[b]”What were you thinking just then.”[/b] Dagna asked.

Kaitlyn had turned briefly around to see the White Spire rising up among the rest of Val Royeaux. The setting sun had caught in one of the upper windows, creating a shaft of light that trickled through the bright, weather worn stone, creating a halo like effect as if the Maker himself were blessing the tower. Then just as suddenly, the stream of sunlight was gone. The Templar shivered and pulled the dull grey woolen cape that had been draped around her shoulders tighter.

[b]”It’s nothing.”[/b] Kaitlyn said. Her voice was low, and even the effort of talking was draining her again. She wished she could have said more. Expressed how much of a waste it all been. They’d only just gotten to the White Tower a few hours back and now they were turning around and leaving again. Wendell had given his life trying to safely escort Thea, and here Kaitlyn was, dying from the taint she’d received for the exact same reason. And for what? So that as soon as they’d arrived Thea could surrender her life over to the Grey Wardens? Kaitlyn had joined up with the group because she hadn’t have an option. Thea could have had a good life at the Circle or at least a much long one.

She hadn’t said anything to the mage since Thea had volunteered to join. It wasn’t completely out of custom, very few seemed to want to talk in their group. There were only three other conscripted souls besides Kaitlyn and herself as well as three actual Grey Wardens and everyone seemed grim as they headed into the growing darkness of the wilderness around them.

[b]”We’ll be at our camp soon.”[/b] The words were deep- Roan’s. The tall, burley Grey Warden who was leading their group down a winding goat path. The first time Kaitlyn had seen him waiting outside the White Tower’s gate, she’d wondered why he wasn’t cold with the amount of bare skin he was showing. Perhaps it was due to the amount of shaggy black hair that covered his over muscled body?

[b]”Then all we have to do is catch us a dark spawn and get to it.”[/b] This came from the somewhat smaller man at his side. Johanas was everything Roan was not: pale, lithe, and a practical joker. Kaitlyn had caught a rumor that one of the three had originally been part of the Circle at the White Spiral. Since Johanas was the only one with the staff, it had to be him. [b]”Shouldn’t be so hard.”[/b]

[b]”You mean, just like that?”[/b] This voice came from a young male mage. [b]”There’s no ceremony? No formalities?”[/b]

[b]”You’re not getting cold feet, are you?”[/b] The voice belonged to Dagna.

[b]”Corse not.”[/b] Johanas said and clapped the young man on the shoulder. [b]”Tell you what, let’s celebrate afterwards? Maybe we can even convince Roan to share some of that wine we all know he’s been stashing.”[/b]

Roan let out a disgruntled noise but his feet never missed a beat.

[b]”Why do we need to go looking for darkspawn? We practically got one right here.”[/b] Kaitlyn didn’t have to turn around to know that the other Templar conscript was referring to her.

[b]”That’s just the way things are.”[/b] Dagna said. Ever since leaving the White Spire, Dagna’s mood had turned sour. The female dwarf had been brusque before, especially when Kaitlyn had waited for Thea to finish her Harrowing, but the other female seemed to be completing with the rocks for hardness. If she had more energy, it might have given Kaitlyn a great deal to worry about, but right now all her mental efforts were in keeping herself upright and seating in her saddle. 

The other Templar didn’t seem to be phased by the dwarf’s sour mood. [b]”So I hear the tower mage’s weren’t good enough for you…”[/b]

Voices Kailtyn couldn’t track anymore raced back and forth across her mind. She tried to reach out and grasp at the words, but their meanings slipped past. Then she wasn’t moving anymore. Had they stopped? Rough hands grabbed her as she slid from the saddle.