"Attack."

Garrett went shield first, the lower rim of his heater shield crashing into his opponent's, knocking it sideways just before Garrett's longsword shot out like a dragon's tongue...only to be pushed to the left by a sweeping parry that turned into a thrust towards Garrett's midsection, making him pull back.

"No-no, remember that your armour isn't just protection. Just like the shield, it's a weapon, that strike had no chance of getting through, so advance! Cut down my room to manoeuvre! Aggression!"

Growling, Garrett moved to his right, forcing Bastile to turn to the left, making the older man move the left foot, the one with the limp...although, to be honest, Garrett barely noticed any difference, despite Bastile's claims that the injury was enough to judge him a 'cripple'. Around them, the training yard was silent, only pale pillars watching in the minimal light of dusk as their feet moved through the soft sand.

"Good! Always go for the weakness of your enemy!" Bastile boomed the praise, punching yet another hole in Garrett's belief of how Chevaliers fought. "If he's afraid, terrify him. If he's confident, encourage that and draw him in. If he's bleeding, let him bleed until he can barely stand. If he's in a frenzy, let him exhaust himself on your shield. If he's proud, taunt him. A fight isn't won by sword and shield alone. You do not live long if you go into combat hoping to win, you live long if you've given yourself the victory before even engaging!" Bastile's sword darted out, though for once Garrett saw it coming, and slashed down hard, his blade hitting the Chevalier's at the base with all the force he could muster.

Any other warrior, and the weapon might have ended up in the sand. But Bastile's grip and wrist was like iron, and the warrior merely turned the force striking his blade into a swing of his own, the addition of the force from Garrett's blow making the Chevalier's blade whoosh through the air as it scythed over Bastile's head and down towards Garrett's.

He barely dodged in time, leaping back and to the right, once more forcing Bastile to turn and face him. "Good, always watch the head, the helmet may protect it, but a blow can still daze and confuse, and in a duel, that spells disaster." Bastile shook his own helmeted head. "But you're still too passive, attack! I've seen your aggression before, the plate armour should only encourage it, not slow you down!" Garrett hesitated, still not fully comfortable in the big suit of plate, despite knowing he was nearly as agile in it as he had been in the chainmail. "Or are you perhaps sluggish from your festivities? Should we perhaps wait until you feel more yourself? I'm sure a battle will wait for you to be ready for it..." Bastile snorted as Garrett tried a thrust that simply bounced off the Chevalier's shield. "Don't think me deaf, I know you lost your sister in the Deep Roads, perhaps if you had been less of a slouch then, she'd still been alive?"

Garrett's vision turned red.

With a crash, he slammed into Bastile, shield pinning into shield as Garrett moved to the right, pushing hard as Bastile was forced to turn and push at the same time with his weakened leg. Garrett's sword darted high over their locked shields at Bastile's visor, only to skim against a shoulder-plate as the Chevalier twisted his head away. Bastile's own sword thrust from below, up...and gripped onto Garrett's shield from the inside before the man suddenly pivoted counter-clockwise.

Garrett stumbled forward, foot tripping over Bastile's...and found himself airborne for half a second as Bastile threw him like a wrestler at the docks would have.

Then he was on his back, Bastile's knee in his chest and the tip of the Chevalier's blade pressing against where Garrett's helmet was joined with the rest of the armour, the warrior gripping his blade with both hands, one across the blade and the other at the grip...ready to firmly wedge the blade in for a single killing thrust.

Sighing, Garrett went slack while gritting his teeth. "You went for my weakness."

"Yes, Serah." Bastile rose to his feet, tossing his blade aside before reaching down to offer Garrett his hand. "However, the aggression could have worked to your advantage, had you remembered our lessons about how to stand and what moves to execute. At the locking of the shields, when I was still recovering from the impact, I believe a right step-elbow trip would have worked well."

"Of course, you're right...such a basic one." Garrett grimaced as he reached up, gripping Bastile's forearm and letting the veteran help him to his feet. "I'll remember next time."

"Do that." The Chevalier looked around the yard. "Ah, lady Amell...I believe that is my cue to leave." Garrett looked to where Bastile was looking, and indeed found his mother standing at the entrance to the training yard, still in her dress from the party, despite the time of the day. "Serah, with your leave." The Chevalier bowed and moved towards the exit even as he spoke. "Tomorrow we'll deal with fighting against polearms, unarmoured and armoured...as well as how to use them ourselves, of course. Also, the theories of mounted combat against them, if we have the time."

As the Chevalier disappeared through the doorway, Garrett found himself chuckling at the way his mother was shaking her head. "That man hurts my son and then goes on to speak about how he'll do it next time...I'm not sure why you put up with that."

"Well..." Garrett moved towards a wooden table hidden in the shadows between two pillars, his hands unfastening his helmet with mechanical practice. It went far faster to take it off and on with help, but Bastile had cautioned against that, a man shouldn't be used to assistance in putting on his armour, for then he might be at a disadvantage when on campaign. Hopefully, that'll never happen, but it's still good advice. "...I did ask him to train me as Chevaliers do, mother. In fact, I think he's holding back from some of the harsher regimen."

"Good, in Ferelden, nobles might take pride in scars, but I don't want them on my boy." Leandra snapped, the sound making Garrett smile as he put the helmet onto the table and started working on removing his gauntlets. "Why are you even training now? Just after the Reinhart party? Surely it could have waited until tomorrow?"

I needed to work off some anger after Meredith publicly insulted our family. Garrett was glad the shadows concealed his face. "Class waits for no man, mother, if I'm not disciplined with this, I might as well quit."

The way Leandra's face shifted, Garrett guessed she wouldn't oppose that in the least. Still, her tone was diplomatic. "As you say, son." She took a step forward before leaning against one of the pillars surrounding the training yard. "So...what did you think? Did you enjoy the party?"

Now with his hands free, Garrett ran his fingers through his sweaty hair with an appreciative sigh. "I'm happy we went. By the end of the day I had made quite a few connections, I expect several business deals to be made within the month." In particular, I hope to get a call from Reinhart, even if the deal ends up mostly helping him financially, I could use his political muscles in the Council. A glance at Leandra's bored eyes, and Garrett added. "It's also good to know that we've finally been accepted as nobles socially, all nobles I spoke to seemed to treat me as an equal." Except for Meredith. To be fair, Garrett didn't think she'd consciously tried to offend him or humiliate him publicly, she'd treated him as if the only thing of importance had been his relation with magic and its practitioners, as if the Templars and their order existed in a vacuum beyond politics and normal life. If it was so, it was frightening, but also made her predictable...Garrett was already trying to think of ways to politically curtail her power and return Kirkwall to secular rule.

"I think the Reinharts arranged that simply by inviting us, dearie." Leandra noted with a little smile, a smile growing larger as Maric suddenly trotted through the doorway behind her and to Garrett, the dog panting from the run he'd been out on. "Mabari and master alike hard at training...it's like I have a new son at times." Her chuckle lacked mirth, as did Garrett's their thoughts too easily drawn to Carver that had yet to write a single letter, despite Leandra sending two of her own. "You enjoyed your run, Maric?" The dog gave a woof of appreciation as he came to a stop next to Garrett, watching the man unbuckle his breastplate, as if wishing to help out, or perhaps memorizing how to, for all Garrett knew. "Anyway, I'm glad you enjoyed yourself, means you won't protest too much when the next one comes up." Garrett smiled at Leandra's teasing tone, whatever little protests he'd had about being dressed up and the cost for Leandra's jewellery had mostly been for show, to replace the void Carver had left...but it was good to hear his mother appreciated it. "Did you have any interesting conversations...?"

Knowing what Leandra had in mind, yet still somewhat reluctant to think about it, Garrett stalled for time. It was just so...sudden, and the idea is so strange from what I was given to expect from my life as a farmer in Ferelden...being married off was not on the table then. At least she's nice... "Oh yes, quite a few. Madame Reinhart is a pleasure to speak with, she's so eager to be friendly, not as reserved as other nobles might be, fearing for their dignity." Garrett cocked his head to the side, enjoying the little sigh his mother made. Okay, I can see why Carver kept bugging her as a child...maybe I should have joined in while I had the chance... "I also had a friendly chat with one of the magistrates, the man is quite beside himself with an issue over a lost friend, but still put up a brave face. I admired that." And if my promised aid does find the brother, I'll have both him and the Magistrate with the foul son more or less in my pocket. Always a good thing to control the courts when the crimes in Lowtown become an issue...

"Yes, I suppose that was...nice." Leandra replied, clearly impatient to hear more about Cecei and Garrett...the two had, after all, spoken at length after Meredith had left. Thank the Maker she did, never seen a party get so forced before while she was there. "Also, I was glad to see Aveline managing so well at the party, didn't think she had it in her to be honest. Then again, she was mostly speaking to Donnic..."

Garrett smiled at that, both wistful and amused at the mention of Aveline. Needling me for a reaction, mother? Parents...always so curious about who their spawn fancy. "I'm glad for it, she deserves happiness, and I want her to have it." With a grunt, Garrett reached down to work on the armour covering his waist and legs. "Same goes for you, mother, although...maybe not seek it with De Launcet? He's a married man and given how you were supposed to marry him but ran off...him divorcing and marrying you would likely cause a lot of whispers."

Leandra scoffed a that, amused. "Me and Guillaume? Don't be absurd, he's a happily married man and with a lovely wife. Many nobles are set to marry one another before plans are changed, there's nothing odd about it." Garrett shot her a look, finally getting a greave off his leg "Just because he was eager to see me again doesn't imply romantic interest, we were close friends before, you know."

Garrett arched an eyebrow in surprise. "I didn't know that." Then again, you hardly ever speak of your time before you ran off with father. "Very well then, I was mistaken, just...don't give him any ideas, you're still a beautiful woman, after all."

"Still? How gracious my son is with his praise." Leandra chuckled. "But I see your point, I'll try not to touch him in any inappropriate places." Garrett, like any good child, shuddered at the thought. "Now, spill it, no more wiggling out of it..." The woman advanced further, unto the sand of the training yard. "Cecei, how did she strike you?"

Garrett sighed, finally getting off the last piece of plate and dropping it onto the table. I'll take care of this properly tomorrow. He moved into the yard as well, forcing a smile. "She's...nice." Knows much from her studies, but doesn't think on it, it's just facts to memorize, not to debate. Kind, gentle but little else. I intellectually see her as an acceptable choice, but you said it doesn't work like that... The thought was surprisingly painful. "If you expect me to ask for her hand after a single day, you're mistaken though."

Leandra chuckled. "Of course I don't, silly!" The chuckle turned into a gentle smile. "But that wasn't a 'no'...it's still a possibility?"

"I...suppose." Garrett admitted, feeling a little tense at the idea of rushing into a marriage. Especially when I apparently don't know what love is... "Why are you so eager for this though? Don't think I don't realise that you and the Reinharts spoke of this beforehand."

To her credit, Leandra looked guilty at his words, though it quickly turned into a smile. "Oh I don't know...is it so bad to want my oldest son happy?" Garrett arched an eyebrow, making her roll her eyes. "And perhaps I want to give you a little push to get this?" She shook her head, smiling. "You're never going to find a girl in your library..." Taking a pair of steps forward, she reached out, gentle hands brushing Garrett's forehead. "I just want to see you happy..." A smirk. "...and maybe some grandchildren?"

Garrett smiled back, taking Leandra's hand in his. "We'll...see. And I am happy, mother, don't doubt it."

Leandra chuckled at that. "Son, you barely know what happiness is...at least not the one coming from a companionship outside the family." She released Garrett's hand and turned, smiling back at him as she began to walk away. "Just...think about it."

Garrett, suddenly unsure, watched his mother leave, then frowned. "I'm not alone..." He looked down at Maric, scratching the Mabari's ear. "...am I?"

Maric's answer was an uneasy whine.

No one else was around to answer.

8

8

8

Well...this is nice.

Garrett, sitting in the comfortable chair of his library, glanced over at the elf sitting in the other available chair and caught himself smiling. He'd missed studying, to really sit down and read for a good hour or two...or maybe even three...and he'd certainly missed doing so with company. This was the fourth time Merrill had come over, she'd taken his offer of using the library seriously, and Garrett found the excuse to keep her company a great way to get away from paperwork Bodahn did so willingly anyway, if only for a little while. I've done most of my work anyway, and these moments are too few and far between to pass up.

There was a table between them, a table with the plate of cheeses and bread upon, though mostly forgotten...Garrett hadn't forgotten how hard it was to stay fed in Lowtown, and after what he'd seen of the elves that had worked for Javaris, he made a point of always serving food when Merrill came around. Merrill, however, was poor at eating when she really got into a book...which was most of the time. Like Bethany.

The thought was sad, yet at the same time curious. Garrett found it hard to really draw many similarities between the two women, when it came down to it. They both might be poor eaters when stuck in a book, not to mention mages, but that was about it for what they had in common.

Bethany had been quiet and obedient, Merrill could get quite loud and certainly didn't take orders well. Bethany had, when it came down to it, been a reluctant study, one who did it because it was necessary...Merrill on the other hand loved it. Bethany had, in lieu with being obedient, always never been one much for discussion...Merrill did it all the time.

And Garrett found the way it influenced their studies intriguing.

Even now, he could tell Merrill was bubbling with excitement over something new she'd read, he could see it in how her usually smooth forehead wrinkled up a little between her eyebrows, how she bit her bottom lip...not to mention the way her right foot started to tap the chair's leg. She wanted to speak of it, discuss it, bring forth theories and debate...and Garrett had found that new part of his studies as rewarding as the actual reading, if not more so.

With a little smile, Garrett put a wooden stick between the pages of his own book, closed it and carefully laid it on the table before turning to Merrill, expecting her to speak in the next moment.

The woman didn't disappoint, within two heartbeats, she'd snapped her book shut, pulled her legs up until her knees nearly met her chin and turned a big smile his way. "This book says the dragons became extinct around the fifteenth year of Steel, but we know that's not true, they came back in this age."

"Yes, seems the Pentaghast family overstated their achievement." Garrett agreed with a nod. "Dragon's are supposed to be intelligent, no? Maybe some hid? Thedas is not the only place in the world, for where else did the Qunari come from?" The Arishok has at least been soothed, he was pleased to hear about Javaris' death...odd that he simply believed me about no recipe of the gas being found though, could he somehow see me being truthful, or was it simple trust? I don't understand those Qunari, not truly... "Even if the dragons aren't intelligent enough, when animals become rare...well it's easy to miss one or two."

Merrill giggled at that, grinning at him as she cocked her head to the side. "They missed one or two dragons? The house-sized flying things that roar a lot and fly for miles to find food?"

Garrett chuckled at that, inclining his head. "Well...yes, fair point, but they could still have flown away to somewhere they weren't hunted."

"I suppose..." Merrill looked away, big green eyes shining. "I bet there are some beautiful lands out there, things we've never seen before..." A dreamy sigh, and she turned her attention back to Garrett. "Yet the dragons have returned...why do that? Are they not afraid of hunters coming back?"

"You'd think so..." Garrett frowned, hand coming up to scratch the forgotten stubble on his chin, making Merrill's lips curl in a smirk. Last time she'd been over, Garrett had gotten a telling off by Leandra for forgetting to shave right in front of the elf...but that was one lesson he was bad at learning, which Merrill was obviously noticing. "...maybe they became too many wherever they fled and simply had to come back here?"

"Well...I..." Merrill frowned, struggling for words. "...no?" Garrett arched an eyebrow, making the elf blush. "It's only been two ages since they were hunted, and dragons take nearly a hundred years to start a clutch and to grow into fully grown dragons...they couldn't have become so many that fast...I think." She shook her head, smile unsure as she continued. "M-maybe they had already existed in that other land and grown to become too many? But...apex predators don't often become too many like that, do they? And if they're intelligent...didn't they realise the danger of being near hum-people?" Fidgeting nervously, she waited for Garrett's reply.

"Well...dragons are a bit of a unique species...but I see your point." Garrett easily ignored her 'human' stumble, they were both still struggling with certain issues, but when it came to one another, they'd made peace, he felt. "You've really stumped me, actually...maybe we should read on and see if anything implies an answer?"

"Yes, maybe we can find it." Merrill smiled, reached out and picked up her goblet from the table, taking an eager sip from the weak wine Garrett liked to serve. Holding the cup in both hands, it was a cute detail how big it was for her small hands, she held the cup close to her chin as her eyes turned glassy with thought. "They must have a reason though..."

Garrett chuckled at that, it was rare to find someone as eager for knowledge as him, in fact, he think Merrill even surpassed him. Didn't think that possible...

That's when the door opened.

Garrett frowned at Bodahn as the dwarf entered, irritated with the interruption and not too pleased with the lack of knocking. "Yes, Bodahn? We're in the middle of something here."

"I'm terribly sorry Serah...and Miss." The dwarf bowed his head in apology, though his eyes were alight with worry about something else but manners. "There's a letter for you though, and I thought you should read it right away."

"And why did you think this...?" Garrett asked, a wary tone in his voice.

"Oh, I haven't opened it, Serah, I know my place." The dwarf's head bobbed eagerly as he moved forward and handed a brown piece of parchment to Garrett, the unbroken seal that of the Circle tower's. The First Enchanter? I think we only briefly met during the Reinhart party, his templar guards made it an awkward conversation...what could he want? "But it was delivered by a somewhat shabby-looking person, said he worked for Anders'...'organisation'? Something about contacts...sorry, it didn't make much sense, and I think that was the intention."

"Ah, thank you, you did the right thing." Garrett moved to open the letter, forehead wrinkled in a frown.

Bodahn, leaning back and forth where he stood, shook his head as Garrett opened the letter. "Scary things with those templars and Circle mages if you ask me, too much hush-hush and hostilities...it's no fun working side by side if you keep glaring at one another, I can tell you." A shrug. "Maybe that's why Meredith is having that new keep commissioned? To keep the templars all in one place instead of constantly around the mages?"

"They're building a new keep?" Merrill asked, making Garrett briefly smile, only the elf could miss such an announcement.

The smile was short-lived though as Garrett opened the letter. "Yes...and I suspect it's because Meredith has recruited so many templars she can't fit them in the circle." He checked the signature. That is not the First Enchanter, that's that boy we brought back to the circle after that mess with Starkhaven circle. This can't be good. "Of course, she might also believe that 'blood mages might infiltrate our ranks if we sleep in the same place' argument she gave when the Viscount asked about it...though the level of paranoia required for that seems too great even for her." Can't believe he asked her about it...it's the Viscount's land and the templars didn't even pay for it, they simply took it. Not to mention that building a fortification like that within the city without approval from the Viscount is horribly wrong, I had to jump through every hoop to get my modest fortifications...

"S-so this keep...it'll be...wh-where?" Merrill asked, obviously nervous, making Garrett shoot her a sympathetic glance before looking back to his letter...and his eyes narrowed at what he read. Oh this can't be right...you...damn fool.

"Where Lowtown and Hightown meet, I believe, to the east...a far way if you want to get to the circle if you ask me, but I'm sure Meredith has her reasons." Bodahn shrugged. "They're already tearing down the houses that are in the way."

"And paying those losing their homes a trifle in compensation." Garrett muttered, reading the letter again to be sure he'd understood the boy correctly. "Add to the fact that I believe the templars will have city taxes fund at least half the project, and you can colour me unimpressed...it's nothing short of robbery."

Bodahn shifted where he stood, not surprising, most took care not to critique the templars, and though one really only needed to worry in public, Garrett could understand the dwarf's fear. "Well...maybe it's a bit harsh, yes, but at least it puts many people to work."

"Yes, I'm sure paying people minimum wage with money they themselves paid in taxes to build something that won't increase the city's wealth or their own quality of life will be a great benefit to us all..." Garrett dryly retorted, growling a curse under his breath as he folded the letter. "That stupid...Bodahn, could you send messengers to my friends? Aveline, Varric, Fenris, Anders...you know the group...and ask them to come here?" How does one forget that the blood mage leading you left his books around in caves for anyone to stumble over?! Someone finds them, brings them in and suddenly Meredith will ask a lot of questions, questions leading to me...Maker damn that fool.

"Of course, Serah." Bodahn bowed and made his exit swiftly, no doubt eager to get away from an uncomfortable subject.

Garrett, watching the dwarf leave, grimaced. That evidence must be destroyed, and knowing how blood magic works, it won't be the simple work of a fire...

In the other chair, Merrill fidgeted. "Garrett...this new keep...?" He looked to her, blinking in surprise at how pale she'd gotten. "It means the templars will be throughout the city more than before, doesn't it...? Like...on the streets and such? Everywhere?"

"Don't worry." Garrett offered a reassuring smile, reaching over the table to put a hand on her knee. "I won't let them take you, nor hurt you."

To his surprise, Garrett found himself meaning it.

8

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8

A thank you to Abdyos Jackson for taking it like a champ.