Checking the cubs

"Your form's a bit sloppy. You tend to leave yourself open a bit," Maddox said to the this weird dressed boy, Robert, his name was. He had been asked to help him train, which was weird considering that woman Pendra was the designated trainer. "I hate to ask, but where did you piece together that outfit?"

"Does it matter? I know it's weird and doesn't really protect me. Once we get to Vigil's Keep, I plan to visit one of the shops in Amaranthine and get something new." Robert confessed to his fellow warden Maddox.

"I think that's for the best anyway. So you never explained why you wanted me to train you instead of Pendra. I'm hardly qualified to train you in two weapon fighting."

"I knew her back in Redcliffe. I learned archery from her back then. I've been trying to avoid her since I noticed her earlier." Robert confessed.

"I've noticed you seem to spend most of your time with some of the older wardens, despite there being a handful about the same age as you."

"They seem too...immature to me. Reminds me of the countless drunks I had to attend to back in Redcliffe," Robert softly said. He looked back at Maddox and saw him looking away. He looked in his direction and noticed that there was the other younger members that he seemed to be talking about, with Calliara and that...other thing...Lobo, was it? He noticed Khael and Takara there, and looked down a bit upset thinking about what they must have went through. Before he knew what happened, he was pushed towards the group and fell down behind Takara and Khael. He looked back to see Maddox casually walking off. Did he really expect to get away after that? He looked at the two, presumably startled, recruits. "Sorry about that, I didn't mean to barge in like that," because I didn't meant to at all, Robert thought.

"H...hello," Takara said shyly as she recognized one of the others that had helped rescue herself and Khael. She got up nervously and went to the new arrival. "I... I don't know if I g... got to say th.. thank you for helping rescue my b... brother and I. So Th.. thank you. Please j... join us?" She stuttered and jestured toward the fire.

"I'm Robert," he sighed, not wanting to be here. He got back to his feet and brushed the dirt off of him. He wanted to say that he already knew Khael and Takara, but what was the point? Kassina and Dartmoor were familiar names that he heard mentioned, but Varen was unfamiliar.

Takara spoke to him, thanking him for his help in their rescue. Then she asked for him to join them. The way she asked just felt so...something. It made him feel guilty for wanting to leave. Essentially she just guilted him into his answer. Damn that Maddox. If it wasn't for him, he could have just walked by without them noticing. "....fine."

Robert took a place around the fire and quickly felt to see if he had a flask on him. He could have sworn Takara didn't finish the thing back then...could...could he have left it out for Garoll or someone else to snatch? Great, he probably did. Hopefully he can pick up some of that West Hill brandy in Amaranthine.

"Hello," Kassina said looking up at the new arrival. She hadn't met this one yet, but she could tell he was a warden. They all had a slightly funny scent. She could also smell his reluctance to be here and she had heard part of his conversation with the other man, even if she didn't really understand it.

She gave him a puzzled look, trying to figure him out as he reluctantly joined them by the fire. Then she rememebered Dartmoor was supposed to sing for them and her attention shifted back to him. She wiggled a little bit so she could look up at him. "Sing?" she said looking up him, her head against his shoulder.

''Hey Lobo'' Calliara grinned, her back against the tree stump and looking comfy and realexed for once. ''What if we show the cubs what we could do with music?''

The Wolf laughed, and looked to the sky full of stars and the bright moon that made her hair glow as silver, and started to sing, softly at first, but then with growing confidence

In days that have long since passed,
There lived a beautiful mahogany lass.
An unmarried and virtuous princess, alas,
She was brave, strong and bold.

Tra la di di hidey ho
Di hidey hey, di hidey ho
Tra la di di hidey ho
Happily ever after.

One morning while riding no guard around,
Armed with sword should trouble abound,
She heard the most horrible sound,
And her nose burned of sulfur.

The sky it darkened, gave her horse a fright.
A dragon swooped as black as night,
Grabbed the princess then out of sight.
Her horse ran frightened home.

Tra la di di hidey ho
Di hidey hey, di hidey ho
Tra la di di hidey ho
Happily ever after.


The king cried, "All knights be sworn!
Kill the dragon with your swords.
Return me daughter for this reward,
That you may marry her."

The bravest knight in all the realm,
Young, handsome and vain as well
Declared the maid his holy grail
And rode off to rescue her.

Tra la di di hidey ho
Di hidey hey, di hidey ho
Tra la di di hidey ho
Happily ever after.


The knight he climbed up rugged heights
Snagged a run in his pristine tights
At cavern's shaft, he saw no lights
And heard no sound inside.

The knight called the dragon out.
But only a lady's voice came back.
"I killed the dragon!," the lady shout.
And stepped into the sun.

Tra la di di hidey ho
Di hidey hey, di hidey ho
Tra la di di hidey ho
Happily ever after.

The princess dressed in scraps of cloth,
Her mahogany hair was all burned off.
A muddy face, the vain knight scoffed,
"Can you clean be for we go?"

The princess still in clothes undone,
Told the knight, "I work alone."
The knight rode lone into the setting sun.
And the princess was happy thereafter.

Khael listened as Calliara and Dartmoor sang and decided to give it a go himself. He hadn't had much occation to sing in a long time and he missed it. Him and his sister used to do some excellent duets together. He cleared his throat and began to sing in his slightly rough voice.

Now what are the joys of a single young man?
Why, boozing, bloody well boozing
And what is he doing whenever he can?
Why, boozing, bloody well boozing

You may think I’m wrong or you may think I’m right
I’m not going to argue, I know you can fight
But what do you think we are doing tonight?

Why, boozing, bloody well boozing
Boozing, boozing, just you and I
Boozing, boozing, when we are dry
Some do it openly, some on the sly
And we all are bloody well boozing

Oh what are the joys of a poor married man?…
And what is he doing whenever he can?…
He comes home at night and he gives his wife all
He goes out a-shopping, makes many a call
But what brings him home, hanging on to the wall?…

Why, boozing, bloody well boozing
Boozing, boozing, just you and I
Boozing, boozing, when we are dry
Some do it openly, some on the sly
And we all are bloody well boozing

And what do the moral majority run down?
And what are they banning in every town?
They stand on street corners, they rave and they shout
They shout about things they know nothing about
But what are they doing when the lights are turned out?

Why, boozing, bloody well boozing
Boozing, boozing, just you and I
Boozing, boozing, when we are dry
Some do it openly, some on the sly
And we all are bloody well boozing

Cestrah looked nervously as everyone sang. She did know a song… she was just nervous that she was a bad singer… “I-I know a song too… I used to hear it from a street thief I saw occasionally… I just don’t know if it’ll be as good as all of yours…” She cleared her throat, singing in a surprisingly beautiful voice, but slightly quiet from nervousness.”

“Have you heard the story of
A girl named Beth, now known as Tex
Her life's tale is a bloody trail
Her name fits like a glove

Her daddy sighed as she slammed the door
She'd said to him I'm Beth no more
My life's dream is to kill for green
But first I'll join the war

Her daddy said, you're just a girl
What makes you think that you won't sink
My name is tex and I'm like a hex
My playground is the world

Basics turned her blade to gold
Soon had it made, she'd hit by trade
Amassing kills, she proved her skills
Make your blood run cold

I once saw tex at a bar
Sippin rye, with some apple pie
With a distant stare, like she didn't care
Said What’s with that stare so far?

I must admit my head went numb
Some drunkard said, his face all red
She has a bad rep, She’d beat you in a step
Girl you'd better run

Tex said sir keep your peace
My heart is free, and so is she
I'll give it to, anyone who's true
The man’s anger was released

He drew before he replied
But Tex was hot, and he was not
He lay dead, While tex bled
Crimson on her side

Yellow of rose of Tex just clad in black
Lonely star tattooed upon her back
Double Tex, trained since she was a pup
Double Tex, she'll mess you up

Tex said
This could be my last I guess
I gotta go, and now you know
I want a song, to live for long
It's a fair request

She made it out I heard
But her one need, I did heed
I think of Beth, while mocking death
Like a mocking bird”
Cestrah looked around nervously. She wasn’t sure if she’d done it perfectly, but she noticed that she was getting louder and more confident throughout the song.

Kassina didn't understand most of the songs, but they all sounded good to her. Music was pretty much a new experience for her and she enjoyed it immensly. She had vague memories of her mother singing to her when she was a child, but that was about it.

Kassina was quite suprised and delighted when Cestrah joined in on the singing. "Cesta pretty voice! Wolf too. Boys nice also sing. Kassina want learn sing." The young mage stiffled a big yawn and laid back against Dartmoor. It had been a very very long day and it was catching up to her now that she was sitting still.

Robert just sat where he was, resting his chin on his inner thumb while his index and middle fingers were rubbing his eyebrow. If there was one thing these people had on those drunks was that the songs were actually words and was able to be understood. Plus, none of them needed to be dragged to their house when the finished, which is a bit dangerous considering where the tavern was located.

Why were they just here singing anyway? Couldn't they spend their time more productively? They could be spending this time traveling to Vigil's Keep. Why were the spending so much time camped here? They spent less time camped by the Tower of Magi and then they had much more traveling to be done. They could have traveled to Denerim to Vigil's Keep twice in the amount of time it takes to travel from the Tower to Denerim.