Ghost Story

[Marian Hawke]

"E-e-except ones that e-end in e," she stammers. "Why?"

[Varric]

Because thinking combats panic and shock. "Pop quiz." With that 'explanation' given, he asks, "How about nouns? How do they change in relation to power disparity between speaker and the noun?"

[Marian Hawke]

As Emma answers, her voice grows slowly steadier; over the next few questions, even the tears slow to a trickle. 

[Varric]

"Good lass," Varric says after one last question about sentence structure, voice gruff but approving. "And you taught yourself just from texts? No tutors or practice?"

[Marian Hawke]

She shakes her head. "I've been alone for a long time."

[Varric]

"Impressive. It shows a bit in your accent and cadence but not as much as I would expect," Varric comments, studying her expression. And observing the temperature, the state of the well.

[Marian Hawke]

The air is still cooler near Emma than further away, but the well ice has melted in the heat of the sun. "Thanks," she says, sniffling a little. 

[Varric]

"What else have you taught yourself?"

[Marian Hawke]

"Other languages. Maths. Science. Arcane theory."

[Varric]

"How far have you gotten in maths?" Arcane theory? Interesting.

[Marian Hawke]

"Um. Something called Algebra and something called Calculus and a whole book about matrix operations..."

[Varric]

That gets some raised eyebrows. "Matrix operations and calc? How much of it did you understand?"

[Marian Hawke]

"I mean, most of it, I think? It was a really hard book to get through but I worked out a lot of the exercises on paper..."

[Varric]

"I think that might be even more impressive," Varric muses, growing more and more intrigued by the girl's mental prowess almost despite himself. "Would you be interested in taking some tests? See how well you actually did grasp it?"

[Marian Hawke]

"Sure," she says slowly. "But what's the point? I'm not going to university."