The human male sat on his haunches by the small fire he’d made. It was cool here in the Hinterlands of middle Ferelden, and that coolness was aided by slowly-lengthening shadows. A gentle breeze from the lake to his north was adding to the feeling of cold he was experiencing. He was clad in heavy armour, but it offered him no comfort. The fire was small, made for cooking only, and it did not remove anything from his chill. He had a small tent with him, but that was purely to keep rain off him.
He was gruff in appearance. His sandy-blonde hair was unkempt and stringy, as if it had not been treated well for weeks – which it had not been. His piercing blue eyes peered out from beneath a heavy, furrowed brow. High cheekbones underlined his eyes. His beard was growing slowly, showing the effects of lack of care and trimming. He was a strong man, solidly-built, his frame enhanced by his armour. He was tired, weary, and it showed on his face and in his movements. The skin of his face was smooth and pale, but was starting to show signs of wear and tear, the signs of too much activity and not enough food and rest.
Several miles to his north was the town of Redcliffe, and Lake Calenhad beyond that. Further to the north, along the western shore of the lake, was the now-abandoned tower that was once home to the Mage Circle of Ferelden…was once his home. After the ending of the Fifth Blight, the tower had been abandoned and the mages resettled to Redcliffe. But the Vote for Independence – carried by the deciding vote of the Grand Enchanter herself, if the rumours were correct – saw the Circles abolished, the mages freed. Many mages had almost immediately taken up arms against what they claimed to be their incarceration and lashed out in an aggressive display of power. Many more mages joined the aggressors simply because they didn’t want to be singled out. Some, however, refused to take part in any uprising, and had gone into hiding.
The reaction of the Templars was as brutal as it was predictable and unsurprising. They became mage-hunters, seeking out mages and quelling them when found. But, like the mages, the warring Templars did not have unanimous support. Many Templars stayed true to the teachings of Andraste and remembered that they were supposed to serve and protect, rather than crush and kill.
Templars like himself.
Donner Harridge had been a Templar for just over ten years. He took his final rites – and his first draught of Lyrium – several months before the Fifth Blight began. He was in the Fereldan Circle Tower when the abominations, led by Uldred, swept through the tower. He’d been one of those who had survived. He’d been in the tower when the Hero of Ferelden – a Grey Warden, just like King Alistair – came in looking for mage allies against the Blight. The Hero – a rogue named Alec Cousland – and his companions had somehow managed to liberate the tower from the abominations and had helped restore some sanity to the place. Donner had been there to assist with cleaning up the tower, while the mages went to war. He watched as Cullen left for Kirkwall. He watched as the reports of the first mage uprisings began in Kirkwall. He’d risen from the rank of Recruit to the rank of Knight-Lieutenant. And then the Circles had ended, and the ranks now meant little.
But there were rumours, now, of a fledgling Inquisition, formed to try and end the unrest between mages and Templars. Donner would be happy enough to help that cause. After what he’d seen in the tower, Donner was not exactly a mage-friend; but simply killing them all was way over the line. He had friends among the mages, just like he did among the Templars; once he’d fallen to temptation and found physical pleasure with a comely human mage one night, enjoying her pleasures as much as she enjoyed his. But she was dead, now, killed within minutes, it seemed, of the mages declaring their independence. Ginny hadn’t supported the Rebels, but had been forced to go along; a Templar had cut her down. He’d witnessed it, but was unable to do anything about it. That Templar had died later that night.
Donner knew that the so-called Inquisition was in the area. He’d heard the rumours, had seen a couple of their scouts in the area. He’d made up his mind to approach them, to try and join them, but had not yet summoned the will to do so. So it was that he was surprised when a pair of Inquisition soldiers happened upon his small makeshift camp – one with bow drawn and arrow nocked, the other with twin daggers drawn and held menacingly.
“Who are you?” Bowman asked, as Daggerman slowly started to circle. Donner knew he couldn’t keep an eye on both, and didn’t care to try. Focussing on one would leave him vulnerable to the other.
“Knight-Lieutenant Donner Harridge, formerly of the Circle of Ferelden,” he replied wearily, his voice croaky from lack of use.
“What stake have you in this?”
“I am no friend of the upstart Templars,” Donner replied, standing upright slowly and drawing himself to his full 6 feet of height. “Likewise I am no friend to the Rebel Mages. And I am no enemy to you.”
The bow didn’t waver, nor were the daggers lowered. “A Templar, then,” Bowman noted carefully. “No slouch with that blade, I’ll wager,” he added, nodding in the direction of the large double-handed broadsword nearby.
“I am fair with a bow as well,” Donner added for no good reason.
“You’ve heard of the Inquisition?”
Donner nodded slowly. “I have.”
“What is your thinking of them?”
“If they would have me, my sword is theirs,” Donner offered, his fatigue showing in his voice. “I know these lands, and would see an end to the fighting.”
By now, Daggerman had the Templar flanked, and Donner knew it. A signal seemed to pass between the two Inquisition soldiers, and the bow was lowered slightly. Bowman nodded his head towards what was clearly the Templar’s camp and belongings.
“Take a few minutes to pack, then,” he all-but ordered. “We’ll take you to Harding. She can decide what to do with you.”
Donner took his weapons and what few coins he had. He didn’t bother with the tent.