A Road Paved With Blood[OPEN]

[Warden Darin Cathar]

Darin heard his answer a moment after. It was dripping poison and emanating suppressed anger, and Darin could feel the glowering heat of Arley's gaze on his neck. He decided not to anger the man any more.

"No. I will not be caught, and nobody will ever find out about me."

And then, much to Darin's surprise, the man bolted off. He stopped for a moment and regarded his receding back with a look of open surprise, but soon after lost interest. Dog, he thought sourly. Dogs were quite well regarded in Ferelden, in fact, but those words had stemmed straight from the times of his childhood, when people used to call the thieves and mugglers with that name. It was just one of many they used, of course, but Darin thought the man even looked like a dog. Just a little.

"I... think I am going to stick with you," he heard her say. He realized that he had stopped, and quickly continued to walk on.

"You bloody well make sure you do. And one thing. I don't want templars chasing after you any longer. I'm no slaughterer of templars."

"How do you expect me to stop them?" she asked, face all cold countenance.

"By joining the Grey Wardens." He said it like it was the easiest thing in the world, but a small smile played on his lips. He enjoyed finally getting some payback on her.

Yet Mavenna, she was not one to be shocked so easily. But her answer still took an unusual amount of time to arrive. And it was Darin's turn to be shocked.

"Yes, I think you're right. How do I join them?"

They walked on in silence, then, as Darin was unable to answer for some time. He was not an extremely bright fellow, but neither was he stupid. It was simply all that had happened impacting on his behaviour. But as they walked on, Darin suddenly saw something twitch in the corner of his eyes. He turned a pair of wary eyes towards the thicket, a small forested area on the left side of the road. Before he could say a word, however, Mavenna was already making queries.

"Who are you?"

It seemed to be the most obvious question. Darin could only stay quiet, making her appear the leader of the group. Bloody woman ought to learn her place, he thought with heat, but better concentrate on the visitor for now.