Vigil's Keep

Runt, surprised at her sudden charge, dropped the chain in his hands, just barely catching the knife that was aimed at his ribs, though sacrificing his hand to do so. Janella's blade pierced through his right hand although it allowed him to get a grip on her fist.

In terms of the hilt of her second blade. It was successful in landing it's first few blows, swelling his eye shut before he eventually caught her wrist and began to twist, his overpowering strength desperately trying to force her to drop it.

She was finally in his hands, literally, her anger seemed to have betrayed her in this moment. One could see Runt lean his head back before throwing it into Janella's nose a loud thwack was heard.

Byron stood up at this point.

"Right halt! Fight's over," he'd say as he made his way over to the two of them.

"It's a spar, not a death match," he grumbled at the both of them frowning. He did hope they'd stop and break away. If not he'd have his methods.

Janella had sleeves on her blades, it would not do as much damage as it could have. It cut his hand, but did not end up impaling it. It was a spar, and she hadn't intended to get too serious. Seeing his fist coming in at her nose, she turned her head to the side in time to spare her more delicate Elven features from his knuckles. She grunted when his fist crashed into the side of her head, vision moving in and out of focus.

Hearing Byron call the spar, she did not try to hit Runt anymore, but she kept a wary eye on him. Every muscle in her body tensed, ready to try and make him suffer horribly if he didn't show restraint.

Runt turned to Byron, hearing the end for the spar before releasing Janella and rubbing his eye slightly,"Are you alright?" He asked simply, making his way to pick up his sword and chain,"I apologize for getting out of hand. You are an excellent opponent.."

The Avaar looked back at the elf as he strapped his greatsword to his back,"If we ever face battle together, I would be grateful to have you as an ally." He complimented before looking at Byron as he marched over,"I apologize to you as well sir."

Byron didn't look that pleased.

"You two look like shit, and I know I said anything goes but this isn't a death match," the dwarf said grumbling.

"That being said, it's always good to have good fighters among the ranks. Its a pity you don't want to be a warden. We could use a man like you on the Deep Roads," he said to the Avaar.

"Get yourselves patched up at the infirmary," he said pointing to a small building across the courtyard. It was strategically placed, near the entrance but yet past their defenses for the healers to tend to the wounded.

"Do you need help getting there?"

How the dwarf might do it was questionable, he was after all.... short.

Janella was relieved whenever the Avaar let up, she had been ready to retaliate if he had not but she'd prefer it didn't happen in the first place. The elf felt along the side of her face, her cheekbone and the side of her face was bruised, and she could feel where her ear was cut and swollen as well. Better than a broken nose, she thought to herself.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Same to you, I don't envy anything that gets caught in that chain of yours." She said, looking down at herself and smoothing over some of her disheveled appearance. Following Byron's gesture to the infirmary, the elf was becoming aware of some cuts and bruises now that her adrenaline was fading. "I'm sure the Avaar is just playing hard to get," Janella joked to Byron, but she started walking toward the infirmary.

"These wounds are merely physical. They shall heal with time, my spirit remains strong." Runt said to Janella, making sure his chain was secured to his hip,"It has served me well."

Upon hearing Byron lending out his aid, Runt patted the short man's shoulder,"You are a fine leader, despite our height you would still try to help carry me. It would be rude of me to turn away such an act. I will accept your guidance to the infirmary..As for joining your Wardens..." he paused,"..I'm afraid I would only hinder you. I have my own mission to accomplish, however, I am happy to assist your men in whatever you need. Who knows, should the Lady of Sky will it. I may eventually join.."

Turning to Janella, the dwarf would speak. "You'll get word of your Joining ceremony soon enough. You've gotten my pass on your fighting skills."

He shook his head when Runt patted him on his shoulder. "Carry you? You have to be joking. I'd have asked elf boy here to do the work." He'd nod his head when the man mentioned his own mission.

"Perhaps we can make use of you on those missions where Darkspawn aren't involved. The Taint is not a nice thing to die of," the dwarven warden said, his expression darkening a little as he spoke.

Seeing as both didn't need his help getting there, he'd turn his attention to the elven mercenary.

Despite his small size, the dwarf could certainly shout as he berated the fellow, his voice booming across the whole courtyard, loud enough for those at the edges to prairie dog to peek at what was happening.



"AND WHAT SORT OF FIGHTING WAS THAT?! I asked you to spar not some form of courtship dance! If she hadn't taught you a lesson I would have." With one swift movement, he had reached up to yank the elf down with his shirt, pulling the fellow to his knees to bring him face to face with a yelp. "And you better damn well listen when I tell you what to do. Any more funny business and I swear the assignment and mission you'll see is the bottom of the outhouse for the next several months."

He'd release the elf who was stunned into silence at the sudden outburst from the dwarf, not to mention the fact that he was strong enough to yank him down.

With the yelling done, Byron took a swing of his flask once more. One wondered how much he could actually down and why he needed to drink that much.

Janella had seriously doubted that the dwarf would carry him, even if the shorter folk were even stronger and tougher than they looked. She held back a grin when her suspicion that Byron would have made someone else carry Runt was correct. The elf also speculated that the Avaar might become a warden yet, but she did not make any more remarks. Nodding toward Byron, she said, "Thank you," whenever he spoke of her being notified of the Joining ceremony.

Observing various heads popping out from their chores, tentative in case Byron saw them slacking off on their work, she found herself unable to hold back a grin as the dwarf shouted at the mercenary. She did find herself wondering just what was in that flask, but chalked up the stresses of his job to why he needed to drink that much. Janella assumed a very strong drink was in the flask.

Whenever they arrived at the infirmary, she was still and followed instructions from the staff. She grimaced or winced once in a while as her ear and some other cuts were dabbed with an astringent, though not much could be done for her bruising.

Runt nodded as he was offered the chance to help Byron's men, but was pleasantly surprised to see him discipline the elf mercenary. He had learned ages ago that discipline is one's way of showing care for the well-being of others. His people accepted it in stride.

The Avaar was curious about Byron's drinking, or more how much of his drink could fit into his flask seeing as he drank plentifully from it. Rather than dwelling on his thoughts he made his way to the infirmary to be treated.

"Gray Wardens eh..?" Was all he mumbled as the staff began treating him.

Some of the infirmary folks were mages, although one was a herbalist. They'd tend to the wounds of both Runt and Janella.

"Good fighting there. A good number of folks come here and stay after the Inquisition broke. Not many can adjust back to civilian life. Being in the wardens helps at least. They got somewhere to point their blade at, and at least the blood mages here are under some sort of control," one of the healers, a female woman in her greying years said with a sigh.

Through the walls, Byron could be heard yelling at the elven mercenary to clean the area up. He had certainly made a very bad choice there and if one looked out the window, the dwarf was not above giving a slap to the back of the head to the elf.



The grey-haired lady glanced out. "Well that's thankfully a lesson you two didn't have to learn. Never cross Byron, don't even touch his drink, not even if another recruit dares you to. No sense of humour that one."

Runt glanced at the Mage healing him,"Is there a reason as to why he drinks so much? It seems that everytime I look he's sipping from his flask."

When he saw Byron slap the elf, he couldn't help but give a playful scoff,"At least he seems to care."

Janella thanked the infirmary staff for the compliment, listening to every word as they spoke about the place. She was surprised that Byron was punishing the Elven mercenary at all. The assassin was used to male leaders just laughing things off. “Tough . . . but fair.” A softer heart may have almost been sorry for the male elf, but she held no mercy or sympathy in her heart.

“He probably drinks so much because he has to deal with arseholes like that,” the elf said. She entertained herself with thoughts of what Byron did to people when they touched his flask.

“Adjusting back to civilian life once you’ve experienced so much is all but impossible. Maybe being a civilian just seems understimulating.”

The healer glanced over at Runt.

"I suppose you can try asking him. None of us have managed to get an answer from him. Course we speculate it is probably from dealing with all sorts of people... or his past... or something along the way. Mind you, its real strong stuff in there. Byron's been a quartermaster for a long time. Back when the commander was just a recruit, he was dared to steal the flask to see if it was really a stiff drink inside. Rumours back then was that it was water. Needless to say, it's the actual stuff," the healer said, a smirking expression on her face as she recalled the memory. The woman would soon finish up her work on the both of them together with her assistant who looked at her with amusement at the memory.

"Really?" the assistant quipped curiously.

"Oh yes... not many around now who knew that happened."

Runt silently acknowledged the healer's words. He understood that a warriors past can take its toll on them many seek different ways to cope, not all end well. If Byron chose not to explain why or what he was drinking then Runt felt no need to pry.

"Perhaps one day he will speak for himself..This is not something others should involve themselves in.." he flinched as the healer applied some salve to his wound,"That stings..!" he mumbled.

Janella did not feel much in the way of concern for others, but she also felt that everyone had a right to their own secrets. The elf was amused with the thought of a young commander being betrayed by an irate Byron.

She winced or grimaced as she was tended to, but remained silent. Used to tolerating pain, she was stoic about it. Sliding down from the infirmary table when they were done, tentatively feeling the bandage along her ear, she said, “I can’t wait to get into some real trouble around here. I think I would choose the Darkspawn over angering Byron, however.”

"I have fought few Darkspawn during my travels. Disgusting looking creatures but cause very little trouble when there a few of them." Runt stated, he once again looked out the window to see Byron,"That being said..I would have to agree with you elf woman.."

As the staff finished patching him yo, the Avaar stood slowly, towerijng over the mages and Janella,"How is your ear?" He asked her.

The healer frowned at the Avaar.

"Hopefully. The Shrieks can be terrible. We've lost a few men to them before," she said as she gestured to the others to keep the materials.

"And you wouldn't be the only ones choosing Darkspawn over Byron. You can kill Darkspawn, you have to talk to Byron eventually if you wanted any supplies." It was a fantastic and powerful position.

Outside Byron could be seen looking at the infirmary, waiting for when the two of them might come out.

Runt looked at the healer, taking in their words before looking at Byron. With a deep breath he turned to the sky,'My lady..Valik..If this is where I must go to continue my journey..Give me a sign.. he prayed, staring into the world above theirs.

The Avaar waited mere moments before an owl was seen circling above Byron, surely a sign from his Lady and teacher. The Avaar rushed outside, yet when he stepped out. The avian creature had vanished, on the ground beneath his feet were feathers, ones that matched those on his necklace,"I understand.." he mumbled pocketing the item to add to his necklace later.

He looked back inside the infirmary,"I thank you for your words healer, may the Skies bless you.."

With that said, he made his way to Byron,"...Master Byron. If the offer to become a Warden is still available..I would like to join."

Janella shrugged whenever asked about her ear, "It's been hit before, it'll heal up fine." She couldn't see much reason to linger in the infirmary, thanking the staff before leaving. The elf observed Runt's epiphany, and she almost reached over to nudge Byron in an 'I told you so' sort of way but thought better of it. The weight of the conversation in the infirmary was still ringing in her ears. "See, told you he was just playing hard to get."