Clearing out the last remnants of resistance in the Arbor Wilds took less time than anticipated, but more than Vincent would have liked. He found himself overly anxious to get back to Skyhold and Jade. He was not comfortable with all the wasted time hunting down Red Templars. On one hand he understood the need to rid the area of the corrupted warriors- on the other, he just wanted to be back with Jadell. He was actually worried. Corypheus had to be upset by this, and the magister moved much faster than a group of armed warriors. What if he made towards Skyhold and got there before the bulk of the defenses?
"Vin." The voice was calming as Kailynn sat down beside him and handed him a water skin. "We're doing everything we can."
"We're moving too slowly," he hissed back at his oldest friend- the woman who had tried many times to own his heart when they were young. Even if she'd always failed, she still knew him better than most. She had to understand how slow this was!
"If we arrive exhausted we'd be no good if here was an attack," Kailynn reminded him. "Not to mention every one of those... things we leave out here is another one that Corypheus can call on later."
Vincent frowned. "You realize you sound like her now?"
Kailynn laughed. "Andraste preserve me!" Calming down, the healer explained, "Since I'm meant to be in the back as support, Jade gave me a crash course in strategy. Some of it obviously took."
"I didn't realize you were friendly," Vin observed.
"Friendly is a bit of a stretch. Let's just say... I can understand some of what you see in her." Kailynn stretched. "You do realize I never hated her for having been a Templar, yes? It was always because you were hers."
Vin's eyes widened a bit. "All this time and you really are still clueless. Kai, I'm not hers. She isn't mine. We just happen to coincide effortlessly without having to claim each other."
Kailynn considered that explanation, startled. She had always thought.. wanted... "I understand why we never worked then," she whispered.
"About time." As Vincent commented, he also yawned.
"You need to sleep Vin," Kai demanded.
"You..."
"Made sure you did."
Vincent wanted to be upset that she had slipped something in the water but found himself far too tired to protest. As Kailynn guided him to his tent, Vin chucked as he realized Jade would have done the same thing.
- 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -
Jade was having a blast, and was pleased to hear the cheers around proving the exercise was boosting morale at the same time. She looked up at Cullen; from the sweat and smile she could only imagine he was enjoying the work-out just as much. Not to mention the bets.
"100 on the commander," Jade heard quite suddenly. She knew Cullen caught it too, and grinned wider as he pressed forward on her team.
"Are you kidding, Quizzy? Blondie's got the Seeker on her team. I doubt this goes well."
"Yes, well, Cullen has both Blackwall AND Dorian," Trevelyan pointed out to Varric. "If he had gotten Leliana instead of Cole I'd say he would have won already."
"I heard that," Leliana noted from her place just behind Jade on the field. "Captain, shall we end this quickly?"
Jade nodded. "Execute tactic 67."
As soon as the words were out Lelianna leapt forward over Cassandra, a set of dual daggers flashing in the sunlight. From the other side, Fiona sent a spurt of magic that completely kept Dorian from anything. On the opposing team, Blackwall tried desperately to advance past Cassandra to no avail.
Leliana was just at Cullen's side when Jade felt the cool metal at the back of her neck. "I believe we just won," she heard whispered in her ear, "though I'm not quite sure."
Jadell hiccuped. Annoying. "Yes Cole, you won," Varric laughed from the sidelines. "Actually, Cullen won."
"It was a very near thing," the Commander admitted. "Well done."
Jade was happy to extricate herself from the strange boy's hold. "Thank you. I will have to be quicker next time."
There was the sound of money changing hands as the crowd dispersed. Cullen put a hand on the young captain's shoulder as they discussed the exercise. "You have the understanding but not the expertise," Cullen commented. "You can't debate yourself."
Jade nodded. She knew she would have waited had Leliana not goaded her into movement. "How long did I have your group at a disadvantage?" she asked, curious.
Cullen paused. "How did you know that?"
"Leliana broke through. She hadn't been able to before. That means the opening had been there..."
"Three minutes."
Jadell sighed. "Maker, that long?"
"You did better than Ser Rylen when I last did that exercise with him," Cullen offered. "If I didn't have Cole you would have won."
"Oh." That was something at least.
"If one of your assistants can take over training tomorrow, is like to go over those plans you handed me more carefully. The main troops will be back in three days and I want you to be able to give them the run-down."
Jade nodded. "As you wish."
"Put the four-man teams in place for the next week. I want everyone working as a team."
"Already done. Since I first suggested the strategy."
"Excellent. Between the two of us and Trevelyan, I'm sure we'll have a winning strategy by the time Corypheus arrives."