Chapter 22: Brothers (Daylen)
For Daylen Amell, things were going very well in the camp. He managed to pick up enough useful herbs on the road to Ostagar to make healing poultices from them and sell them to all the warriors. During the days of waiting for Duncan and the rest of the recruits, he managed to earn a lot of silver coins.
In the morning, two warriors approached Daylen. The older one was a tall blond blue-eyed man with a confident look. The younger one had long black hair and tried to stay behind the older one. Daylen thought he had seen them somewhere before.
- Greetings, ser mage, - the elder warrior said. - I was told about a Grey Warden recruit who makes poultices. Is that you?
Daylen recognized the voice, but was still unsure.
- Y-yes, it's me.
- My father always says that magic should serve the best in the mage, and not which is most base. Do you still follow this rule, Daylen?
- Harold? And the one with you is Carver?
Daylen couldn't believe his eyes. Before him stood Harold Hawke and Carver Hawke, his cousins. He dropped the bag of poultices and tightly hugged his brothers, whom he had not seen for four years.
- Well, you've grown over the years, Carver, - Daylen said. - Yes, and you, Harold, have changed a lot.
- You too have grown a lot, - said Carver. - What is it like to live in the Circle? How did you end up here outside the tower?
- It's bad in the Circle. The education leaves much to be desired. Uncle Malcolm, has managed to teach me in two years what was taught there in four.
- You know we're not asking about education, - Harold whispered. - We've dedicated our lives to protecting Bethany from the templars. You only got caught yourself because you covered for her when she accidentally set the barn on fire. Wish we had saved you back then.
- There are outright bastards among the templars, if that's what you mean. Even among the local recruits there is one templar, a terrible guy, I try not to talk to him. About why I'm here. My friends and I were planning an escape. One of my friends turned out to be a blood mage. He managed to escape, but Neria and I were caught. But the Grey Warden who was staying in the tower decided to take us into his order. The knight-commander was so displeased, but there was nothing he could do. You better tell me: how did you live without me? How are Bethany and your parents?
- After you were taken to the Circle, we moved to Lothering, where we still live with the whole family. Bethany worships you as a hero, talks about you all the time.
- Well, now I have the opportunity to actually become a hero.
Daylen noticed that a young archer in leather armor was eavesdropping on them.
- If we win the battle, I will definitely visit you all in Lothering, - he said.
- Take care of yourself, brother, - Harold said.
- May the Maker protect you, if you believe in him, - Daylen answered, saying goodbye to the brothers.
He approached the stranger.
- I heard that you are Duncan's recruit. Me too. My name is Daveth, - the archer introduced himself.
Daylen realized that this guy was from the common folk and had not heard much about magic. He decided to take advantage of this.
- My name is Daylen. You haven't heard anything else, Daveth, have you? I will be very upset if at least one person, especially if it is a templar, learns something from you about my family. And when mages get upset, the people around them randomly turn into toads, leeches, beetles. You don't want this, do you?
The mage looked at the archer intently.
- You could tell me without threats, you know. It's none of my business, I wouldn't tell anyone.
- Great, we understand each other. Tell me, Daveth, why were you looking for me?
- Duncan is gathering all the recruits to prepare for the Joining. Do you know where the others are?
- To be honest, not really. Neria must be chatting with Alistair somewhere. The knights are training. The dwarves may be roaming around the camp. Rata is cooking by the fire. And Graham... wait, there he is!
Daylen pointed a finger at a passing templar.
- Hey, templar! There is some news!
Ser Graham approached the two recruits.
- What do you want from me, mage?
Duncan is back and calling everyone. Meet me at the Wardens' fire!
- Okay, I'm going. And don't you dare point at me.
The templar walked towards Duncan's tent.
- He's kind of strange, - said Daveth.
- Apparently only the strangest guys become templars, - Daylen added. - As he told us, he approached Duncan himself and volunteered. Duncan didn't object.
- Does anyone volunteer to join the Grey Wardens? Personally, I got here because I screwed up with thefts twice: first I didn't break open the chest of the Arl's son, then I couldn't pickpocket Duncan.
- So you are a thief?
- A pickpocket and a burglar, thank you very much. I've been doing this for six years, and it was working out well. Who would have thought that this would lead me to the Grey Wardens?
- Then you'll be perfect for us. I'll let you know if I want to have something stolen.
Daylen picked up the bag and went to the fire after Daveth.