Chapter 31: Waiting for Battle (Sereda)
The rest of the Wardens and the two mabari hounds were sitting by Duncan's fire, waiting for news from the Wardens who had gone to the meeting.
- I can already tell you something, - Alistair began after a long pause. - Our teamwork has impressed Duncan, and he wants us not to be separated, so the ten of us will defend Thedas from the Blight. And personally, I'm very happy about it.
As he was saying the last sentence, Alistair glanced at Neria with a smile, and she smiled back at him.
- This is very good. You are all cool guys, I am sure that I will learn a lot from you, - Faren said. - Your dogs, I see, also get along with each other.
Roger and Fen took turns barking happily.
- Why are Elissa and Duncan so late? - Aedan asked nervously. - Is that fool Cailan annoying them with his motivational speeches again?
- What, he also met you with his wet dreams about how he will fight in a glorious battle and put an end to evil? - Daylen asked him.
- You can say that again.
Everyone but Alistair chuckled.
- Yeah, if he were from the dwarven nobility, he would not have lived long. He would have been secretly killed by his own brother, cousin, or even father, - said Sereda.
- So you are from the warrior caste, Sereda. How do you know so much about the nobles? - Davet hasked the dwarf.
Then Sereda realized that she had told too much.
- There are all sorts of rumors in Orzammar, I learned from these rumors, - she justified herself.
Faren laughed. Theron and Daveth looked at him in bewilderment.
- By the way, Alistair, - Kallian said. - Have you been told that you look a lot like the king?
- Everyone tells me so, I don't understand why, - the former templar replied.
- What if I kill the king and we change you into his armor? I guess you'd be a better king
- Me? A king? No, no, no, I'll just ruin everything and spend most of my reign eating cheese. And Queen Anora will easily notice the difference.
Duncan and Elissa suddenly approached the fire. They told the others about everything that had happened at the meeting.
- So we split up and send four of us to run errands, and only six of us take part in the actual battle? - Aedan asked. - This is silly. But what else can you expect from Cailan?
- Nevertheless, that's the king's plan, - Duncan said. - Alistair, choose who will go with you.
- Neria, Daveth and Elissa will go with me to the tower of Ishal.
The three named by Alistair stood next to him, Roger also joined them. Sereda was not surprised by this choice at all, as she saw what the elf had done during her Joining. As it seemed to the dwarf, here, on the surface, no one is ashamed of their feelings. After the battle, she will definitely go to Denerim and find Gorim, and no backward dwarf rules, unequal castes and bad older and younger brothers will prevent them from being together. Daveth, objectively speaking, is not the best archer. Perhaps by taking him to the tower of Ishal, Alistair saved his life. And Alistair needed Elissa to cover the flanks, and also to replace him as a leader, because it seemed to Sereda that Alistair was not a leader at all.
- Where is this tower of Ishal? - Elissa asked.
- Alistair will show you, - Duncan replied. - We passed by this tower in the afternoon after meeting the king. You will have to go through the gate and up to the tower. From there you will see the whole valley. We'll signal when the fire needs to be lit. Alistair will understand. After lighting the fire, guard the tower with the Teyrn's people.
- What if the archdemon appears? - Neria asked.
- We'll all wet our pants, that's what, - Alistair said.
- Stay in the tower anyway, - Duncan continued. - I don't need any heroics from you. It's time for the seven of us to go to the battlefield. From now on, you are on your own. Don't forget that you are the Grey Wardens. And I believe that you are worthy of this title.
- Maker protect you, Duncan, - Alistair said, shaking hands with his mentor.
The two groups of Wardens said goodbye to each other, while Aedan hugged his sister and wished her good luck. Duncan, Sereda, Aedan, Theron, Kallian, Faren, Daylen and Fen went down into the valley to join the king and the army. Sereda looked at the horizon. It was supposed to be dark, but it burned from the light of hundreds of torches.
- So many… - Daylen muttered.
- There are many of us, too, and we can handle everything, - the dwarf replied. - Are we Grey Wardens or what?
For the first time in her life, Sereda Aeducan did not believe her own words.