Of Assassins and Oracles

The fighting was done, healing no longer required and everyone were still energized by her spells and lithium. The healer looked about with big eyes, shaking a bit from after effects of the fight. This was her first true fight and she'd been able to heal all the wounds including the worst ones being Nygozy and Calliara. Both had been in dire need of the healing.

The others seemed calm and she wondered how in the world they could be so. They had just fought not a couple or even a few dozen Darkspawn. This had been a horde! She looked over the precipice and shuddered then back at everyone else.

Jezarine started to calm, her breathing became even and she was able to listen to Nygozy as the small woman spoke. They were being asked if they wished to continue on with her. Did she?

Without even realizing it she had her bodice knife out in hand and tapped her chin with the little sheath, her teeth squeezing down her bottom lip as she did so. She walked over to the few she knew and checked their expressions as they spoke. Would she stay or would she leave? Her heart hurt with the question as she stood beside Ianto with a look of puzzled consideration.

Steely eyes carefully scanned the area, the chocolate a dark tone as the man concentrated upon what he was charged with, as usual, keeping vigilant. That was his job. Keeping vigilant.

Drake had made sure that his post was close to Calliara without even realizing what he was doing, subconsciouly wanting to keep the woman safe and near to avoid other men. Instincts at this time drove him even when it came to listening to his leader as he checked everything out, filing away information that he would require.

His mind ran over the new people he had yet to meet but didn't really want to. There was some skittish little thing by the ballista, that girly blond guy with the halla and a dark Elf who he assumed was a healer because she did not look like a fighter and it was certain that his hip couldn't have healed all on it's own like that.

Then there was that Elf beside Nygozy. His eyes narrowed as he realized this one looked like an assassin and even though he was beside her on one knee, he could not trust that. Drake had no clue whom this man was but he was too close to his friend.

The man spoke and so did others. He snorted, glared at Kai for a moment then looked to Nygozy. He didn't need to speak as she knew his answer, "I always follow you, my friend. That shall not change."

Everything was done, life was good, and that idiot Durbans was going to eat that sausage. He snorted, wondering if he should explain it to the man and was quite tempted not to but he wasn't the type to not do what he felt was right.

"The smoke from the bodies would carry the Darkspawn taint." He explained calmly, "Just like their blood does. It is ok to have it on or around you but to ingest it could cause one to become a thrall and there's few ways out of that problem if you start to get those symptoms. Strange that the smoke doesn't do the same if you inhale it but that's the scoop and why no one wants you to eat that."

He snorted again but looked at the man Lithawen was speaking to and suddenly felt jealous. Who was this Elf to her that they knew each other so well? He scuffed his foot against the ground as if he were trying to kick unseen pebbles.

Instead of watching Lithawen and this new Elf, or trying not to, Sinjan looked about at the other new people he had yet to meet. Then his eyes fell on Kai and he chuckled quietly. Now where did he come from and why was he so close to her? Well, he'd have to tease the little woman later.

He went back to what he was supposed to do but listened to Nygozy. Once some had spoken and Drake answered he nodded, "I too am at your disposal. Just remember to not dispose of me too quickly."
Sinjan turned to Lithawen, "So are you going to take her offer and read the official documents?"

Lithawen watched Nygozy as she spook to everyone, and muttered angrily at Iauron's words. "At least I'm not a man getting beaten by a girl," she said, giving him a quick hug before kicking at his legs to trip the man.

"And hello to you Fa'Hallen." she said moving over to the Halla and stroking her nose. "You we have missed the most." she teased, eyeing Iauron.

With a sigh she finally moved over to Nygozy and grabbed the letter. "You won the fight. I will follow you, tho do not expect it to be without a fight." she said opening the parchment and scanning it quickly before reading it out loud.

Official document:

Warden Commander Nygozy,

It has come to my attention that your plans are to embark upon a journey within the inner sanctums of the Deep Roads to find evidence of the arch demon's continual cessation of existence as well as to find out why you still live even though you were the one to administer the death blow.

This is unacceptable.

The arch demon is dead. The soul has been transferred but in a different capacity in which we as wardens understand the process. This is difficult to explain but the gist of it all is that a very old ritual was performed by a former colleague of ours which made it so that the warden who struck the final blow would survive.

This negates your requirement to search for answers as I have them. You will turn your attention to other matters at hand which are of more importance. The largest of these matters is to recreate the wardens within Fereldan.

Your orders as such are:

• Organize the wardens who have been sent to you.
  
• Find and initiate new wardens.
  
• Come to Denerim for instructions as to where the new warden fortress will be created.
  

Once this letter has been read you will arrange your new troops and begin your journey back to Denerim. You will not go to the Deep Roads. Initiates can be brought into the fold as you travel. Jezarine Nyala has is not only a healer and a lore master but is knows all of the rituals for joining. Use this resource as you see fit.

I look forward to seeing you and your accompaniment.

Yours,
King Alistair Theirin

As Lithawen finished reading the letter she crumpled it half-heartedly, almost bored. "You Fereldens are bad at love letters." she said in dry humor. She tossed the letter back to Nygozy with a blank stare.

"I have to say this; I will not join you in the deep roads if that is your intention." As a Dalish, Lithawen loved the feeling of freedom, and for as long as she could remember she hated the feeling of being trapped within walls. A fear that could have been worsened by her short time in the Tower of Magi. Being in the Wardens has forced her to spend a lot of time in forts and cities, despite her feelings of anxiety within the walls of any structure.

The keeper stared at the hero waiting for her answer, wanting to know if her true intent was to journey to the deep roads or if she was going to follow the King's instructions. She hoped for the latter.

"You won the fight. I will follow you, tho do not expect it to be without a fight."

"I would feel offended if you did any less than react as who you are." She smirked at the other woman then listened as Lithawen read the letter. Her eyes narrowed at the information about the arch demon, trying to figure out what had actually happened and getting an unpleasant thought.

The Dwarf looked away above Kai's head, towards the wooded section to the side, as if she were considering what had been written. She was but she was also feeling a pain in the heart which she could not block from anyone if they were close enough to see. She was glad that only Kai was close and hoped he would not notice.

"Very well." She finally said before taking a deep breath and looking back to the others, "We cannot stay here with these burning corpses. It is said one will not be affected by the smoke but I do not wish to have long term exposure of any form of contaniment set upon anyone."

Nygozy put a hand on Kai's shoulder, "Thank you to those who have decided definitely that you will join us. I'm afraid our journey starts now but we will not be going far tonight. Just enough to be out of this smoke. Margaid, Ianto and Iauron, you are with me. Everyone else can choose to help Drake or to help Sinjan. I will be working on our travel groups for tomorrow."

She squeezed Kai's shoulder and looked at him, "Except you. It wouldn't matter if I assigned you to anyone. You have your orders and I won't try to change those."

((Margaid, Iauron, Ianto, Kai - to http://dragonageafter.forumsmotions.com/dragon-tales-f2/start-to-denerim-ny-s-group-t55.htm#421))

Everyone else can choose from the next 3:

((Drake - http://dragonageafter.forumsmotions.com/dragon-tales-f2/start-to-denerim-drake-s-group-t56.htm#422))

((Sinjan - http://dragonageafter.forumsmotions.com/dragon-tales-f2/start-to-denerim-sinjan-s-group-t57.htm#423))