After finding the horses, the remainder of the day had been blessedly uneventful. They hadn’t said much to each other aside from the mage pointing out the general direction to get them out of the forest. Kaitlyn spent most of the time evaluating her future actions. She wasn’t entirely convinced she should be escorting Thea to the local Circle. First, although the Circle claimed to be there to protect mages, it hadn’t done anything for Wendell. Secondly, and in some ways more importantly, Thea didn’t seem to be in any danger of being turned into an abomination. Kaitlyn doubted if the mage’s powers had manifested themselves recently. Thea was too well practiced, as the Templar had seen first-hand on the battlefield, so it stood to reason that if there was a threat to Thea from the demons of the Fade, it was long since over. [i]”But I can’t just let her go,”[/i] Kaitlyn thought to herself. Being ridiculed by her superiors in the Order was the least of Kaitlyn’s worries. Elves and their foreign magic were distrusted by the Order in general and until she was tested by the Circle, there was no proof that Thea wasn’t some sort of maleficar. If Templars were known to kill maleficarum on sight, there was no telling what they’d do to a traitor who let one wader free during war time. [i]”You don’t have to go back.”[/i] a small voice whispered in the back of her head. [i]”No one would know. You don’t owe them anything. Think about what they did to Wendell.”[/i] Kaitlyn sighed, not that any of it much mattered. There were bigger, more immediate problems to focus on. Already, her right arm was feeling hot and heavy and the sun was making its way closer and closer to the horizon while the forest around them remained as silent and foreboding as ever. ---- Kaitlyn finally spotted the outline of a few buildings in the fading light. The trees around them had thinned out to eventually become open pasture. Despite in being a nice evening, the village was eerily quite. Kaitlyn swallowed down her distrust as she let them towards the stables. After Roan and Flecks were handed off, they headed towards a larger building with “Tavern” painted in faded Red Letters. [b]”It won’t be the nicest place but I feel much better being behind solid walls,”[/b] Kaitlyn said in a low voice so the owners wouldn’t hear. She wondered how Thea would feel about sleeping inside. She suspected the Dalish spent the nights in the colorful tents but even Kaitlyn knew there was a difference. [i]”I suppose she’ll just have to get used to it on way or another.”[/i] The tavern inside was dusty and ill-lit. Too few candles cast shadows on empty tables and chairs. There was a small stage to the side that was currently being used as a storage place for old baskets. Kaitlyn suspected the place would have been much livelier in better times. There was only one other patron there besides themselves. The man was old, gray and wrinkling. He eyed Kaitlyn with distrust and Thea with even more but said nothing. [b]”We’ll be leaving early tomorrow,”[/b] Kaitlyn said much to assure the mage as it was to assure herself. When traveling, Kaitlyn tried to avoid places like this- little villages where all the youth and life had been sucked out by the unending war with the dark spawn. Those men and woman had disappeared leaving behind the old, sick, and wounded. The innkeeper’s wife appeared then from behind a closed door. She was an old, thin, sickly looking creature with cruel eyes. [b]”What have we done to win a visit from an honored Templar.”[/b] Her words did not sound polite or welcoming. While many Templars were sent to the front, most safely tucked away in refugee camps or watching over the Circles. Nevertheless, Templars were usually respected, since they were seen as the enforcers of law, if not always welcomed. [b]”I am escorting a mage,”[/b] Kaitlyn replied, her face showing her irritation at the woman’s words. [b]”We will be staying here for the night and will be gone in the morning… that is, unless you don’t have need of our patronage.”[/b] Her hand swept across, indicating the near empty room. Kaitlyn knew she shouldn’t be goading the woman, but it hadn’t been the best of days. The woman eyed Thea warily. Any mage that had to be escorted by a Templar couldn’t be good news. [b]“I assume you want a room.”[/b] Kaitlyn nodded. [b]“And a hot meal, if you can manage that.”[/b] The innkeeper’s wife nodded and headed back out the door she came. Forgetting they had other company, Kaitlyn walked over to the nearest table, pulled out the chair and sat down with an exasperated sigh. She waited for the mage to join her before asking a question that had been niggling in the back of her head for a while. If nothing else, talking with Thea might help quite her inner voice. [b]“So what would you have done if the Templar’s hadn’t found you? Would you have stayed with the elves for the rest of your life?”[/b] It occurred to Kaitlyn then, that she didn’t even know what Thea’s role was in the Dalish society or about her companion in general. Thea was obviously not the Keeper or the First. Did she hunt then? Or maybe she tended to strange white beasts.