He nods. "A pity he felt the need to stay behind."

"The people of Highever needed him more than the world did at that point. I can relate."

"Yes. I only regret that Arle Howe made it necessary." He shakes his head. "To pull this kind of thing during a Blight of all times..."

"Some people just don't understand what 'the end of the world' really means."

He nods. "We have survived Blights before. The First Blight went on for most of a century before the first Grey Wardens ever were. But I think we would all rather it not come to that. Especially since while humanity would most likely survive, Ferelden probably wouldn't."

"Yes, exactly. Taking my family's lands won't do him much good if they're overrun by darkspawn a couple of months later. But of course he's not thinking about that."

"Of course he isn't."

Elissa sighs.

Her mabari woofs and nudges her leg with his nose.

She smiles slightly and gives him a scritch.

Duncan also smiles slightly at the dog.

Eventually they reach the town where Ser Jory lives.

Elissa is interested to meet Ser Jory!

Duncan leads her to Ser Jory's house, and knocks on the door.

Ser Jory opens it. "...Duncan? I wasn't expecting you for another week."

"Plans change. It is now important that we leave immediately."

"What happened?"

"A bit of political trouble," says Elissa, "which led to me needing to catch up with my brother in a hurry, and he's currently leading Highever troops to Ostagar, so here we are. I'm Elissa Cousland, and you must be Ser Jory. Pleased to meet you."

"...Pleased to meet you, my lady," he says. "Give me a little time to finish packing and say goodbye to my wife."

"Of course."

He disappears back into the house for a while. When he re-emerges, he's wearing his armor and has a greatsword and a traveling pack slung over his shoulders. A pretty young woman briefly emerges after him to give him a brief kiss goodbye.

(It's not exactly obvious, but if you know what to look for she's noticeably pregnant.)

Well. That's something all right.

"I'm ready," Ser Jory says a bit reluctantly, after his wife goes back inside.

"Good," Duncan says. "We had best be on our way sooner rather than later. Do you know where we can procure horses for the trip to Denerim?"

"Oh--yes, there's this place over that way..."

Elissa chats idly with Ser Jory on the way to the horse market. How old are you, what's your wife's name, why are you joining the Grey Wardens, that sort of thing.

His wife's name is Helena (and she is lovely and wonderful). He won a tourney that was held, and Duncan approached him after. He's good with a blade--very good, to have impressed Duncan--and wishes to serve his country and the world however he best can.

She congratulates him sincerely on his victory in the tourney.

"The world could use more people like you, Ser Jory."

"Thank you, my lady," he says, appearing to be sincerely touched.

Yeah. She's going to want to talk to Duncan about this.

Duncan is completely oblivious to Elissa's plans. He is much more concerned with finalizing horse purchases so they can get to Denerim more quickly.

Elissa turns out to be very good at speeding that sort of thing along!

Oh, good.

It will be three and a half days before they get to Denerim.