"Very well." Not that she's biased or anything. 

Mm. "You are a mage, are you not? From one of those Circles?"

Nod! "Are you a mage as well?"

"Yes. I am... curious what your magical education was like."

...Ugh. She doesn't really know what to say about it, because it brought her Briony so it wasn't bad, but...

"It was... Very formal, and... Enclosed. I advanced quickly through the lessons provided to us. I'm hoping to - have a chance to learn more, and a wider variety of things, as a Grey Warden."

"The world has been my teacher, more than anything else. It sounds as though I did not miss much."

"I did appreciate the library, especially when they forgot to lock books up."

"Books are one thing that are in short supply in the wilds."

"Sadly I wasn't able to bring any with me into the Wardens..."

"What a pity."

"The one big drawback."

"Oh yes. I'm sure the darkspawn pale in comparison."

"Next to a good enough library?"

"Indeed."

"So far they do."

"Then I hope for your sake the pattern continues."

"Thanks."

The great thing about embracing little shit mode: it makes her totally immune to sarcasm. 

Ugh conversations are hard. She's going to let this one lapse.

Are they there yet?

Not too much farther, at least.

They arrive at a hut in small clearing, with an old woman tending a cookfire outside. "Mother, I have brought guests to see you," Aoife says.

"I see them, girl," the woman says, turning to run a considering eye over the group of prospective Wardens. "Mm. Much as I expected."

"You expected us?"

"Expect everything and one will never be surprised. Or expect nothing and one will never be disappointed!" She laughs.

Oh... kay then...

"Does that actually mean anything or are you just saying words?"