"What is it?"

"It's an absolute fucking emergency is what it is, let me in so I can tell you about it without shouting it up and down the damn mages' quarters!" Zann whispers through gritted teeth.

"Okay, come in," she says, pulling the door wider.

"...I think I can probably come up with a better solution than that," she says. "Why do they think you're a blood mage? Do they have any evidence besides your charming personality, I mean?"

"That's an option? Hell yes I want to join the Grey Wardens, where's the nearest outpost and how am I going to get out of the tower to get there? Are you going to fling me like a catapult?"

"There's a Warden in the guest quarters right now, recruiting. I was with her all day yesterday helping to interview potential recruits."

"The Templars were the ones deciding who she got to meet."

"Yes. Instead, you should wait in my room with me until early tomorrow morning, and then I should go wake Jahenna up and tell her that I've found her a candidate she'll like and she should use the Right of Conscription immediately if she doesn't want them making you Tranquil first."

"Can I then boil the blood in Greagoir's veins, though?"

"I would like to inherit a tower and not a smoking ruin when Irving retires, please. Do not kill Greagoir."

Hug!

"Yeah. I'll wake you up when it's time." Metella has an exact internal clock and can wake up whenever she pleases.

Zann, much like a cat, can sleep more or less indefinitely! She would not trade this ability for Metella's internal clock for all the world.

"Fuck off!"

"I brought you a recruit," says Metella. "She's very good. You'll like her. And you need to take her right away because otherwise they're going to make her Tranquil, which I imagine would dent her effectiveness as a Grey Warden."

"I wasn't expecting her to be quite this unsociable," Metella murmurs. She puts the ward back on the door. "I don't think I'd better let you out of my sight until the Grey Warden is properly awake."

"...So, is that not how you conscript someone?"

"I'm sure you are validly conscripted. I'm less sure that the Templars will believe you're validly conscripted if they come for you before Jahenna wakes up and I'm not there to politely explain."

"Didn't any of the other mages hear her? She's got impressive lungs."

"Who do you want there to politely explain your conscription to the templars, other mages or me?"

"I'm not objecting to you being my protectoress, Metella. That'd be silly."

"Good."

"...Breakfast?"

"Good morning," says Metella. "This is Zann, your new recruit. Zann, this is Jahenna."

"Hi! I just wanted to say that I so admire the work you do, and I look forward to working with you!" Zann thrusts out a hand to shake.

"I think you're either going to get along pretty well, or very, very badly," Metella predicts.

"I think this might be lack of tea," hazards Zanna as the serving elf shows up with boiling water and a teabag.

Metella patiently indicates Zann. "You conscripted her this morning. Congratulations."

"Oh. I recall that. She any good at killing things?"

"Thank you."

Metella sits very quietly and observes this interaction.

Zann applauds quietly.

Jahenna goes to acquire vast quantities of bacon.

Irving makes himself scarce. Metella calmly eats breakfast.

"You wanted a recruit. I had someone who needed recruiting. She'll be good at it. I thought it was a very elegant solution."

"I don't do the mind control shit, just the blood-boiling etcetera. I can learn it if you want me to, though, it sounds really cool."

"The Wardens have a reputation to- wow, I almost actually said that sentence, huh. You're sure she's not evil?"

"I'm sure she'll make a very good Grey Warden."

Jahenna continues to consume her bacon.