Dragon Age Origins: The Tale of Solana

Chapter 36: Searching Town

"Let's ask this man for directions," Solana points to a fellow leaning against a fence post. He looked dirty and grumpy. She figured him for a farmer. Surely he knew how to get to the tavern or, if anything, rumors about the king or the Grey Wardens.

They walked over and the man stood straight with a shaken look in Solana's direction. She didn't look like any normal elf. She was an armed one, and that couldn't be good news. He crossed his arms and took a step back. "Need something," he said out right. "I don't generally talk to strange elves who wander in here."

Solana narrowed her blue eyes into a slither. "You have something against elves?" Her arms crossed and her chin raised; the elven woman starred down the man despite the height difference. It worked.

The man pointed and he backed down. His worried, brown eyes fluttered between all four of them. "I don't know you," he alluded in a tight tone. "Why shouldn't I have something against you? We got enough strangers overrunning us. Nothing but trouble."

Solana gritted her teeth and was about to chew him down when Alistair stepped forward with a hand outstretched. "Hello, it's nice to meet you!"

Solana and Morrigan looked at their blond headed companion the same as the farmer did. When the gentleman did not take his hand, Alistair dropped it and cleared his throat. "We just had a few questions."

The man wiped his nose with one fast motion. He spits in the Grey Wardens direction before shrugging. "Can't promise I'll answer them."

"Who is in charge of this village?"

"You could talk to the elder," the man begins pointing behind him. "Though she's got her hands full getting everyone on their way. For now, most folks go to Ser Bryant. He's head of the chantry's Templars."

"You do not have a ruling lord," Morrigan asks curiously. "Do not all villages have something of that nature ruling over the peasants?"

"He's gone to war." The man looks Morrigan up and down with a side-ways glare. "He's taken all his soldiers, leaving us to fend for ourselves. There's not going to be much left when he returns... If he returns."

"Why not leave then?" Morrigan smiles broadly at the farmer. She leans upon her staff as if she has not a care in the world. "You are like sitting doves ready to be devoured by the stalking cat. Do you not care what happens to you?"

"It isn't that easy," the man speaks out. "My whole lively-hood rests in the fields here! If I was to leave... No, you people are the ones who need to leave. Good-bye."

They watch the man stalk away. "You weren't wrong," Solana affirms. "If anything, we too are sitting doves."

"Then let's be gone of this place quickly," Morrigan refutes.

The four of them push pass masses of people coming in and out of Lothering's main market. The market was barely the size of the Alienage's main square, with only a few carriages selling goods. Sick people sat near the erected wooden gates that surrounded the whole of Lothering's homes. From within was a Templar ushering people to get a move on.

"You there," he pointed at our group of Grey Wardens. "If you are looking for safe shelter, I'll warn you; there's none to be found. So move one if you can. Lothering is lost."

"What do you mean," the elf asked knowing full well what the shemlen meant. She knew it, the farmer knew it, and so did everyone else. It wouldn't be long until the sprawling clouds of campfires drew the attention of darkspawn camping within the Wilds.