Chapter Text
Brina Ulriksdotten woke to a crackling fire. Her father, Ulrik Brynjolfsen, sat on the other side of the flames, cross-legged, poking at the logs with a stick. Orange firelight reflected neatly off his bald head and painting his braided grey beard rusty orange. Tattoos wove up his arms, sharp thorny images they were, carrying up onto his scalp. The images themselves denoted his status and wealth within the clan, revealing his pride as the Master Hunter of Black Wolf Hold.
“Da?”
He didn’t lift his eyes from the fire. “Ah, Cub. I didn’t know you were awake.” Ulrik’s brow furrowed, worry lines etched his forehead. The crinkles around his eyes grew deeper with his thoughts.
Brina sat up on her elbow, keeping the warm furs around her. “I thought you were preparing for a hunt.”
“Scouts have n ot yet returned. I sent out a second party to search for them.”
Brina’s stomach knott ed. “They haven’t returned yet?”
Ulrik finally met her eyes with his own sad gaze. “No. Last I knew, the trail ended somewhere in the Wilds.”
“That is… quite a way from here. Two days jog.”
“Aye. And it’s been near three days ago we found that trail.” He dropped the stick, looking back into the fire.
“Was there nothing closer?”
“We should know more by this eve. The scouts are to return by sundown, regardless of what they find. The halla we’d been watching seem to have vanished too.” Ulrik stood and went to the table where a map lay unfurled. He braced himself and leaned heavily against the table, head down.
“And if they don’t? Return, I mean?”
Ulrik remained silent.
We will move again. “We’ve only been in this place ten moons.” Brina sat all the way up in her cot.
“If the Thane says, ‘Move,’ then we move.” Ulrik turned to look at her. “Cub, we can’t stay if it isn’t safe. Or if there’s no food.”
Brina sighed, “I know.”
Silence stretched on. An unspoken word hung in the air, nightgangers. The attacks had grown more frequent, spreading their blight and corruption everywhere they went. They’d moved camp three times now. Could the scouts have– No, she didn’t want to think about it.
Ulrik pulled her up from the cot and held her face in his hands. “You are so much like your Ma. You have her eyes; blue-green, like the leaves of a Firebloom. The rest of her is your personality. I’m afraid you got the rest of your looks from me.” Ulrik’s smile carried up into his honey-brown eyes.
“Aye, I’m as tall as you,” Brina laughed.
“I certainly never expected that. I’ve been the tallest in the clan for so long; I’d forgotten what it was like to not look over the top of one’s head. And no one can miss your mop of hair.”
“Hopefully I don’t take after you there as well,” she laughed again. “I always loved Ma’s golden hair.”
Silence again. Heavy. The attempt at lighthearted conversation falling like humid fog.
Before it could suffocate them, Ulrik embraced her. “You’ll do just fine today.”
A memory of Ma’s golden hair shining in the sun and the way her face would light up when she smiled flashed uninvited. Brina took a deep breath, wishing her Ma were here to see her off as well. She smiled at her father before he headed through the door. Her face stung and she quickly wiped her cheek. It was time to get ready.
***
Outside the hut, villagers were preparing for the day despite the darkened sky. Vendors arranged their stalls. Brina stopped in front of a booth. A small woman unstacked baskets from her arms into various trays. She was bundled in first to fight the crisp morning air, but her hood slipped back part way revealing mouse brown hair with visible grey streaks.
“Good morning, Hulda.” Brina’s breath fogged up around her face.
“Brina! So nice to see you. I knew you’d be by early today. How’s the arm?
Brina pulled up the sleeve on her left arm. From the tips of her fingers up to her shoulder the skin was wrinkled and lumpy. Still pink. “Useful. Aside from the appearance, it’s almost like it was before, thanks to you.”
“I’m only as good as the Lady allows.” Hulda smiled and squeezed Brina’s healthy shoulder.
“Of course.” Brina quickly pulled her sleeve down before others could see.
“I have no doubt your spirit companion also helped. I heard you are ready for your final trial today?”
“Aye, I hope the gods grant me strength. I’m to see the Augur at first light for final instruction and guidance.”
“We are hoping for your success. I’ve never had to separate from a spirit before, but I’m sure you can do what needs done. Augur taught you well. Do you need anything in particular today? I’ve got a new shipment from the Stone Merchants.” Hulda gestured to a large wooden box next to the stall. It was full of various plants, mostly from the hinterlands, separated into smaller containers.
“I need the usual. And some extra Felandaris. Augur’s preparing for communion with the spirits today.”
“Here you are, Apprentice. May you walk in light.”
Brina handed Hulda several full skins of mead. “And be unafraid of the darkness.”
“My thanks. Augur’s mead always has a fire to it. My mate may be gone, but this was always his favorite.” Hulda opened one and deeply breathed in the scent. “Snoufleurs always make the best skins.”
“Aye. These are the ones my Da and I hunted at the last gathering.”
“You honor me.”
Brina went on her way, purchasing dried food and extra water pouches. I’ve heard this trial can last anywhere from hours to days, if successful. Some of the nerves in her arm twitched. Brina shook her arm and stretched her burned fingers.
The sky turned pink in the distance and people crowded the road for their morning shopping. Soon the air buzzed with chatter and gossip. Nearby, Ragnar Talltale and his sister Una gossiped. They were of an age with Brina. Ragnar did odd jobs for the Thane and was known for telling outlandish stories as if they were absolute truth. Suspiciously, his stories always lacked witnesses aside from himself. His chin-length auburn hair and collar-bone length goatee tended to stick out at all angles. He was rather tall, though Brina could easily see over his head, and very scrawny. Una Svensdotten was very much his opposite. She was small, barely reaching the middle of Ragnar’s chest, and a bit rounder. She kept her yellow hair tied back in a single braid.
As usual, Ragnar was quite animated while telling one of his stories, and Una was doing everything in her power not to shut him up forcibly.
“Did you hear?” Ragnar started in, “Some lowlander is being granted an audience with our Thane.”
“A lowlander?” Una made a face and chuckled.
“Called himself a Grey Warden, he did.”
“I’ve heard of them. Harbingers of death and destruction, if you ask me. No good can come of this.” Una inspected some fruit.
“Respected warriors, they are. The Grey Warden said he’s recruiting.”
“Respected warriors? Pah! Clearly, he never met an Avvar.”
Ragnar puffed out his chest. “Of course now. We could show him what true warriors look like.”
“What do they want? Just warriors? He expect loyalty just like that?”
Ragnar lowered his voice to a whisper.
“One? Just one? What good is one?” Una exclaimed.
“Keep your voice down.” Ragnar whispered something else.
Una’s face twisted into legitimate shock. “The Apprent– ”
Ragnar clapped his hand over her mouth. She brushed him off angrily. Brina pretended not to hear.
The two whispered back and forth, low enough Brina couldn’t hear until Ragnar said, “What do you think? We should compete. Show him what true warriors look like.”
Una’s eyes glinted, “Alright, brother.”
He blinked a moment. “Oh? That’s it then?”
“What’s what?”
“You said they were ‘harbingers of death and destruction.’”
“Aye, but–”
Ragnar’s face broke into a broad grin. He put his hands on his hips. “So you do respect them! Don’t deny it. There’s no shame in that. You know, Grey Wardens only come out when there’s a Blight.”
“Lowlander problems. Stone-folk fight nightgangers all the time. They never come up this high. Too cold. Besides, a few on the surface doesn’t mean a Blight. I heard nightganger sometimes raid topside.”
“But what if it is? That Warden seems convinced. I think the Thane is too.”
The knots in Brina’s stomach grew. She couldn’t shake the uneasiness. I should get on to Augur’s hut. It’s nearly first light. She turned to head up the mountain path toward the Augur’s hut. Brina passed through the center of the village where the roads all connected. Her father stood, facing eastward, gazing down the path leading to the Wilds. She glanced the same direction and had to double take.
Further down the road one of the scouts ran ahead straight for them, shouting, “Master Hunter! Master Hunter!” It was Bjorn. He stopped in front of Ulrik, panting.
Did he run the whole way?
“You return? So soon?” Ulrik w aited patiently.
Bjorn spoke between pants, “Aye. Something strange in happening.”
“What is it?”
“The bears. They’re gone. All of them.”
“The bears are gone? It’s near winter. They probably found a cave.”
“The halla are gone too, as you know. And the fennec. And the rams. Even checked the wyvern nest. You know, the one by the inlet? All gone. I ran ahead to inform you. The others… should be behind me.”
Brina went to her father’s side. “Where– Where would they go?” Bears and halla are one thing but… all the animals?
Bjorn shook his head.
Brina glanced at Ulrik. “I’ll mention this to the Augur.”
Ulrik sighed. “Agreed. I’ll take it to the Thane.”
They both turned to depart when Bjorn spoke again. “There’s something else. A cave. A… a tunnel.”
Ulrik looked back at him, stone-faced.
“It’s new… it wasn’t there yesterday,” Bjorn added.
Ulrik nodded. “There’s a Grey Warden here. We will tell them.”
Ulrik’s second, Svena, placed a hand on his shoulder. “Master Hunter, the Warden left already. I saw him leave the Thane a few moments ago.”
“Where did he go?”
“I’m not sure. He didn’t leave the hold. I just know he’s not with the Thane.”
“Da? I will speak with the Augur. Perhaps he will have insight.” Brina pushed past the hunters and continued up the path. The path split and she took the steep rocky one that led to a natural platform just large enough for the Augur’s crude hut.
She pushed open the door as the sun broke over the horizon. Inside, Brina’s head brushed the ceiling. The air was thick from veilfire smoke in the hearth. Various herbs and plants hung from the ceiling and walls. Despite the green flame raging, the atmosphere was chilly and moist, smelling heavily of dirt.
The Augur sat on the other side of the fire. Whether he was asleep or meditating, Brina wasn’t sure. He was old. Ancient, according to some, claiming to have seen nearly fifteen hundred moons, though Brina had her doubts. She figured he’d seen closer to one thousand. “Augur?”
He opened his eyes to gaze at her. “Ah, Brina.” His voice was raspy.
Augur grunted as he stood, his back slouched from years of bending over a fire. His spare hair fell to his shoulders. He’d been tall in his youth but was now the shortest in the clan. He wore thick wolf furs that covered his frail body. The head of the wolf he wore as a hood. The gnarled and twisted staff in his hand had the skull of a red wolf on top with chunks of lyrium crystals that glowed in the eye sockets. The staff had several vines and small roots at the top that wrapped around the skull to hold it in place.
Augur gestured a thing, bony hand to the man who stood next to him. “Brina, I’d like you to meet Duncan, Warden-Commander of the Ferelden Grey Wardens.”
Brina blinked at the stark contrast between the two ment. The Warden was average height for a lowlander, coming up to Brina’s chin. The green flames reflected off Duncan’s silverite armor and mail and the silvery strands of this thick black mane and beard. The griffin on his breastplate seemed to move on its own in the dancing light. His face crinkled around his mouth and eyes when he smiled.
Brina nodded her head. “Brina Ulriksdotten, Augur’s Apprentice.”
He studied her for a long moment. “So, you’re Brina. Very nice to meet you. I’m afraid I’m unfamiliar with proper Avvar greetings. This is my first time visiting one of your esteemed holds. We’ve had Avvar Wardens in the past, but by the time I met them, they had fully committed to being Wardens.”
Lowlanders have such strange accents. “Past Avvar Wardens?”
“Yes. There was one I knew, Kell ap Morgan. He was once a Jarl. Wonderful tracker. He could sense different types of darkspawn.”
“Darkspawn?”
“Yes, I forgot. You call them nightgangers , I believe.”
“I’m afraid I’m not much of a tracker. That’s what hunters are for, like my Da.” Brina searched his face, trying to find any hint of his intentions.
“No, but I”ve been told you’ve learned much from your spirit companion and that you’re quite adept at manipulating the elements.”
“Aye. I’ve learned all my companion can teach me. I’m to send it back to the Land of Dreams.”
“‘Land of Dreams?’ The Fade?”
“Aye, I believe that’s what the lowlanders call it.” Brina glanced at the Augur who merely nodded.
The Augur shifted the staff in his hands. “Brina must separate from the spirit before she can become a true shaman… an Augur like myself. She will undergo exile until she succeeds.”
“In that case, I wish you well on your trial, Brina Ulriksdotten.” Duncan brushed past her toward the door.
“Grey Warden–Duncan, was it? What happened to him? Kell ap Morgan?”
Duncan stopped in the doorway and turned to her. “He and his steadfast war hound sacrificed themselves. I admit, I regretted leaving them. We went back to find them but only found his bow. Darkspawn are known for… carrying away the dead. I also regret we could not give them a proper funeral befitting the gallant warrior he was.”
“So… you are here for recruits.” Maybe Ragnar was telling the truth, for once.
Dance glanced at the Augur. “I’m seeking warriors and mages. Until recently, Grey Wardens were exiled from Ferelden. A few of us have returned home and seek recruits in preparation. The King of Ferelden calls all to his aid, northeast of here in a place called Ostagar. Do you know of it?”
“Aye, I know it. Why are you telling me?”
“I fear a Blight is coming.”
Brina looked abc at the Augur. “I’ve heard whispers… a new cave opened at the base of the mountain. And the animals are disappearing.” Brina could feel the knot in her gut turn and flip, making her feel ill.
“Yes, I saw it on the way here. Has anything else strange happened?”
“Some of our scouts disappeared between here and the Wilds.”
“Yes, your Thane told me. I suspect it’s the darkspawn at work. A horde is gathering. But I’m sure your trial is challenging and will require all your focus. What is the phrase? May you walk in light?”
“...And be unafraid of the darkness.” He may not know the greetings, but he knows our farewells.
Duncan bowed and took his leave.
“Brina? What are your thoughts?”
“He seeks me to be a Grey Warden, doesn’t he?”
“Aye, it’s true. But you are not yet ready. Your spirit of Knowledge must go back first. Should you succeed today, we’ll speak more of this matter once you’ve rested. You’ve brought the Felandaris?”
Brina handed him the bag and he rifled through it. “Rashvine Nettle, Amrita Vein, Fireblooms, Witherstalk, Dragonthorn, Black Lotus, Nugsear. Good, good. You’ll make these into pastes. Mark yourself before you begin the burning. And you’ll need a fresh sacrifice.”
“Spirit resistance…and aids for my energy and magic. The…fresh sacrifice may be difficult to obtain.”
“Aye. The Fireblooms, Amrita Vein, and Felandaris will help keep your physical energy awake. Amrita Vein, Felandaris, Witherstalk, and Dragonthorn for Spirit Resistance. Rashvine Nettle, Amrita Vein, and Black Lotus for lyrium aid. And here is your vial of lyrium. Nugsear for the smoke. Do you understand what must be done?”
“Aye.”
“Go to a secluded place. The hold knows you are not to be disturbed. I will commune with the spirits until you have completed the trial. And Brina? The Lady and the Mountain Father will provide.”