sink down to my knees in defeat, dropping the sword into the grass, panting hard from exertion.

Adaar drops down on her knees as well, taking both my hands in hers. I pull my hands away, not wanting to touch the source of her shame, but she tightens her grip, refusing to let go.

"I have never practiced my skills in the village or near another Qunari. I come out here to learn to control my power and hone my craft. Once a week. Come with me. YOU be my Arvaraad."

I turn my face away, unable to comprehend that she is asking me to keep her repulsive nature a secret. To AID her in it. She may as well have asked me to cut my own heart out. Yet I do not seem the have a choice in the matter. Her voice compels me to do her bidding, even though my heart is heavy with guilt and shame. She stands up and pulls me up by my hands before using a soft touch to turn my face towards hers.

"You are asking me to commit treason and dissidence."

"You are an honorable man, Sten." Adaar's voice had softened. "You follow the Qun, you are an asset to our people. Yet I ask this of you. Neither of us have much choice here. I will not let you down."

I shake my head and stand up from the ground, shaking my head and refusing to look at her. Her voice is pleading.

"I am not a danger to the Qunari, Sten. Not to you or anyone in Seheron. I do not need a Karataam to chain me up and handle me as if I am about to go on some murder spree."

I look pointedly at the smoking remains of the Qalaba.

"To be fooled by the world is unfortunate, Adaar. To be fooled by oneself…. is deadly."

I turn on my heel and walk away.