Chapter 43: Parting Ways (Sereda)
By the morning, Daveth has managed to negotiate with the dwarves. In exchange for saving their lives and a handful of sovereigns that the thief had from somewhere, the dwarves offered each of the squad a set of armor or clothing. The ones that were on each of them seemed too worn. Alistair was the first to make his choice in favor of black armor with gilded trim and a fur hood. Faren took on a reddish mail armor. Kallian surprised everyone present by swapping out her usual leather armor for a rather revealing black and beige outfit with long boots. Sereda thought that she would never put on such a thing, this was not a warrior's attire. Daveth and Elissa took turns choosing simple greenish and white leather suits, respectively. Roderick took a steel armor with a red cape, and Leliana chose a black and pink leather armor, breastplate of which had the sword of mercy - the symbol of the Chantry. Daylen found a frilly black and white robe with a red scarf in Bodahn's inventory. Neria, unlike her best friend, decided not to stand out and took the usual peasant clothes with bright blue details. Aedan took the round-shouldered steel armor he said was worn by Antivan pirates. Theron and Adela turned down all options. Morrigan surprisingly agreed to change her witch's rags for a dark blue bandit outfit. Sereda found massive armor bearing the crest of House Aeducan on the pauldron.
- Where did you get it? - she asked Bodahn.
- I must admit, some of my stuff was found in the Deep Roads. I think it's better to reuse things than to leave them unused.
- You are right. You can't waste in a dungeon.
- Usually our brothers and sisters in the Stone do not agree with me.
Sereda smiled, remembering her older brother. If Trian were here, he would bore Bodahn and the others with a three-hour tirade about how cruel and wrong it is to steal other people's things. Her brother was too conservative and rude, but still sometimes Sereda missed him. Trian was the best of her two brothers, although she had not thought so before.
Sten was the last to arrive. He lifted his giant pauldrons and belt and turned sharply to Bodahn.
- Where did you get this armor from? - the Qunari asked.
Bodahn hesitated and hid behind Sereda.
- If I were you, I would answer him, - Adela advised the merchant. - I've run into the Qunari a couple of times, they're too impatient.
- I... I have found them in the south, near Lake Calenhad, - said the frightened dwarf.
- This is my armor. Wasn't there a sword? - Sten asked.
- There was. But I sold it.
- To whom?
- A dwarf from Redcliffe. His name is Dwyn.
- Thank you.
The Qunari took the armor and left.
When the party was almost ready to move on, everyone except Tamlen, who was at a distance, stood around the stump on which Sereda put the map of Ferelden. The dwarf had been thinking all night and was now ready to propose a plan of action.
- So, according to the treaties, we can enlist the support of mages, dwarves and elves. The mages sit in the Circle tower right here. My people, as always, are in Orzammar, in the mountains. Elves, as Alistair said, can be found in the Brecilian forest, which is to the east of here. But we won't go there yet. It is too dangerous to go to these three points without resolving matters in Redcliffe, so we will go there first of all.
- Sereda, do you remember what I told you? - Elissa asked.
- Yes, sure. Elissa and Aedan have expressed their desire to recapture Highever from Howe's men.
- How will this help us stop the Blight? - Adela asked. - I don't know what happened between you and Howe, but you're Grey Wardens now, not nobles.
- Highever is a well-defended fortress, - Aedan replied. - The Grey Wardens will need such a stronghold. And, as I learned from gossip in Lothering, Howe himself has gone to Denerim, so there are few guards left in Highever.
- Roger, Roderick and I will go to the Waking Sea Bannorn, - Elissa said. - My mother and nephew took refuge there. The Bann will agree to help us free the castle.
- I'll go with you, - Daveth suggested. - It is not proper for m'lady and her knight to go there together.
- And I thought you wouldn't suggest that.
- In the meantime, I'll go to Denerim, - Aedan continued. - If the Anderfels mercenaries I worked with are still there, then I can offer them enough gold to attack the castle. If anyone has business in Denerim, you can come with me.
Sereda immediately remembered. Gorim said that he would be waiting for her in Denerim.
- I'm with you, - she said.
- Me too, - Leliana supported the dwarf. - I have some unfinished business there, I'll tell you two later.
- There's still the matter of Tamlen, - Adela said. - While he is in this state, I cannot allow him to go into any settlement, especially one as large as Redcliffe or Denerim.
- You said you would help him, that you knew some hermit, - Theron reminded her.
- Do not rush me. Yes, I know him. But I'm warning you right away, he is a Qunari and a blood mage. I hope you don't mind this kind of help.
- If this Saarebas uses blood magic, then he's not Qunari, - Sten said.
- I don't care about your internal disputes. He is tall and horned, which is why I named him Qunari.
- Vashedan, - the displeased Qunari answered curtly.
- I'll accept help from anyone to save Tamlen, - said the Dalish.
- There is a long way to go, - the Orlesian warned. - Are you sure your boyfriend can handle it?
- He's tougher than he looks.
Faren suddenly spoke up.
- I'll go with you. There are only two of you, not counting Fen, and Tamlen will not be able to fight. You'll need help. Well, and since I am a Wardenn, Tamlen will not infect me.
- Thanks, Faren. I didn't expect this, - Theron said.
- So we split up, - said Sereda. - Daylen, you are in charge of the Redcliffe group, you will lead Alistair, Neria, Morrigan, Kallian, Sten and the merchants to Redcliffe. Arrange a meeting with Arl Eamon, tell him about Ostagar and enlist his support. Is that clear?
- Yes, of course, - said the young mage.
- When we're all done with our business, we'll meet in Redcliffe. I believe in Daylen's diplomatic talents, I think Eamon will accept us all. My advice to you all. Don't tell everyone you meet that you are the Grey Wardens. You never know who is loyal to Loghain. We'll get through this, I'm sure of it.
The Wardens and their companions said goodbye to each other and began to disperse. Elissa's small group advanced first, followed by the Redcliffe group. Then Sereda left the camp after Aedan and Leliana, hoping to quickly reach the capital and reunite with Gorim.