Dragon Age Origins: The Tale of Solana

Chapter 34: The Toll

Solana was the first to notice the Templar body lying nearby. His face was pale, and his armor pierced near his left side. She tensed at the sight of it. "What did I tell you?" The large oaf mumbled in a loud whisper to the leader. "No wagons, and this one looks armed."

The leader just starred in his direction for a moment. He was thinking. However, despite the danger, his greed pushed him onward. "The toll applies to everyone, Hanric," he said loudly. "That's why it's a toll and not, say, refugee tax."

"Oh," Hanric's eyes widened as realization hit. "Right. Even if you're not a refugee, you still gotta pay."

"Not very bright...."

"Not even a little..."

Solana held back a small laugh as the voices interceded for a moment with their own commentary. She straightened up and decided she would play along with these toll collectors.

The voices heartily agreed. Alistair and Morrigan were holding their own chuckles at bay when Solana began. "You are toll collectors, then?"

"Indeed! For the upkeep of the Imperial Highway! It's a bit of a mess, isn't it?"

"Perhaps you should charge more, then," Solana said looking around at her companions. Morrigan and Alistair shared a look. The rather skinny shemlen man took a deep breath and his eyes furrowed together in confusion.

"You," he blinked a few times before leaning backwards, "want to pay more? Well, we'll happily accept donations."

Solana batted her dark lashes, her pink lips spread into a wide smile as her blue eyes made the man blush. "No, but a caravan is following me. It has plenty of gold."

A man behind the first crossed his arms. "I don't know boss," he said. "I don't think they are telling the truth. Why would they be here if they were, and not guarding the caravan?"

The little man crossed his arms looking each Warden, and companions, in the face. His brown eyes searching for any sign of deceit. If they were lying, then they missed out on their gold...

However, if they were speaking the truth, the gold would be worth it! He gave a slight jump when Andaran gave a huff towards him. "I don't know... Wouldn't such a caravan be well-guarded?"

Solana shrugged and looked at her nails and dusted her armor off. "Not really. It wants to appear poor, apparently."

The man threw his head back in an arrogant laugh. "A common ruse." His hands dropped to his side, "Well, we'll not be tricked so easily!"

"A whole caravan," Hanric's eyes grew twice their normal size. Solana felt as if the poor fellow's baby blues might fall out if they grew any larger. "Oh, it's ripe for the picking!"

"Go on," the shorter one spat with a wave of his hand. "On your way! We've got work to do!"

They began to disperse when Morrigan came over. "Good going! Those fools," she mocked.

"What idiots," Alistair began. "It's those wile charms of yours." When Solana gave him a look he shifted from foot to foot. "Well... They were fooled anyway."

Solana went over to the dead Templar. There was a letter in his hands and what appeared to be a knight's locket. It was partially open, as if he was looking inside before he died. Within is a tiny painting of a pretty brown-haired young woman. It is impossible to tell who the woman might be.