Kaitlyn didn’t say anything to Thea’s comment. She felt like she was watching at a distance. Someone else’s hands helped Thea lift Wendell’s body onto the fire. Someone else’s cheek felt hot as flame ignited flesh. Red and yellow colors blurred at the edge of her vision, a kaleidoscope of lights that danced by some insolvable force. 

[i]”I’m sorry.”[/i] Thea said, her voice starling Kaitlyn back to the reality of the situation. She was sorry as well. Sorry Wendell would not have the opportunity to live his life, sorry she’d insisted he always be at her side, sorry she hadn’t taken the dark spawn threat more seriously- She would spend the next nights caught between fearing for her life and writhing in guilt, playing Wendell’s last moments over and over again in her head. The Templar reasoned that in some ways Wendell’s death should have hurt less because part of her friend was already long dead- dead at her hand… and yet… for that reason it hurt even more. 

[i]”The fire will cleanse and burn…”[/i] The Templar eyed her blade coated with a sheen of red. Up until today it had never tasted blood. It never had to. She leaned out and watched the flames to lick at the metal. Flittingly she thought of the wound on her arm. If only the fire could cleanse everything so easily.

Behind her the mage began to sing. The melody was low and lilting. It reminded Kailtyn of falling leaves and the stead beat of rain. Kaitlyn didn’t understand the words but she understood the sentiment of mourning. The Templar closed her eyes listening to the music, water trickling down her cheek. Time slowed to a halt.

Too soon the song ended on a haunting note that seemed to be swallowed up by the surrounding forest. Thea mentioned their departure and Kaitlyn nodded at the suggestion. It was time to leave. “Thank you for what you did. I know what the darkspawn do to the…” Kaitlyn’s voice cut off and instead she swallowed heavily, “When this is all over I’ll come back, give him a real marker. Bring him flowers. He always had a soft stop for Harlot’s Blush.” A small smile graced her lips as color came back to her face at the memory. Kaitlyn shook her head as if actively trying to clear it. 

“We should get going. I’m sure you can see the smoke from this fire miles off and who knows what it will attract.” She paused again, collecting her thoughts. “Roan will catch up with us soon enough and I suspect Flecks will stay at his heals- if they made it. I know I don’t have to say this but all the supplies are with the horses. We spent the day riding just to get to this spot. I don’t think we have a chance making it back to the Dalish camp before nightfall- if they’ll still even there. If my calculations are right, we should be a few hours south of a small village. We could rest up there. I’d rather that then spend the night in the open.” No longer were the woods a friendly place. Instead the unceasing silence pressing in around them bespoke countless horrors.

Kaitlyn’s conscience tugged at her. Was she really going to take the Thea to the Circle? Part of Kaitlyn said yes, citing that Thea was a threat and could easily become an abomination or worse but another voice, just as strong as the first, argued that Wendell had been no safer at the Circle even after he passed his Harrowing. Which argument would actually win, Kaitlyn didn’t know and didn’t feel like thinking about. Right now her main concentration was putting one foot in front of the other and hoping they’d be in a much safer place when darkness came. 

Worry furrowed the Templar’s brow as they started to walk together in silence. There were many things to worry about. First and foremost was the fact that Kaitlyn wasn’t one-hundred percent sure just where they were. Trail blazing was more Wendell’s talent that hers and to top it off the maps had literally run away. Mind you, she could always ask Thea but Kaitlyn wasn’t ready to give up control, after all there was no guarantee the mage wouldn’t lead them away from the extract place the Templar was trying to get them to.