"Well, let's go say hi."

"Hello! Are you Warden Ambrose?"

"Yes. Are you Duncan's recruits?"

"These four are; I'm just a fellow traveler. Elissa. Pleased to meet you."

"We're Warden Ambrose's recruits. I'm Carlos Amell," one of the mages says, getting to his feet. "This is Jago."

"I'm Daveth," says the only human among Duncan's recruits.

"I'm Tev," says Tev, and, because he suspects she won't if he doesn't, adds, "And this is Shiral."

"Acara Tabris."

"Duncan must have had more success than he was expecting," says Ambrose. "I'm glad."

"I think most of us have mixed feelings on the subject."

"Hardly surprising. Being a Grey Warden means leaving an awful lot behind."

She glances at Tev. "Yes. Of course, so does being a Circle Mage."

"Most of the children forget what they left behind, eventually."

Elissa looks thoughtfully at Ambrose.

"Is there anything in particular that we ought to see in camp? Or should we just get on with the initiation?"

"The initiation—" he glances at Elissa.

"Is secret Warden business and I should clear off and go find my brother. See you all later," she says, and smiles, and walks away.

Ambrose smiles slightly.

"As I was saying, the ceremony requires darkspawn blood, of which it's traditional for each recruit to kill a darkspawn and collect a vial. In a group this size I'm sure we won't have any trouble. Do any of you want to rest before we go out into the forest?"

Shrug. "I'm fine."

Daveth nods.

"Then I'll take a few minutes to exchange news with Duncan and meet you all at the gate. It's over there." He points.

To the gate, then.

To the gate!

"I wonder how the king's brother came to be a Grey Warden," says Shiral. "I didn't know he had a brother to begin with."

"As far as I know he doesn't, and I grew up in the capital. The alienage, granted, but many of us work in the homes of wealthy men and women. I'd have heard of it if it were common knowledge. You're saying Ambrose is the king's brother?"

"Was it not obvious?"