Grey gaurdian. Part 1. Chapter 6

"It seems to me that Initiation is a kind of punishment," he once said. Retribution for everything we've done before and will do in the future. This is the sacrifice that the Grey Wardens make to defeat Pestilence. Our Sir knight apparently believed that being a Grey Warden meant riding a white horse under the admiring gazes of maidens and killing a creature of darkness a day. I think we'll find out the truth soon enough."

"Yes," Elissa replied simply.

"Aren't you afraid of what's coming?"

"No... probably not afraid."

"Ha! If you're not afraid of anything, then you've had a carefree life. Few can boast of this."

The guards came to a large swamp, above the surface of which were dilapidated arches, pieces of stone walls and fragments of statues, and the huge dome of the tower was askew and half sunk. The air seemed to have become even colder, and small clouds of steam were escaping from his mouth.

"It should be here," Alistair said.

There was solid water all around, only small paths and islands of land.

"Whatever it was, it probably sank long ago."

Ahead was a dilapidated building that had not yet been touched by the swamps. Architecturally, it resembled the Ostagarian towers. Inside a small courtyard surrounded on three sides by walls, debris, branches, grass had sprouted everywhere, and the stone was green from dampness and time. A rusty chest stood against the far wall, the only thing that had retained its former appearance at least a little. However, its lid was smashed and twisted, and the inside was... empty.

"So, so, what's going on here?" The sudden voice startled the four Guards.

A pair of attentive golden eyes stared at them from the ruined wall.