A Drake in the Mix

For a short while it was quiet so Drake threw the piece of the branch limb he was using to poke the fire. It landed in the golden flames with a slight whack and sprinkle of popping fire, "Fine Garoll. You don't want to talk right now so I'll just leave you be. Don't yell at me if you start falling up into the sky!"

He strode from his campsite past some aravel's then stopped when he knew Garoll would not be able to see him. He let his back hit the tree behind himself and slumped down to the ground in a furious frump. Here he had worked with The Legion of the Dead for long enough that he'd gotten so used to his dwarven form where he would just naturally speak like one. Or was it because he had not been humanoid long enough to change his way of talking? Drake wasn't sure and he truly did not care. He would give Nygozy the information she wanted then he wouldn't have to worry about the grumpy fart after that. He would be Nygozy's problem. Wait ... that would make him Drake's problem as well.

Drake rubbed his forehead and looked to the sky. He didn't want to feel that upset with Garoll and the man had every right to be mad at him as he'd pretended to be a dwarf and now was not. That must have taken the old dwarf by the crotch and flung him as they had been friends for well long enough, he followed him into more battles than Drake could count and he was the dwarven commander's first in command. Drake was Nygozy's second since this Calliara had shown up.

Thinking of Calliara made him cheer up a bit. He'd seen her about and she always made him smile. He didn't know why but it was so. She was a beautiful elven woman who did not seem to care that he looked a fair bit like a shemlin except for his pointy ears. Yet Drake was not quite like a human. He seemed to be something between a human and an elf with a roguish look to his face as he almost always seemed to have 5 o'clock shadow.

Drake had leaned against the tree but when he heard someone speak he lifted his head and looked up at the shining blue eyes which belonged to the elven maiden he'd just been thinking of, almost as if she were an angel appearing before his vision, "Abelas." He stammered then regained his composure as he'd been gaping at her. It took a few moments to fully realize she was actually there then he had gotten his normal smirk onto his lips and the stolid look in his eyes, "Calliara. I was surprised for a moment there. I should have known that you would be the one helping these people get to Ny's care. It is still a day away though."

The fighter smiled for a moment as he watched her, "How is everything? Ny is ok is she not? And you?" He had not wanted to leave his friends but it had been necessary to the Fereldan Grey Wardens that he check things out further down in the deep roads to get more information of what they may be up against later. Somehow they would finish the scourges and the blights altogether.

Calliara spoke in her soft, sweet tones which made Drake feel a sense of comfort. Even the silence did not feel so silent with her occupying a spot near him. Her words made him smile slightly, "If you'd had to go upon a mission even knowing that you left her in good hands, would you still not be concerned over her general well being. Think of how much she has and the effects it must have upon her mentally. We all worry for our friends even when they are in good hands."

He watches her eyes while giving no sign of attention within his own but he knows somehow how to read hers. His slight smirk grows for a moment then relaxes as he stretches then places a hand upon his, "There is nothing to be concerned about. Garoll and I just had a tiny spat. These have always cleared up in their own time until the two of us have had time to calm down. Nygozy understands the relation between myself and this Legion commander. The nasty dwarf thinks it is funny how we fight. I believe her words were 'worse then hens over a cock'."

Drake was lost as to how to ask Calliara to stay and just as he was about to speak she spoke to him and he smiled, "Nothing whatsoever since this morning." He looks up to the sky then back to Calliara, "Actually, it was yesterday that I ate last. It has been quite a challenge the last few days coming out from the deep roads."

He stretches and gets up while watching the young lady in front of him, "Did you have an idea?" He smiles.

Drake followed, almost as if his feet were in charge of him and noted that a few people gave Calliara some looks for being an elf. He sneered at these people to make them think twice about speaking or going near the sweet elven woman. He didn't say a word. His eyes and sneers said it all but it didn't stop everyone from glaring at Calli. One continued to as they walked past and Drake gave him a dirtier look than he had the others. This one could be trouble.

As Calliara started the fire to warm up some food when this man returned, "What right does a knife-ear have to be..."

The man was stopped cold as Drake turned, grabbed him by the cloth at his throat and snarled, "What is your name?"

"Tomas ... the name is Tomas Antonis." He snapped defiantly.

"Ah. You are Mother Antoinette's nephew." He smiles but not a happy smile. It is more of an 'I may eat your liver later if you don't behave' type of smile, "Let me get this straight with you, Tomas. Calliara just happens to be the right hand to the Hero of Fereldan. I am the left. Now if I were you I would back off before I came before the hero on charges for going after either of us."

Tomas' eyes got wide, "You can't charge me with anything." He snapped.

"Harrassing the Hero's staff can certainly be considered an act of treason and if we found out that your Aunt had a hand in your actions then that would be collusion for her even if she is a Mother." He waited for it to sink in, "How you are charged would depend on the Hero's disposition that day but please do remember that she does indeed watch out for her staff."

Drake pushed the man back so that his back hit the wall then Drake let go of Tomas' shirt, "Now go."

Tomas sneered but left quietly so Drake went to a seat and smiled at Calliara, "So what is for supper, lovely woman?"

Drake's eyes moved slowly, keeping watch for what was going on around them. He half expected to see his deep roads mentor showing up from the smell of sort of fresh food. He chuckled lightly, "Lamb stew you say? Well, I'm sure it is better than nug boiled three times over." He thinks of how Garoll would cook the strange creatures up and just let them stew for everyone. It wasn't so much the leaving the meat stewing as putting pretty much everything in including the gizzards. Drake preferred crisped foods over wet but lamb still sounded much better than nug, and nug, yet more nug, and always with the damned nugs.

The man sits back and watches Calliara carefully as he tries to look like he's just relaxing. It was mostly what he was doing though. Relaxing and watching a pretty woman getting him some food. He normally would have felt nervous or reserved but for some reason this elven lady made his reservations leave him, "We just got to the surface yesterday." He commented nonchalantly, "How is everything coming along here?"