Chapter 52: A Qunari and a Mage Enter the House (Daylen)
Halfway to Dwyn's house, Sten stopped and glared at Daylen.
- The Blight. How do we stop it? the Qunari asked.
- The darkspawn are led by the archdemon. We need to kill it.
- Then what are we doing here? Why are we saving these people? We need to find the archdemon.
Daylen was struck by the shortsightedness of such a seemingly experienced warrior.
- There is a large horde of darkspawn between us and the archdemon. If you don't count Bodahn, Sandal, and the dogs, then there are only seventeen of us, and if Tamlen is not cured, then sixteen. That is why we are here. If we save this village, we'll get troops. And the archdemon will be easier to kill.
- It is reasonable.
- Now tell me why you want your sword back so badly. It's just a weapon. You already have another sword.
- Parshaara. How can you be so insensitive? I am a warrior of the vanguard of the Qunari. And my sword, my Asala, is the extension of my hand. Without it, I cannot return to the Arishok with an answer to his question.
- Who is the Arishok?
- The Arishok is the military leader of the Qunari, the one who speaks, the one who is listened to.
- Is this your king?
- We don't have kings.
- What do you have then?
- A lot of patience to answer such stupid questions.
- What kind of question did the Arishok ask?
- The Arishok asked "What is the Blight?", and we went to look for an answer.
- So, as soon as you get your sword, you will leave us and go to the Arishok, right?
- Maybe.
Arriving at the house near the lake, Daylen knocked on the door loudly, but no one answered.
- Sten, you know what to do.
The Qunari swung and kicked the door open. Daylen and Sten entered the house. A dwarf in chainmail and two human mercenaries in leather armor stood at a table with huge supplies of food. Seeing the strangers, all three immediately armed themselves.
- Stone take you! Why did you kick my door? - the dwarf was outraged.
- Your name is Dwyn, right? We need to talk, - said Daylen.
- Who are you? I haven't seen you here before.
- Jory sent me. He says you don't want to defend the village.
- And why should I? If I wanted to risk my life for no reason, I would have stayed in Orzammar. I have food, weapons and a couple of loyal guys here. I'll be here somehow.
- They say crowds of the dead come here at nights. As soon as they're done with the rest of the villagers, they'll come here, and no food, no weapons, and no couple of loyal guys will help you. But if you go out to fight this night, you will not only survive, but also receive thanks from Arl Eamon, I will take care of it.
- Okay, sounds convincing. We will come in the evening.
- Dwyn, are you serious? - one of the mercenaries asked. - We didn't agree on that!
- If you don't like something, you can leave.
- And one more thing before I forget, - Daylen added. - Did you happen to buy a Qunari sword?
- Whose sword?
- Qunari. You know, bronze-skinned giants like my friend.
- Look at me, human. Does the little me need the sword of such a big guy?
- I advise you to think more, otherwise he will talk to you instead of me. And he prefers to tear off limbs, rather than talk. He killed seven people just because they didn't say hello to him.
- Why are you talking about me like that? - the Qunari asked.
- Quiet, play along with me, - the mage whispered to him.
The dwarf opened the door to one of the rooms, from which a terrible smell came out - these three clearly used it as a toilet. He pulled out a huge sword, slightly soiled with the contents of the room, and handed it to Sten.
- This is your sword. And now leave, we need to prepare for battle, - said Dwyn.
A couple of minutes later, Daylen was already standing by the lake and watching Sten wash his sword in its waters.
- Yeah, it looks like you really, really like that sword, - the mage said. - And I'm not drinking from Lake Calenhad anymore, not even as a lost bet.
- As I said, the sword is the extension of my hand. Thanks for helping me get it.
- Thank you for not killing Dwyn and his friends. So, are you going back to your own land now?
- The Arishok needs a complete answer to his question. I will stay with you until the end of the Blight.
- Thank you, Stan. I knew you would.
- You are a good warrior, even though you are a saarebas.
- Who is saarebas?
- "Dangerous thing" in my language. That's what we call mages.
- Well, that's... nice.
- Do you want some advice?
- Go on.
- That saarebas woman, Morrigan. She has something on her mind. Don't interact with her.
- Trust me, Sten, I know what I'm doing.
- I don't understand how you can be so careless.
Daylen is already starting to get annoyed that everyone around him considers him a naive youngster who is deceived by Morrigan. But he's sure he's doing the right thing. But sometimes he still thought about what he was more interested in in terms of a witch: correction or seduction.