Chapter Text
The River Dane Inn in Gwaren was not to be confused with the Dane River Inn, which sat on the banks of its namesake. Rather, the River Dane Inn was named in honour of the Hero of River Dane, who had once been the ruling Teyrn of Gwaren, a large but remote port town on the south eastern edge of the Kingdom of Ferelden.
The largest and most popular inn within Gwaren, The River Dane inn teemed with life most evenings, filled with passing sailors and townsfolk alike.
Tonight was no exception, patrons drifting in through the door as afternoon gave way to evening. Outside, the nip of early autumn air promised the first frost of the season, encouraging people inside all the earlier for the comfort of a warming fire and pleasant conversation.
Or more accurately, for the latest gossip.
Nestled in the corner of the inn, nearest to the hearth, a sailor, newly arrived, leans forwards conspiratorially to the rapt group of townsfolk that have clustered around him;
‘...from dusk to dawn, at it like nugs in heat!’ the seaman announces, taking a long pull of his ale.
‘For shame, ser, you shouldn’t speak of our betters so!’ a local woman scolds him.
‘To the void with your ‘betters’. Never known an honest day’s work in their lives. Ponces, all of them and yet you serve them. Me? I’m free, free of land and law, free of their rules and free to say whatever I want about them!’
‘The herald would never do such a thing! She’s as pure as Andraste herself. And the king and queen are heroes, not to mention loyal to each other! You’re talking nonsense.’
‘The Inquisitor’s been shacking up with her commander for nigh on three years from what I hear,’ another voice chimes in, and the woman turns to glare at him.
‘Hush, Geoffrey, what’d you know about the ways of the Inquisitor?’
‘I heard it myself! My sister’s husband’s brother serves the Inquisition. One of the soldiers. Said the king and queen had been spending all night with them.’
The woman scowls, rolling her eyes.
‘Your sister’s husband’s brother, really? May as well have had word from the horses in the stables.’
‘Tell yourself all you want, woman,’ the sailor growls, ‘but your ‘betters’ have been rutting like animals every moment they can get with each other.’
Voices rise, amusement and outrage, disbelief and lewd comments colouring the air. The topic, titillating as it is, captures the attention of everyone.
Unnoticed, an unremarkable figure rises from a quiet corner, straightens their cloak and glides from the inn’s common room.