The Amell Legacy: Transgressions

[Varric]

The dwarf starts to turn her down, then pauses. "It might be you. I'm the better odds sure but long odds have won before. And I can't be everywhere at once anyway. So keep your eyes open. Shiny can handle a fight I water but only if she sees it coming. I can check in and watch Seeker for much of the day, not that she's in much danger at the temple but you should pair up with Shiny, your eyes and wariness with her combat ability."

[Marian Hawke]

"...right. Yeah. Okay. I'm sure that'll be fine," she says, shifting a little. 

[Varric]

"I did ask if you could work closely with her," he grumbles, standing up. Not bad, not bad at all. Nearly three grand, between weapons and coin. Which is weird as fucking all hells. Three of them had fucking potions on them. Street thugs! With magic of any sort save maybe a spell or two? Bullshit. "Alright. We need to get moving. I want to get you to Shiny soonest so I can finish this up before the guard get snippy."

[Marian Hawke]

"You're talking about all day every day," she points out. "A bodyguard is a little different than working closely. Better than being dead, but different."

[Varric]

"Just when you're not with me or at the temple. Or at work," Varric corrects her. "Maybe eight hour a day or so." 

[Marian Hawke]

"That's a lot of time to fill and not a lot of project to fill it with," she snaps. 

[Varric]

"Ask her to teach you have to use that dagger. Or I have a mace or a shortsword that is... just over legal length."

[Marian Hawke]

"What, me? I'm no fighter," she protests. 

[Varric]

"Exactly."

[Marian Hawke]

"So what's the use trying to learn? I'm a scribe apprentice. I don't have the muscles for it."

[Varric]

"No mortal does, before they train. Besides, dagger work isn't about the muscles, it's about the precision. Just enough skill to... discourage someone that gets close. Aside from that, I'll see that you get some texts on alchemy. Shiny can... pray or whatever it is that paladins do while you study and brew some easy practice stuff."

[Marian Hawke]

"Alchemy's useful, but I don't know about the dagger stuff. I mean, I'll keep the knife, but... surely just having it is enough to discourage most people and if they can fight, they'll overpower me easily."

[Varric]

"You'd be surprised at how much difference knowing the basics can make. Holding a dagger wrong just adds to the value of mugging you- daggers cost good gold after all."

[Marian Hawke]

She blinks. "How do you hold it wrong?" She asks, disgusted, as she flips it around and holds it properly.

[Varric]

Varric frowns as he studies her closely. That's a standard Naerini grip, simple and stable. Well done actually, almost- Oh. Of course. It's a textbook grip. Naturally. "Try and take a few strikes with it."