Chapter 66: Strangers in a Strange Wood (Faren)
Last half of the day has been pretty boring. The group continued moving south towards Redcliffe. Fortunately, now that Tamlen was partially cured and no longer contagious, they go through the settlements. Theron and Tamlen often went into seclusion, trying to catch up on what they had misses, and Faren couldn't blame them. Both of them had been through a lot. Ox was rather silent. The only thing Faren could find out about him was that Ox was neither a Grey Warden or a deserter. The old Qunari's motives and past remained a mystery. Adela also wasn't very talkative all along.
But suddenly everyone got interested when they noticed a large crowd of villagers at the forest edge, standing near a stump from which an axe was sticking out. Noticing the travelers, the villagers let them through.
- What a diverse group you have here, - said one of them. - Gentlemen, lady, you look strong enough. Perhaps one of you is destined to pull this axe out of the stump.
- According to legend, the one who pulls it out will become the new king of Thedas! – another one added.
- These shemlens are kind of strange, - Tamlen said. - You can't choose your leaders so stupidly and carelessly.
- I'll play along with them, - Ox said.
The hermit approached the stump and without much effort pulled the axe out of it. Faren admired him. With such height and such strength, he would definitely be invincible.
- He did it! - the village woman shouted. - Praise the Maker! This Qunari was in the prophecy! He will rule all of Thedas! Hail King...
- My name is Ox, - the Qunari introduced himself.
- Hail King Ox the First!
Tamlen, Theron and Faren laughed loudly. Adela couldn't keep her serious face and started laughing with them.
- What are you talking about? – another villager intervened. - Well, he pulled out the axe of a drunken villager, and so what? Don't make him king because of this.
The whole crowd agreed with her and left for their village.
- The people here are funny, - Ox said. - They weren't even bothered by my horns, pale skin and height.
- This is a fine place, - Adela exclaimed. - We can make a stop here.
- And you will tell us about what I learned from the demon, - Theron answered, putting his belongings near the stump.
- What did the demon tell you?
- That the Grey Wardens live only thirty years after their Joining.
- What? – Faren said, almost dropping his greataxe. - Duncan didn't tell me that.
Adela looked around and examined each of her companions.
- You two are already Wardens, Tamlen will soon undergo the Joining, little Fen will definitely not tell anyone, and I trust Ox. I will tell you. Have a seat.
Everyone sat down on the ground around the Orlesian woman. Fen stayed aside and began to guard his master and his friends.
- Faren, Theron, when you underwent the Joining, did you understand that nothing is given without the price? Did Duncan say the words before the Joining?
- I was the only recruit at my Joining, - the Dalish said. - I was almost unconscious because of the taint.
- Lethallin, I'm so sorry. I didn't even know what you had to go through, - Tamlen told him.
- At our Joining, Alistair said the words, - Faren continued.
- Do you remember these words? – Adela asked. - "And that one day we shall join you."
- I thought it was about the fact that we will all die someday. You know, like we're all mortal and things like that.
- Yes, but our death will come sooner. The taint gradually, over thirty years, turns the Grey Warden into a ghoul. By the end of their term, the Warden hears the dawkspawn and begins to lose their mind. It's called The Calling.
- Is it possible to somehow prevent this? – Tamlen asked.
- I'm afraid not. We all face the same fate. Wardens who hear the Calling go to the Deep Roads. And there they fight with the darkspawn until their last breath.
- Yeah, you Wardens are weird people, - Faren said. - No wonder why Duncan didn't tell any of us about this before the Joining. But to be honest, without his intervention, my life would have been much worse. I'm glad he got me out of Dust Town and gave me a chance to become a hero. Who knows, maybe after the Blight they will make me a Paragon.
- Keep dreaming. First we will kill the archdemon, then we will give and get rewards.
- The thing is, for the sake of healing Tamlen, I gave the demon twenty years of my future life, - Theron said. – My Calling will start in ten years. But if it weren't for Duncan, I would now be dead, and Tamlen would remain a ghoul. But Adela, when we return to Redcliffe, you will have to tell us and the others everything that the Grey Wardens need to know.
- Certainly. There's something else you should all know. And I will talk about this after Tamlen's Joining. You rest for now, and I will find the river. Faren, come with me.
Faren went deep into the forest with the female dwarf.
- Why did you invite only me with you? - he asked. – If you really want to look for the river, then we should have taken Fen with us. He stinks and needs to be washed.
- You'll understand everything soon, - Adela answered with a grin.
The dwarves found a small waterfall with clear water and went down to its shore. Adela put her greatsword on the shore, took off her gloves and began to unfasten her armor.
- What, you won't even tell me to turn away? – Faren asked.
- We are warriors first and foremost, we don't need to be shy with each other, - Adela answered. - Take off your clothes too, we need to wash up.
Faren nodded his head and also began to unfasten his armor. Having completely undressed, the dwarves entered the water. Faren could not take his eyes off the tanned body of the Orlesian woman.
- I advise you to look around, not at me, - Adela said. - It's impossible to be completely safe in a forest like this. You never know who lives here.
Having reached the waterfall, Faren turned away from Adela and began to wash his hair and beard. No matter how alluring Adela looks, she is right, he needs to be on his guard. Faren continued washing until Adela touched his shoulder. He glanced at her.
- What, you won't even do anything with me? – she asked.
- You told me to look around.
- Come on. I saw the way you looked at me. And this is why I've brought only you here. How about having a good time and relaxing for a bit? Just no kisses, please.
- Will this lead to something serious? Will you finally pay attention to me?
- No and no. I'm still loyal to Riordan.
- Your ideas about loyalty are amusing. Especially about loyalty to someone who is most likely dead.
- Riordan doesn't mind, we have agreed on this. Let's get started already. I see that your "weapon" is ready.
Faren silently turned away and walked out of the waterfall. This is not what he wanted from Adela. It was very difficult to refuse and it was extremely tempting to stay with her, but he had to do it.
- If I needed something like that, I would go to a brothel, - he said.
- Whatever. Guard our belongings.
The dwarf returned to the shore and began to dress up. While he was doing it, he saw a tall silhouette behind a tree and immediately picked up his greataxe.
- Hey! You, behind the tree! - he shouted. - Peeping is bad! If you are a friend, come out without weapons, we'll talk. If not, then we will fight.
- It's stupid to threaten a crossbowman with an axe! – a very low-pitched voice came from behind the tree. - You are very lucky that you are not a darkspawn or someone from Tevinter. I agree to your terms, dwarf.
- Wait a bit. And turn away for now. We need some time. Adela, get out quickly and get dressed! We have a guest here.
Adela went ashore, and the dwarves immediately dressed and armed themselves.
- Stranger, you can come out.
A tall and thin Qunari came out from behind the tree and walked towards the dwarves. He looked quite young, younger than Sten and especially Ox. His skin was grey, and on his head along with the horns there was luxurious long white hair. He was dressed in a black leather armor and had a large crossbow on his back.
- Shanedan, stranger, - Adela told him. – What do you need from us?
- My name is Basarad, - said the Qunari. - I am Ashaad of the Beresaad, I was in the Qunari squad sent to find out what the Blight is.
- Where is your squad now?
- We separated. My Sten ordered me to scout out the area to the west. But when I returned to the squad, it was decimated by the darkspawn, and Sten was nowhere to be found.
- Why do you need us?
- I followed your squad, you call yourself Grey Wardens. If the legends do not lie, then you are fighting the darkspawn. And by helping you, I will be able to find out what the Blight is and give a complete answer to the Arishok.
- Yes, we are the Grey Wardens. My name is Adela, and this dwarf who, is suddenly an old-fashioned moralist, is Faren.
- Wait, - Faren intervened. - You said your commander's name was Sten, right?
- Sten is not a name. Sten is a rank, something like captain.
- What a secretive Qunari, he joined us and didn't even introduce himself in a normal way.
- Have you... have you seen Sten? Is he with you?
- He was with the group of Wardens that went to Redcliffe. And we are going there too.
- Then I have to find Sten and tell him what I've been doing all this time.
- Well, come with us. If you've been alone this long, you must be pretty good with the crossbow.
The dwarves and the qunari walked through the forest and returned to the edge. Seeing the stranger, Fen barked furiously, Theron and Tamlen took out their bows, and Ox raised both swords and stood in a fighting pose.
- Saarebas! - Basarad shouted, but he did not pick up the crossbow.
- If you think that you can return me to Par Vollen alone, then you are very mistaken, - Ox said.
- Calm down, I'm not here for you. If you are in this group, then you are also fighting the Blight. This means that you and I have common goals.
- A smart follower of the Qun. What a rare thing to see.
Ox and the elves put away their weapons.
- If you want to address me, call me Ox. I gave up the nickname "Saarebas" even before you were born.
- We have a new addition, - Adela said. – This is Basarad, he was in the same squad as Sten. Basarad, you already know Ox, and this is Grey Warden Theron, recruit Tamlen and their dog Fen.
- I'm glad to meet you all, - the Qunari said.
Adela pointed her finger in the direction from which they had just come.
- There is a river with a waterfall in a five-minute walk from here. I advise you to wash up there. There's not much left to Redcliffe.
The elves and Fen went towards the river, and Faren, Adela and Basarad sat down near a tree stump.
- Ox, why didn't you go with the elves? – Faren asked.
- I think they don't need me right now, - the old Qunari answered, looking intently at the new companion. Basarad also did not take his eyes off the mage.
Faren lay down on the grass and looked up at the sky. Their squad has just become more diverse. But at the same time, he was surprised how so many humans, elves, dwarves and Qunari from different countries and groups agreed to temporarily stop the strife and fight the darkspawn. Even such a fragile unity gives hope for victory and a bright future.